VIRIN: 100706-N-6855K-063
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KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii — (July 5, 2010) — P-3C Orion aircraft from the navies of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Canada, Australia, Republic of Korea, and the U.S. line the "Rainbow Fleet" tarmac of Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay during the Rim of the Pacific 2010 exercise. RIMPAC is a biennial, multinational exercise designed to strengthen regional partnerships and improve interoperability. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Meagan E. Klein/Released)
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VIRIN: 100706-N-6855K-030
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KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii — (July 5, 2010) — P-3C Orions from?VP-4, VP-5, VP-8, VP-40, VP-47, VP-62, and VP-69 line the "Rainbow Fleet" tarmac of?MCAS Kaneohe Bay during the Rim of the Pacific 2010 exercise. RIMPAC is a biennial, multinational exercise designed to strengthen regional partnerships and improve interoperability. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Meagan E. Klein/Released)
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Of course Jeff, "you are never wrong" but the 331 modex shows only one possible aircraft with that number and that is 157331.? Check the P-3 Bu Nrs and you'll see I'm right~!
The only other was 161331 which was withdrawn from use in 2010.
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The whole point is to be correct, which is why I don't post unconfirmed serials.
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It's also why you shouldn't post uncredited info with no source for it. Why can't you post something like, "According to Scramble, it's probably 'X".? Why are you incapable of providing a source for the things you post unless you're pushed repeatedly to provide it? No one believes it's your own data, so credit it properly. And then you'll never be wrong, either.
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Jeff
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Makes sense.?Great photo's all. The memory lives (VP 45 and VP23) while stationed at the Acores, Portugal during my tour.
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VIRIN: 110404-N-YR391-005
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — (April 4, 2011) — A P-3C Orion in a heritage paint scheme soars over NAS Jacksonville as part of the Centennial of Naval Aviation celebration. The Navy is observing the Centennial of Naval Aviation with a series of nationwide events celebrating 100 years of heritage, progress, and achievement in naval aviation. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gary Granger Jr./Released)
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Lockheed P-3C-130-LO Orion
BuNo 158206
JQ-21
c/n 285A-5550
to AMARC Oct 1, 2013
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VIRIN: 140422-N-MV308-179
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SIGONELLA, Sicily — (April 22, 2014) — Italian officers from Naval Air Station Sigonella prepare to board a P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft assigned to the "Golden Eagles" of VP-9 during a visit with the squadron. VP-9 is forward-deployed to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility and is assigned to Command Task Force 67, responsible for tactical control of deployed maritime patrol and reconnaissance squadrons throughout the European and African areas of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Amber Porter/Released)
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Lockheed P-3C-220-LO Orion
BuNo 161767
PD-767
VP-9
c/n 285G-5783
Upgraded to P-3C AIP in?Dec 2003 (Source: Joe Baugher)
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VIRIN: 140629-N-MV308-179
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KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii — (June 29, 2014) — Sailors assigned to the "Golden Eagles" of VP-9 unload a P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft as the squadron returns to its home station at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. VP-9 returned after a seven-month deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility, where the squadron was assigned to Commander, Task Force (CTF) 67, responsible for tactical control of deployed maritime patrol and reconnaissance squadrons throughout the European and African areas of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Amber Porter/Released)
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VIRIN: 140813-N-QR600-174
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PACIFIC OCEAN — (Aug. 13, 2014) — A P-3C Orion from the "Fighting Marlins" of VP-40 flies a mission during GUAMEX 2014. GUAMEX is a multilateral exercise intended to enhance the interoperability and to strengthen personnel ties between the U.S. Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Royal Australian Air Force, and Royal New Zealand Air Force. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jillian Lotti/Released)
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VIRIN: 141112-N-TW634-327
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SOUTH CHINA SEA — (Nov. 12, 2014) — A P-3C Orion attached to the "Fighting Marlins" of VP-40 flies past the Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG 60), right, and the Royal Brunei Navy Darussalam-class offshore patrol vessel KDB Darulaman (PV 08) during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Brunei 2014. In its 20th year, CARAT is an annual, bilateral exercise series with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and the armed forces of nine partner nations including Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Republic of the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Timor-Leste. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Derek A. Harkins/Released)
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VIRIN:?141115-N-IY142-304
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MEDITERRANEAN SEA — (Nov. 15, 2014) —?A U.S. Navy P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft from to the "Skinny Dragons" of VP-4 conducts a fly-by with the guided-missile destroyer USS Cole (DDG 67). Cole is conducting naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class John Herman/Released)
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Note the CONA aircraft third in line.
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VIRIN: 150331-N-MV308-013
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DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. — (March 31, 2015) — Retired P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft are used to support active military planes at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona. The 309th AMARG is responsible for the storage and maintenance of aircraft for future redeployment, parts, or proper disposal following retirement by the military. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Amber Porter/Released)
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> BuNr came from Scramble sighting
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Unless the date of the sighting matches the date of the photo, that doesn't change a word of my previous comment and the reason for it. I prefer confirmed facts over speculation and supposition. If you think they're those are same as confirmed facts, that's your choice, but I believe that most people in this group like to have confirmed facts with verifiable sources.
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Perhaps you could include the source (i.e. Scramble in this case) and the date of its report when you post a BuNo instead of trying to imply that it's confirmed fact for the photo when, in fact, there is no confirmation. Crediting the source makes it more credible, too, than simply posting it with nothing to confirm it or its origin.
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Jeff
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> 157331 YD-331 P-3C-AIP

