VP-8
| VP-8 Tigers | |
|---|---|
VP-8 Unit Insignia
|
|
| Active | 1 September 1942 – Present |
| Country | United States of America |
| Branch |  United States Navy |
| Type | Squadron |
| Role | Anti-Submarine Patrol |
| Part of | United States Navy |
| Garrison/HQ | Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida |
| Nickname(s) | The Fighting Tigers |
| Engagements |
World War II Vietnam War Gulf War Operation Enduring Freedom Iraq War |
| Decorations |
Joint Meritorious Unit Award (2) Navy Unit Commendation (3) Meritorious Unit Commendation (7) Navy Expeditionary Medal (1) Southwest Asia Service Medal (1) Navy "E" Ribbon (9) Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy (1) |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Patrol |
PBM-3/3C/3S/5E P2V-2/3/5F P-3A/B/C P-8A |
Patrol Squadron Eight (VP-8) is a U.S. Navy land-based patrol squadron that was based at the Naval Air Station Brunswick, Maine, but is now stationed at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida. VP-8 is tasked to undertake maritime patrol, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
The squadron was originally established as Patrol Squadron 201 (VP-201) on 1 September 1942, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 201 (VPB-201) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 201 (VP-201) on 15 May 1946, redesignated Patrol Squadron, Medium Seaplane 1 (VP-MS-1) on 15 November 1946, redesignated Patrol Squadron, Medium Landplane 8 (VP-ML-8) on 5 June 1947 and redesignated Patrol Squadron 8 (VP-8) on 1 September 1948. It is the second squadron to be designated VP-8, the first VP-8 was redesignated VP-24 on 1 July 1939.
VP-201 was established at NAS Norfolk, Virginia on 1 September 1942, under the operational command of FAW5, flying PBM-3 Mariner seaplanes. The squadron was sent on 6 October 1942 to NAS Banana River, Florida, where most of the operational unit training was undertaken. The squadron received its own new PBM-3C aircraft on 1 December 1942.
On 6 February 1943 VP-201 returned to its home port at NAS Norfolk. Flight crew training continued concurrently with patrol operations along the Atlantic seaboard as a part of Task Force 28 in the Eastern Sea Frontier. On 27 May 1943 the squadron's PBM-3C aircraft were replaced by the newer PBM-3S with improved radar. After refitting, a six-aircraft detachment deployed to NAS Bermuda. Patrols were flown ranging out to 800 miles (1,300 km), lasting 12 to 18 hours. Convoys to and from Europe were covered in a radius of 500 miles (800 km) from Bermuda. On 9 July 1943 Lieutenant Soverel and crew attacked U-134 off Bermuda, the submarine, caught on the surface, manned its potent anti-aircraft (AA) defenses and heavily damaged the PBM-3S, forcing it to return to base. As a result of this encounter, subsequent patrols were made in pairs of aircraft. On 30 July 1943 VP-201 held a change of command at NAS Norfolk, the former commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander M. H. Tuttle, and half of the squadron personnel and assets were transferred to form the cadre of a new PB4Y-1 Liberator squadron, VB-111, the remainder of the squadron and its newly assigned personnel were transferred the next week to a new home port at NAS Bermuda under the administrative control of the Commander Bermuda Air Group. An intensive period of training ensued.
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