The White Falcon - 06.08.1982, Blaðsíða 1

The White Falcon
Volume 25, dumber 31
Keflavik, Iceland
fliinncf
VP-26 arrives
ready for NATO
duty here
Observant personnel at NavStaKef have
probably noticed the P3's on the flight-
line sporting new tail feathers. The dis-
tinct blue and gold Trident on a tail top-
ped with stars belong to none other than
Patrol Squadron 26 homeported in Brunswick,
Maine.
VP-26 is deployed to Keflavik and oper-
ates under control of ComFairKef. Their
primary mission is anti-submarine warfare,
with secondary missions in search and res-
cue and over-water surveillance and patrol.
VP-26 goes back to 26 August 1945 when
Bombing Squadron 114 was commissioned at
NAS Norfolk, Virginia. 5 Years after com-
missioning, the squadron designation was
changed to Patrol Squadron Twenty-six. In
1951, while flying the P-2 "Neptune" in
Patuxent River, Maryland, VP-26 became the
first squadron ordered to the newly com-
missioned Naval Air Station at Brunswick,
Maine.
1965 began a new era for the Tridents
as they transitioned to the P-3 "Orion"
aircraft when the first P-3B in the navy
was delivered from Burbank, California to
NAS Brunswick, Maine. In the fall
of 1967, VP-26 deployed to Southeast Asia
and averaged over 1500 combat hours per
month earning flight crew members Vietnam
Service Medals, campaign medals, and sev-
eral air medals. In August 19|^^h^ron
25 was awarded the Fleet Air W^^^Bree
"E" for battle efficiency. Thi^^out
1968 and until late 1971, VP-26 participa-
ted in numerous North Atlantic and Mediter-
anean deployments. Superior performance
earned the squadron the Navy Utryj^ommen-
dation, Chief of Naval Operati^^^Lfety
Award, Meritorious Unit Commenl^^^ and
a US Atlantic Fleet Citation for aviation
safety. In fiscal year 1972 the Tridents
were again awarded the Chief of Naval
Operations Safety Award. Other awards
through the years included the Jay Isbell
Trophy in 1973 and 1974 for excellence in
anti-submarine warfare. Also in 1974 the
Tridents Safety Record extended beyond
continued on page 3
Photo contest
winners selected
The results are in, the winners in the
1982 White Falcon photo contest have been
picked.
The judging was difficult, there were
171 photos submitted in the five categories
Our thanks to everyone who took the time to
enter the contest. The entries may be
picked up at the White Falcon office.
The winners in each category,were:
Icelandic Scenery: "lst place, David Kenny;
runner up, Gwen Eveliegh; honorable mention
Carl Weber. Birds and Animals in Iceland:
1st place, John Baker. Personality: 1st
place, Clara Meredith; runner up, Clara
Meredith; honorable mention, A1 Shrock.
General: 1st place, Clara Meredith; run-
ner up, A1 Shrock; honorable mention,
Larry Wharff.
The first place photos are being printed
in the paper this week and the runners up
and honorable mentions will be printed
next week.
H.S. registration set
High School registration for all new and
returning students will be held August 17,
18 and 19.
date cl ass time
17 seniors 9 a.m.-noon
juniors 1 - 4 p.m.
18 sophomores 9 a.m.-noon
freshmen 1 - 4 p.m.
19 eighth grade 9 a.m.-noon
seventh grade 1 - 4 p.m.
Captain Eric A. McVadon assumed com-
mand of the Naval Station during the
change-of-command ceremonies July 28.
The new Naval Station, Keflavik
Commanding Officer said, "My family and I
are very happy to be here at Keflavik. We
asked to come here rather than go to one
of the other commands which might have
been available to me this year because
I believe that the military operations
conducted from this base are important and
that the existence of the base and the
presence of the defense force are signi-
ficant elements in the NATO strategy
of deterrence."
He went on to say, "...people who
operate this station have earned a wide
spread reputation for doing things well.
In months of talking to people in
Washington and Norfolk, I was consistently
told of the first-rate professional job
that the men and women of Keflavik are
doing. The senior people with whom I
spoke expressed confidence and praise.
Their staffs told me that you know your
jobs, work hard, and maintain excellent
relations with all those with whom you
work.
"I was told that you superbly support
Navy and Air Force flight operations,
that you cope exceedingly well with
arduous conditions and unexpected demands,
and that you are genuinely concerned about
the well-being, comfort and happiness of
your fellow sailors, airmen, civilian
co-workers and the families who are here.
"Yes, I was also told of problems that
face all of us liere, but I was told at the
same time of how all of you under Captain
Smith's leadership have attacked these
problems and made things better through
ideas, innovation, initiative and good,
solid hard work. You are well-known for
your professionalism and your ability to
do things as they should be done.
"It would seem that there is little
more that a new commanding officer could
hear that would make him still happier
with this assignment. But I have, in fact,
learned something else about you - and
this I've learned both from those of you
whom I've met during the past months and
from others .who know you well.
"I've learned that there is no finer
U.S. military community anywhere. I've
repeatedly heard that your sense of com-
munity is superb, that it's fun to be a
part of that community and to share in its
warmth, camaraderie and cooperation in
both the many good things and when you
share burdens and hardships. My family
and I look forward to being part of that
community and getting to know you better.
We appreciate very much the very warm
welcome you have given us during this
last week. We also look forward to
being neighbors to all of you who live on
the Reykjanes peninsula and elsewhere in
Iceland."
CAPT McVadon assumes helm
compliments base personnel
command device passed