VIRIN: 150612-N-AL293-027
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KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii — (June 12, 2015) — A P-3C Orion aircraft attached to the "Skinny Dragons" of VP-4 takes off from Marine Corps Base Hawaii Kaneohe Bay to conduct anti-submarine warfare qualifications in support of their inter-deployment readiness cycle. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Devin Menhardt/Released)
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History and future combine in reborn 415 Squadron

June 12, 2015

By Sara Keddy

“The deed is done,” said Colonel Iain Huddleston, commander of 14 Wing Greenwood, Nova Scotia. He repeated the phrase on several occasions on June 5, 2015 as a series of significant shifts for the long-range patrol community were signed into effect.

A ceremonial parade before the base museum’s air park witnessed the disbandment of 14 Software Engineering Squadron, the merging of its members with those of the Maritime Proving and Evaluation Unit (MP&EU), and the renaming of MP&EU as 415 Long Range Patrol Force Development Squadron.

The new squadron continues the long association with maritime and long range patrol of 415 Maritime Patrol Squadron, itself disbanded in 2005, and will focus on operational testing, evaluation, and system engineering in support of the modernized CP-140M Aurora.

“This may be the most significant movement in the development of the CP-140,” said the outgoing commanding officer of 14 Software Engineering Squadron, Major Eric North, who congratulated his team for the past several years’ intensive work on the Aurora’s “get well program”.

“We have a good complement of military and civilian personnel, and everyone put on two or three – sometimes four – hats to get the job done. Everyone kept their chins up, morale was quite high, and that’s the important part: knowing we were all contributing to something bigger than any one of us,” he said.

Major Bernie Thorne, the last commanding officer of MP&EU, was emotional as he thanked his personnel for their dedication.

“The list never got shorter and I have been impressed,” he said. “The establishment of 415 Squadron is the right thing for the development of the Aurora fleet into the future, but MP&EU has 56 years of history as a unit – more stories and more interesting things than I can talk about.”

Colonel Huddleston commended the two commanding officers and their personnel for helping move the two units so successfully on both the development of the Aurora as an “indispensable asset” and on the establishment of 415 Squadron.

“Both units have been focussed on similar goals and challenges, and bringing them together creates synergy for moving forward,” Colonel Huddleston said. “That’s already paying off, as their commanding officers have worked together over the past two years. With the long-range patrol community fully engaged, we can not afford a dip in operations as we transition to 415 Squadron.”

He also acknowledged the pride and support of many former members of the old 415 Squadron: “many [are] here to cheer you on.”

Lieutenant-Colonel Jeff Davis will lead the reborn 415 Squadron.

“What an awesome feeling,” he said. “Seldom is the journey easy, but I am thrilled to lead you. Moving forward, we must balance all of our priorities, projects, unit events, and families; and bring this capability through the Block III Aurora, into Block IV and ‘To the mark’.”

The day’s reviewing officer was Major-General Derek Joyce, a former commander of 14 Wing – and the parade commander for the 415 Squadron closure ten years ago.

“I would be nowhere else today,” Major-General Joyce said. “Ten years ago after that closure, there was a low point in our community, but there was soon a move to make us in demand: we explored exercises with the Army, we pushed our capabilities outside our community, and we worked hard. We have succeeded.”

