P-3 Orion Articles: February 2002

• VP-5 "Mad Foxes" Depart Sicily For Home
  February 12, 2002. By Lt. j.g. Kristen Richards, Patrol Squadron 5 Public Affairs. Navy News Service. http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=855

  SIGONELLA, Italy (NNS) -- The last aircrew members of the "Mad Foxes" -- from Patrol Squadron (VP) 5 -- have departed Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella and returned to their homeport of NAS Jacksonville, Fla.
  
  During the past six months, the Mad Foxes successfully completed a split-site deployment to NAS Sigonella, Sicily, and Naval Support Activity (NSA) Souda Bay, Crete. While deployed to the Mediterranean, the squadron safely executed more than 1,100 missions encompassing 6,600 flight hours in support of the theater commander's objectives.
  
  Initally arriving in Sigonella on Aug. 28, 2001, the Mad Foxes quickly adapted to their new environment. They immediately began conducting intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) sorties in support of Operation Deliberate Forge over Bosnia-Herzegovina and Operation Joint Guardian over Kosovo. These operations were c reated to support ongoing NATO peacekeeping efforts in the former Republic of Yugoslavia.
  
  In response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, VP-5 broadened their focus to begin conducting missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The squadron expeditiously relocated nearly 40 percent of its combat aircrews and P-3C Orions to NSA Souda Bay, to gain a geographic advantage for Eastern Mediterranean operations.
  
  In conjunction with ongoing operational tasking, the Mad Foxes participated in numerous exercises to remain proficient in the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance (MPR) community's wide-ranging mission areas, including anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface warfare (ASUW), and to strengthen ties with various Mediterranean allies.
  
  Since August 2001, the Mad Foxes supported 17 multi-national exercises, including Destined Glory with Spain; Bright Star with Egypt and Noble Dina with Israel. Furthermore, the squadron's commitment to training resulted in the qualification of five patrol plane commanders, three patrol plane tactical coordinators and 10 mission commanders, as well as numerous enlisted aircrew and ground personnel qualifications.
  
  VP-5 Sailors also received recognition for their numerous achievements. At the deployment's conclusion, squadron members received the NATO Medal (Kosovo Operations) and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. Additionally, all aviators and aircrew were awarded the Kosovo Campaign Medal for conducting missions in support of Operation Joint Guardian.
  
  Additionally, the commander of Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11 has nominated VP-5 for the Naval Air Force Atlantic Fleet Battle Excellence Award (Battle E) in recognition of their numerous operational achievements.
  
  Despite flying nearly around-the-clock on deployment, VP-5 maintained an excellent safety record. In 2001, the squadron flew more than 7,000 mishap-free flight hours a dding to their impressive 23-year, 132,000 mishap-free-flight-hour record, earning them the Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11 nomination for the CNO Safety Award.
  
  

• February 27, 2002: "US planes conduct aerial surveillance on hostage island: Philippines"
  ZAMBOANGA, Philippines, Feb 27 (AFP) - US aircraft are carrying out surveillance over Basilan island, where American soldiers are advising Philippines troops fighting Muslim rebels, a Filipino general has said. P3 Orion aircraft were enageed in two surveillance missions over the southern Philippine island so far, said Major General Glicerio Sua, an Army division commander in the region. "They spotted areas for us to check," but the follow-up ground action "yielded negative information," Sua told reporters late Tuesday. "We have also some areas we requested them to check," but they turned up negative results as well, he added. Up to 300 of the Abu Sayyaf guerrillas with alleged links to the al-Qaeda terror network of Osama bin Laden operate on the mountainous island. The gunmen are holding three hostages, including a US Christian missionary couple. A total of 160 US Special Forces troops are detailed with Filipino troops in Basilan at one 12-member US "alpha team" per Filipino battallion. The Pentagon said in Washington last week that it was sharing information with the Philippine government but would not comment on a US newspaper report that it has begun surveillance flights. A Pentagon spokesman said information sharing with the Philippines pre-dated the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States. The Washington Post said the United States has recently begun surveillance flights over the southern Philippines. The flights are meant to complement the US military presence in the Philippines, which now number at 660.

• February 2002: MANILA (Reuters) - A U.S. Navy P-3 Orion surveillance aircraft made an emergency landing at Mactan airport in the central Philippines Friday after one of its engines failed while it was airborne, local television (Manila's ANC television network) said.
• February 28 2002: VP-46 Returns Home From Western Pacific Deployment
  By Patrol Squadron 46 Public Affairs; Navy News Service
  WHIDBEY ISLAND, Wash. (NNS) -- The "Grey Knights" of Patrol Squadron (VP) 46, under the leadership of Cmdr. Kevin J. Keilty, recently returned to Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island from a highly successful deployment to Misawa and Kadena, Japan.

  Highly trained and focused, the men and women of VP-46 professionally executed traditional 7th Fleet missions of anti-submarine warfare and maritime surveillance while standing by to answer the call of the unexpected.

  The first VP-46 crews arrived in the 7th Fleet area operating region (AOR) on May 30, 2001, and immediately repositioned to the Republic of the Philippines to commence the first of a series of bilateral exercises throughout the South Pacific and Indian oceans.

  The squadron operated with the naval and air forces of the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei, expanding the role of maritime patrol while fostering the spirit of international cooperation in the region. Additionally, the squadron participated in multiple exercises with Japan and the Republic of Korea.

  The squadron demonstrated its undersea warfare expertise during successful prosecution and data collections on numerous foreign submarines from countries all around the western Pacific rim. Grey Knight crews launched out of Kadena and Misawa to locate and track numerous submarine contacts.

  The unexpected sadly came on Sept. 11, 2001. The terrorist attacks changed the focus and tactical priorities for the squadron through the remainder of deployment. In addition to maintaining previous levels of anti-submarine presence and maritime patrol, VP-46 became an active participant in Operation Enduring Freedom throughout the AORs of the 7th and 5th fleets.

  Squadron crews conducted maritime force protection patrols in defense of mainland Japan and provided maritime escort for USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) and USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) battlegroups through the South China Sea, the Strait of Malacca and en route to the Arabian Sea.

  The squadron also provided maritime escort for the first out-of-area deployment by a Japanese Surface Action Group since World War II, en route to the Indian Ocean in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

  Grey Knight crews repositioned from the 7th Fleet to the 5th Fleet in response to the demand for increased assets in the region. They conducted daily armed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions in the gulf region and over Afghanistan, conducting optical surveillance and targeting for allied ground assets. The squadron concluded its deployment on Dec. 10, 2001, with the return of their last crew and the commanding officer to NAS Whidbey Island.

  The men and women of Patrol Squadron 46 were awarded the 7th Fleet Undersea Warfare Excellence Award, two Task Force 72 "Crew of the Month" citations and four Task Force 72 Golden Lens awards for excellence in photographic intelligence collection.

  VP-46 was relieved by another Whidbey Island squadron, the "Fighting Marlins" of VP-40, commanded by Cmdr. Clyde Porter.

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