Commander, Patrol & Reconnaissance Wing 10
(360) 257-6701

Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 10, located in Hangar Six and Hangar Seven, maintain operational and administrative control of all active duty and reserve P-3 Orion Maritime Patrol Aviation squadrons and the EP-3 Fleet Air Reconnaissance squadrons stationed here.

The Wing is also responsible for the training, maintenance and administrative support of its assigned VP and VQ squadrons of more than 2,000 personnel. Its Training Department includes a Weapons Training Unit with both VP and VQ Weapons Training Instructors.

Wing 10 provides operational support and communication to its squadrons through a Tactical Support Center that contains the most advanced systems in the Pacific Fleet, providing mission planning, briefing and analysis tools for combat aircrews, and an extensive communications suite.

An Operational Flight Trainer provides real world scenarios for aircrew coordination. Additionally, Wing 10 provides several advanced simulators to train both VP and VQ aircrews as they prepare for deployment around the world.

Maritime Patrol Aviation Squadrons (VP)

VP-1 Screaming Eagles

VP-4 Skinny Dragons

VP-9 Golden Eagles

VP-40 Fighting Marlins

VP-46 Grey Knights

VP-47 Golden Swordsmen

VP-69 Totems

Each squadron deploys to sites located in the Western Pacific, Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean. They generally spend 18 months at home between deployments in a demanding Inter-Deployment Training Cycle. During these periods, they have several detachments at sites throughout the Eastern Pacific.

The P-3C Update III aircraft is a multi-mission platform that can operate either alone or in support of many different customers, including carrier battle groups, amphibious readiness groups, surface action groups and special mission tasking. Its missions include undersea warfare, anti-surface warfare, mining, reconnaissance, surveillance, search and rescue and counter-drug operations.

Many P-3 aircraft have received extensive mission equipment upgrades under the “Aircraft Improvement Program” (AIP). AIP P-3s have greatly improved capabilities and have played major roles in U.S. combat successes in Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq.

All P-3s can carry a wide range of weapons including air-to-surface missiles and torpedoes. Operating these systems is an 11-person combat aircrew including both officers and enlisted personnel who train and fly as a unit.

VP-69 was commissioned a Reserve Force Squadron flying the SP-2H Neptune in November 1970 at Naval Air Station Sand Point, Seattle.

The squadron maintains readiness in anticipation of rapid deployment and provides contributory support to the fleet. Aircrews train by maintaining proficiency in antisubmarine warfare operations, surface surveillance, battle group coordinated operations, intelligence collection, counter-narcotics and mine warfare.
 

Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadrons (VQ)

VQ-1 World Watchers

VQ-1 flies the EP-3E Aries Sensor Station Improvement Program (SSIP) and EP-3E Aries Joint Common Configuration (JCC) aircraft, both of which are a modification of the venerable P-3 Orion airframe. Both squadrons use this aircraft to conduct Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Missions worldwide in fulfillment of Fleet, Joint, Combined and National Commanders’ Tasking. VQ aircraft and aircrew provide Carrier Strike Group Commanders and operational field commanders with a real-time assessment of the tactical posture of unfriendly military forces.

The Combat Reconnaissance Crews of VQ-1 collect, analyze and exploit Signals Intelligence and also disseminate any threat warnings directly to U.S. Forces afloat and in the field. This real-time transmission of critical intelligence to National and Theater commanders often helps to shape tactical and strategic decisions. By effectively conducting these missions, the VQ squadrons, along with Navy Information Operations Command, have played and will continue to play an integral role in not only the Global War on Terror, but also in Combat Action Crisis Operations, Carrier Strike Group Support, and Peacetime Intelligence Collection Operations worldwide.