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Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 1 bid farewell to the command’s last P-3 as it departed for Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, July 20.

The P-3C Orion is an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface warfare (ASuW) patrol aircraft. The P-3C’s mission is to provide surveillance across land and sea, and has proven to be a valuable asset for the Navy and VX-1.

“The P-3C Orion has provided us, as operators, with a wealth of assets to complete any mission in any AOR,” said Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 2nd Class Sean Smith, aircrewman assigned to VX-1. “VX-1 continually led the operational test of new systems before they went to the fleet so I’m proud to have been a part of the legacy that is the P-3C Orion. I won’t soon forget my time onboard.”

Naval Air Station Patuxent River was the first installation to receive the P-3 in 1962. VX-1 received their first P-3, P-3A (885), in 1963 thus making VX-1 the longest continuous operators of the P-3 in the Navy. P-3C Orion (124) is the final P-3 at VX-1 and will further the U.S. Navy’s initiative to replace the remaining P-3C aircraft with the P-8A Poseidon.

VX-1’s P-3C Orion (124) final flight was to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, home to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (309 AMARG). The 309 AMARG is the only aircraft “boneyard” and part reclamation installation for military and government aircraft. It houses more than 4,000 aircraft from the Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Navy, Marine Corps and all other government organizations making it the largest aircraft boneyard in the world.