The White Falcon - 07.11.1980, Side 5

November 7, 1980 The White Falcon Page 5
adron?’
preferred duty" among aviation
personnel.
But why don't squadrons remain in
one place? "Because by deploying,
each squadron gets familiar with all
the different areas in the world,
and this increases all the squad-
rons' combat readiness," CDR Nute
explained. "Then, when squadrons
are asked to assist in high ten-
sion areas such as the Indian Ocean,
they will be better prepared because
of their familiarity with the area."
VP-9 ‘Golden Eagles'
The VP-9 "Golden Eagles" are
currently assigned here, having
relieved VP-46 as Patron Keflavik
about five weeks ago.
The Golden Eagles are no newcomer
to the North country. In 1958, the
squadron utilized P-2V Neptunes to
assist the USS Nautilus in its his-
toric passage under the polar Ice
Cap. In 1970, the squadron assisted
in the charting of the northern ice
pack, and in 1978, while deployed
to Adak, Alaska, the squadron played
a key role in the major fleet exer-
cise FLEETEX 1-79.
CDR Nute explained that getting
the chance to deploy to Iceland is a
fare opportunity for the California-
ed squadron. "Normally we sup-
ort the 3rd and 7th fleets in the
Pacific, so this is an exciting
challenge for us to operate with the
NATO countries," he said.
"It's a great opportunity for our
people to see the European countries.
We will be a better squadron because
of this deployment."
AW1 Thomas Jarvis at his ASW sensor station
VP-9's P3-C Orion ASW aircraft—are used world wide
*?