VRC-30
Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 30 | |
---|---|
NAS North Island | |
Nickname(s) | "Providers" |
Commanders | |
Current commander | CDR James L. Light, USN |
Aircraft flown | |
Transport | Grumman C-2 Greyhound |
Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 30 (VRC-30) was an
History
VRC-30 was originally established as Air Transport Squadron 5 (VR-5) on 24 June 1943 at
In 1948, the Naval Air Transportation Service and Air Transport Command of the
1950s
In 1950, VR-5 moved its base of operations from NAS Seattle to Naval Air Station Moffett Field, California. Detachments were established in Seattle and at Naval Air Station North Island, California. VR-5 was decommissioned on 15 July 1957 and became VR-21, with detachments at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan and NAS North Island.[citation needed]
VR-21 was the first squadron to fly dedicated
1960s and 1970s
On 1 October 1966 VR-21 was decommissioned. The Atsugi detachment was redesignated VRC-50, and the Alameda Detachment was redesignated VR-30, equipped with Convair C-131 Samaritan and C-1A Trader aircraft. On 9 November 1966, VR-30 made their first landing in the C-1A aboard the aircraft carrier USS Bon Homme Richard. The squadron was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation for exemplary service from 1 January to 30 November 1967. From 1968 to 1973, VR-30 COD detachments also operated aboard various carriers in support of recovery operations for Apollo 10, 11, 12, and 16.[citation needed]
In 1969, squadron C-1As and crews operated from
On 12 March 1974 the U.S. Navy's first female aviator, Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Barbara A. Allen reported for duty. After relocating to NAS North Island, VR-30 was decommissioned on 1 October 1978 and VRC-30 was concurrently commissioned.[citation needed]
1980s
In February 1980, VRC-30 was also tasked with training aviators on the Beechcraft C-12 Huron. IN late 1985, VRC-30 retired the 6 C-1A Trader and transitioned to the Grumman C-2A Greyhound by accepting deliveries of five C-2A Greyhounds. These were later replaced by newer C-2A(R).
1990s
In 1994 VRC-30 became the took sole
In December 1999, the squadron has achieved 24 years and over 149,600 hours of accident-free flight. VRC-30 was awarded the
2000s
The squadron supported
The years to follow saw several major developments and upgrades in the C-2A, beginning with the critical Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) in 2006. The SLEP increased the airframe lifespan from 10,000 flight hours or 15,000 carrier landings to 15,000 flight hours or 36,000 carrier landings. The program allowed the aircraft to operate until 2027. The SLEP was followed by an aircraft rewire in 2008, and the "LOT 4" upgrade in August 2010. The LOT 4 upgrade, completed in September 2012, provided pilots with a new glass cockpit and the eight-bladed NP2000 propeller system, which increased performance, reduced airframe vibration, and improved maintainability. During this period, VRC-30 earned five more Battle Efficiency awards in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011 and 2012.
On 22 November 2017 a VRC-30 Detachment 5 C-2A carrying 11 passengers and crew crashed into the Philippine Sea 90.1 miles (145 km) Northwest of Okinotorishima while flying from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni to USS Ronald Reagan. 8 people were recovered but 3 were not found. It was the first loss of a C-2 since 2005,[3] and the first fatal accident of VRC-30 since 1973.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10] The aircraft was located at a depth of 18,500ft (5,640 meters) in the last week of December 2017, when a salvage ship used a pinger receiver to locate the aircraft's emergency signal.[11][12]
VRC-30 was loosely associated with the North Island Association of Active Duty Fixed Wing Carrier Transport Pilots, a fraternal organization of C-2A pilots in San Diego. The NIAADFWCTP was famous throughout the Southern California area, particularly for their enthusiastic participation in the Coronado Fourth of July Parade in 2018 and 2019. Tasked with recruiting midshipmen and officer candidates to pursue careers in naval aviation, the NIAADFWCTP saved countless lives, careers and marriages by convincing people to Fly Fast and Turn Left instead of going subs or SWO.
With the retirement of the C-2A Greyhound, VRC-30 Det.5 at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, will be assigned to VRC-40 on 30 September 2023. The final flight of a C-2A Greyhound of VRC-30 took place on 20 September 2023 and the squadron will be deactivated on 8 December 2023.[13]
Detachments
Detachment 1 | Detachment 2 | Detachment 3 | Detachment 4 | Detachment 5 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
See also
References
- ^ "VRC-30 Detachments". airpac.navy.mil. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
- ^ "Navy Compass - San Diego Official Navy Newspaper - VRC-30 brings goods to Lincoln". www.navycompass.com. Archived from the original on 21 November 2008.
- ^ Mizokami, Kyle (26 November 2017). "U.S. Navy Transport Crashes En Route to Aircraft Carrier". popularmechanics.com. Popular Mechanics. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
- ^ "US Navy C-2 Greyhound crashes in Philippine Sea". Flight Global. 22 November 2017. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
- ^ "U.S. Navy plane crashes in Philippine Sea, three missing". Reuters. 22 November 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
- ^ Rich, Motoko (22 November 2017). "Navy Aircraft With 11 Aboard Crashes Into Waters Off Japan". New York Times. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
- ^ Lockie, Alex (22 November 2017). "US Navy plane carrying 11 crashes in the Philippine Sea en route to aircraft carrier". businessinsider.com. Business Insider. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
- ^ Walters, Joanne (23 November 2017). "Three missing after U.S. Navy plane crashes in Philippine Sea". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
- ^ Cenciotti, David (22 November 2017). "U.S. Navy C-2A Aircraft Carrying 11 Crew And Passengers Crashed In The Ocean Southeast Of Okinawa". theaviationist.com. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
- ^ "Search Ends For Sailors in C-2A Crash". navy.mil. 23 November 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
- The Associated Press/MilitaryTimes.com, 2018-01-07
- ^ "U.S. Navy Maps Downed C-2A Greyhound". 15 February 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ "Final flight for VRC-30 Greyhound". scramble.nl. 22 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.