USN Patrol Squadron 18 "Flying Phantoms" VP-18 Unit Patch ~ Vietnam Era Original

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Seller: return_with_honor ✉️ (10,008) 100%, Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan, US, Ships to: WORLDWIDE, Item: 126359513329 USN Patrol Squadron 18 "Flying Phantoms" VP-18 Unit Patch ~ Vietnam Era Original. 1960's period original patch ~ measures 4.25" tall More history on VP-18 in service - 
  • 4 February 1953: The decision was made to augment all of the recalled reserve patrol squadrons to regular Navy patrol squadrons. VP-861  was redesignated VP-18 . The conversions did not necessitate changes in tail codes or home ports.
  • April 1954: VP-18 began a five-month deployment to Naval Station Argentia , Newfoundland . During this period, a VP-18 aircraft became the first P2V-5 and first FAW-11 aircraft to fly over the North Pole .
  • 1 March–April 1955: VP-18 received the first of its new P2V-7 aircraft with improved electronics, cockpit, enlarged bomb bays and jet engine auxiliaries. In April a detachment of six of the squadron aircraft made several public relations stops along the East Coast to display the new bomber while en route to their deployment site at San Juan, Puerto Rico .
  • 15 September 1955: VP-18 deployed to Naval Air Station Keflavik , Iceland . The Icelandic government requested assistance in ridding its fishing fleet of killer whale attacks on their herring drift nets. Permission was obtained, and three squadron aircraft destroyed approximately 40 to 50 whales in less than 25 minutes with depth bomb and strafing attacks. The new Neptunes  maintained a 92 percent availability rate during this period, despite bad weather conditions and only four hours of daylight.
  • November 1957: VP-18 participated in the recovery effort in the Caribbean  of an Army Jupiter missile  nose cone. This nose cone later appeared on a nationwide telecast as President Dwight D. Eisenhower  explained how the U.S. had solved the space reentry problem.
  • April–June 1958: VP-18 participated in the pre-Mercury  primate space program recovery missions in the Caribbean .
  • May 1959: VP-18 deployed two aircraft to Panama  to help the Organization of American States  (OAS) counter an invasion by Cuban guerrilla forces. During the same period a second detachment of three aircraft participated in the recovery of two primates, Able and Baker , that had reentered the atmosphere after being rocketed into space . The capsule was recovered from the Atlantic east of Puerto Rico.
  • 1 September 1960: VP-18 established new airborne endurance record of 20 hours and 33 minutes for the P2V-7 Neptune  in the Caribbean.
  • January 1961: VP-18 participated in the search for the hijacked Portuguese cruise liner Santa Maria  in the Caribbean area. Later that same month, squadron aircraft participated in the successful recovery of the space capsule containing the monkey Ham .
  • 24 May 1962: VP-18 participated in space program recovery missions for a Mercury flight piloted by Lieutenant Commander M. Scott Carpenter . The squadron's aircraft number 6 was first on the scene, directing helicopters from USS Intrepid  to the capsule.
  • 21 October 1962: VP-18 was one of several patrol squadrons deployed during the Cuban Missile Crisis , and remained deployed during the entire Cuban Quarantine operation.
  • 30 November 1962: One of the squadron's aircraft was the first to spot the missing Nina II  approximately 800 miles east of Puerto Rico . The vessel, a reproduction of one of Columbus’ original three sailing ships, became the subject of an international search after it failed to arrive at its destination of San Salvador as scheduled. The crew of the Neptune aircraft dropped emergency supplies, including a new sextant, enabling the vessel to complete its journey.
  • 30 April–26 May 1965: VP-18 provided patrol coverage and surveillance flights of the waters around the island of Hispaniola  during the Dominican Civil War . Continuous coverage was given through 26 May 1965.
  • 10 October 1968: VP-18 was disestablished at NAS Roosevelt Roads , Puerto Rico.
  • Condition: Used
  • Condition: Excellent
  • Conflict: Vietnam (1961-75)
  • Original/Reproduction: Original
  • Theme: Militaria
  • Country/Region of Manufacture: Vietnam

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