Patrol Squadron SIXTEEN (VP-16 or PATRON 16) transitioned from the Lockheed P-3C Update IIIR Orion to the Boeing P-8A Poseidon in 2012. Since then the War Eagles have been flying the nation’s newest maritime patrol aircraft out of Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville as part of Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11 (PATWING 11). The War Eagles were the first squadron to transition to the P-8A and the first to deploy overseas with the Poseidon. This video was shot during VP-16’s highly successful 2015-2016 deployment to Japan and the Western Pacific (WestPac). Thanks to YouTuber E. S. for uploading it.
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VP-16 can trace their lineage all the way back to 1946 when the squadron was formed as Reserve Patrol Squadron NINO ZERO SIX (VP-906) at NAS Jacksonville flying Lockheed PV-2 Harpoons. The squadron has also been designated Medium Seaplane Squadron FIVE SIX (VP-ML-56) when flying Consolidated PBY Catalina flying boats and VP-741 before being designated as VP-16 in 1951. After flying Catalinas the squadron flew several models of the Lockheed P2V Neptune and after 1964 flew most of the various models of the Lockheed P-3 Orion.