A brief history of 415 Squadron

Badge description
Argent a swordfish proper variant.
The swordfish and motto indicate the squadron's former operational duties in attacking enemy shipping.

Motto
Ad metam (To the mark)

Battle Honours – The Second World War
ATLANTIC, 1942; ENGLISH CHANNEL AND NORTH SEA, 1942-1944; FRANCE AND GERMANY, 1944-1945; Biscay Ports, 1944; Ruhr, 1944-1945; German Ports, 1944-1945; Normandy, 1944; Rhine; BISCAY, 1942-1943.

Lineage
Authorized as '415 (Torpedo Bomber) Squadron' 20 August 1941
Redesignated '415 (Bomber) Squadron' 12 July 1944
Disbanded 15 May 1945.
Reformed as '415 Maritime Patrol Squadron' 1 May 1961
Disbanded 2005

The Second World War
The squadron flew on anti-shipping operations over the British and Dutch coasts under 'Coastal Command' and, later, on bombing operations in Great Britain under Bomber Command.

Sara Keddy is the managing editor of 14 Wing Greenwood’s base newspaper, The Aurora.

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Long Range Patrol’s “home away from home” in Kuwait

June 11, 2015

By Joint Task Force-Iraq Public Affairs

CAMP CANADA, KUWAIT— The two Mobile Expandable Containers (MECs) that make up the Deployable Mission Support Centre (DMSC) look unassuming in their corner of Camp Canada, yet house an important capability for Air Task Force-Iraq’s Long Range Patrol (LRP) Detachment.

Tidily installed inside this unique set-up is everything the detachment needs to keep up the flow of important intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) data to the Middle East Stabilization Force. From servers and computer workstations to chart-plotters and communications equipment, the portable operations centre is a hub of activity.

Air-conditioned against the hot Kuwaiti desert conditions, the DMSC also has a briefing room in which aircrews can prepare for missions in comfort, as well as conduct analysis and debriefs after a reconnaissance sortie.

The CP-140M is among the most advanced ISR platforms in the skies and its sensors and cameras are used to good effect by the crews to keep tabs on various ISIS activities in Iraq, but extracting that data and getting it into the hands of commanders and intelligence personnel within the coalition is up to those in the DMSC.

“By acting as the focal point for ISR data, the DMSC provides rapid intelligence assessments of the Aurora’s products, including high-resolution photos and video, not only for use by other intelligence assets and units, but also to be fed back into the planning cycle for the next mission,” noted the LRP Detachment commander. “The staff at the DMSC are performing to the exceptionally high level we expect, taking the impressive capabilities of the CP-140M and translating them into extraordinary operational effect.”

While the centre has been proven previously during numerous exercises and operations, like 2011’s Op MOBILE, Op IMPACT is the DMSC’s debut in a true desert environment.

“To support Op IMPACT, the DMSC deployed with the first wave of Aurora aircrew, maintainers, and support personnel,” said a senior leader in the LRP Detachment. “Within days, it began playing its vital role as a conduit of information, funneling mission-critical data to the flying crews and maximizing their effectiveness while airborne.”

The DMSC was transported into Kuwait on some of the first flights after Canada committed to helping in the fight against ISIS. The modular design of the DMSC enables the MECs to be loaded into a CC-177 cargo or other transport aircraft and flown almost anywhere in the world that a CP-140 Aurora detachment may find itself operating from.

“The DMSC is almost like a home away from home for the aircrew. It performs all of the same functions as a Wing operations centre back in Canada,” noted the Deputy Operations Officer. “It can be set up in only a few hours, although there have been some improvements made to it since we got here, reinforced air conditioning and heat-reducing canopies over the roof being among the most important for desert operations.”

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U.S. Navy tests maritime aircraft radar

Michael Peck
Contributing Writer
C4ISR & Networks
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June 11, 2015
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The Navy has tested a new maritime aircraft radar.
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The AN/APS-154 Advanced Airborne Sensor (AAS) radar made its first flight, on a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. The radar will "replace the AN/APS-149 Littoral Surveillance Radar System (LSRS) carried on specially-modified P-3C Orion aircraft," reads a Naval Air Systems Command news release.
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The radar "represents the next generation of maritime patrol and reconnaissance radars which will provide military commanders highly-accurate battle-space situational awareness as an integrated Maritime Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Targeting (ISR&T) asset," the release continues.

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