VP-8

]

VP-8 flew nearly 6,000 hours operating out of 18 countries during a tri-site deployment to NAF Keflavik, NS Roosevelt Roads, and Howard Air Force Base, Panama, in 1998. The squadron flew 450 surveillance missions in support of counter-narcotic operations in the Caribbean area of responsibility (AOR), resulting in 13 arrests and the seizure of 11 metric tons of illegal drugs worth $171.4 million USD. Search and rescue efforts in the region accounted for 14 saved lives.]

Operation Unified Assistance

During its Western Pacific deployment to Misawa Air Base and Kadena Air Base, VP-8 participated in the U.S. military response to the aftermath of 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake ("Operation Unified Assistance"), sending the first U.S. military aircraft on station to the disaster area from to Utaphao, Thailand, and Diego Garcia, as well as flying Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief (HADR) missions to the affected region.cite web |url= http://www.vp8.navy.mil/index.php?id=595&secid=17 |title= Patrol Squadron Eight History |accessdate=2008-09-09 |work= Patrol Squadron 8 - U.S. Navy |publisher= |date= ]

Awards & Commendations

* Joint Meritorious Unit Award – 1990, 1991
* Navy Unit Commendation - 1978, 1983, 1991
* Meritorious Unit Commendation - 1970, 1971, 1977, 1979, 1983, 1986, 1997
* Navy Expeditionary Medal - 1982
* Southwest Asia Service Medal - 1991
* Navy "E" Ribbon - 1950, 1960, 1962, 1983, 1991, 1997, 2000, 2007
* CINCLANTFLT Golden Anchor Award - 1995, 2005
* Isbell Trophy - 1962, 1984, 1988, 1996
* U.S. Sixth Fleet "Hook 'em" Award - 1980, 1983, 1984, 1988, 1991
* Golden Wrench Award for Maintenance - 2007

ee also

* History of the United States Navy
* List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons

Notes

ources

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External Link

* [http://www.vp8.navy.mil/ Official Web Site] – U.S. Navy
* [http://www.vp8alumni.org/ VP-8 Alumni Association]
* [http://www.vpnavy.org/vp8.html VP-8] – [http://www.vpnavy.org/index.html U.S. Navy Patrol Squadrons – VPNavy.org]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/vp-8.htm Patrol Squadron Eight] – Globalsecurity.org
* [http://unitpages.military.com/unitpages/unit.do?id=202552 VP-8 Unit Page] – Military.com
* [http://www.tiger-lair.org/units/unitsDetail.asp?unitID=168 VP-8 Web Page] – Tiger-Lair.org
* [http://www.tigercrew.org/tigerunits/detail.php?unitID=26 VP-8 Web Page] – NATO Tiger Association