Title
Fleet Composite Squadron TWO (VC-2) "Blue Falcons" Historical timeline
Content
Home Ports: 1952: Naval Air Station Quonset Point, Rhode Island. 1960: Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Tail Code: JE Radio Call Sign(s): "Anthony" / "Alpine" / "Juliet Echo"
1952: FLECOMPRON TWO (VC-2) was originally a Utility Squadron FOUR (VU-4) Detachment and stationed at NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island. On January 8, 1952 demand for utility services had grown to the point where VU-4's Quonset Point detachment was redesignated Utility Squadron TWO (VU-2). Lcdr. Carlton Soderholm, USN was the first Blue Falcon Commanding Officer.
Mission: VU-2's mission was to train aircraft controllers and ship gun crews; provide flights to assist in the completion of functional radar tests for Atlantic Fleet and NATO naval units; conduct of transition training in the FS aircraft for newly designated aviators; and aerial combat maneuvering flights in conjunction with fleet fighter squadron combat readiness training. The newly commissioned squadron had a complement of 30 officers and 185 enlisted men operating the Douglas JD-1 "Invader" and Grumman F9F "Cougar." VU-2 pilots towed bright red and white targets past firing batteries of U. S. ships from Maine to Puerto Rico. Cougars flew high-speed intercepts for stations and ships in the Atlantic Fleet.
1959: VU-2 acquired the KD2R5 and the KDBI target systems to provide experience for Atlantic Fleet gunners. When launched from the fantail of ships, KD's presented small, fast moving, recoverable targets for radar and gunfire tracking.
June,1960: VU-2 moved to the Naval Air Station Oceana at Virginia Beach, Virginia, leaving VU-2 Detachment Quonset Point, Rhode Island with the squadron's Douglas JD Invaders. The move enabled the Blue Falcons to increase service to the Fleet Anti-Air Warfare Training Center at Dam Neck, Virginia and the fleet in the Norfolk area. Utility Squadron TWO pilots stowed their tow-targets and became "BOGIES" flying the North American FJ-3 "Fury" for radar tracking exercises and air-to-air intercepts.
July, 1961: Utility Squadron TWO became the first supersonic utility squadron on the Atlantic coast when VU-2 received the Vought F-8U "Crusader." The Crusader's increased performance enabled the Fleet Anti-Air Warfare Training Center to accomplish the complexities of high speed aircraft intercepts.
May, 1962: Utility Squadron TWO was tasked to provide DELMAR tow targets to the fleet. The DELMAR tow profile provided realistic air-to-air and sea-to-air missile firing training for the Atlantic Fleet.
1963: UTRON TWO flew 4,539 accident free hours during fiscal 1963, receiving a COMNAVAIRLANT Citation for the outstanding achievement. In August VU-2 was chosen to "pilot" the Navy Maintenance Data Collection System, a counterpart of the Air Force 66-1 Program.
1964: Utility Squadron TWO established UC-2 Detachment 33 Jacksonville, Florida and VU-2 Detachment Key West, Florida. The VU-2 Jacksonville Detachment serviced ships from Charleston, South Carolina and Mayport, Florida as well as air units from Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Florida. The VU-2 Key West Detachment towed DELMAR targets providing air-to-air missile firing training for fleet squadrons.
January, 1965: UTRON TWO flew an all time record 570 "Crusader" hours. The record was achieved using the F-8C Crusader which had been assigned in April 1964. The hour accumulated as VU-2 trained Blue Falcon pilots for all-weather high-speed intercepts in the enhanced radar ability F-8C Crusader. Meanwhile the Blue Falcons performed high-speed intercepts to train and evaluate sea and land based student air controllers.
July 1, 1965: UTRON TWO (VU-2)was redesignated Fleet Composite Squadron TWO (VC-2).
December, 1965: Fleet Composite Squadron TWO increased emphasis on Crusader squadron pilot weapon platform training. VC-2 became the first Composite Squadron to fire live Sidewinder missiles. All squadron pilots participated in live Sidewinder firing exercises with a 76% kill record. Sidewinder training was accomplished while the squadron perfected techniques to tow a new supersonic Hayes target. These two demanding tasks did not hinder the squadron's busy aircraft service mission.
1967: VC-2 transitioned from F-8C Crusaders to F-8A Crusaders while the squadron provided its traditional Atlantic Fleet service. The Blue Falcons also flew service missions for the German Navy ships "Z-2" and "Z-3" and the Spanish ship DEDALO.
August, 1968: VC-2 Blue Falcons received a COMNAVAIRLANT aviation safety citation for flying 3240 accident-free hours.
July, 1969: The Blue Falcons transitioned from the F-8A Crusader to a modernized F-8K Crusader.
1969: VC-2 Detachment Quonset Point, Rhode Island completed its 10th year of accident free operation.
December, 1969: Even with austere funding which limited Blue Falcon potential the squadron operated accident free, transitioned eight pilots to the F-8K Crusader and was often commended for its outstanding services.
1970: Commanding Officer Cdr. R. C. Jones guided the Blue Falcons through a series of major evolutions, including transitioning from the F-8K Crusader to the Douglas A-4E & A-4C "Skyhawks" and Grumman US-2C "Tracker." VC-2 formed a new permanent VC-2 Detachment at Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Florida. VC-2 Detachment Quonset Point received a COMNAVAIRLANT aviation safety citation for its 1970 accident-free operations.
May, 1971: FLECOMPRON TWO became the only East Coast utility squadron when sister squadron, VC-4, was disestablished. VC-2 met increased tasking for the Atlantic Fleet and NATO units spread along the United States coast from Maine to Mexico.
July, 1971: While transitioning to new aircraft types and meeting increased mission tasking, VC-2 continued operating accident free for a second consecutive year. VC-2 Detachment Quonset Point completed its 11th year of accident free operation, having flown more than 16,000 hours since forming in July, 1960.
July 1, 1973: For the first time in it's history, Fleet Composite Squadron TWO is assigned to a formally organized Naval Air Wing, Tactical Support Wing ONE, joining other Fleet Support squadrons such as VR-1, VRC-40, VRF-51 and VC-6.
1974: VC-2 Detachment NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island is disestablished and recalled to be fully integrated into main squadron home based at NAS Oceana, Virginia.
1975: VC-2 Detachment NAS Cecil Field, Florida is disestablished and recalled to be fully integrated into main squadron home based at NAS Oceana, Virginia.
1976: Fleet Composite Squadron TWO receives Battle Efficiency "E" Award for 1975/1976 annual operational period. VC-2 completes transition from A-4L to A-4E single seat jet aircraft. Squadron inventory now comprised of Douglas A-4E and TA-4J "Skyhawk" and Grumman US-2C "Tracker" aircraft.
1977: Fleet Composite Squadron TWO receives Secretary of the Navy Letter of Commendation for outstanding operational performance from 1 May 1975 to 30 September 1976. VC-2 transitions from Grumman US-2C to US-2B Trackers. Squadron jet inventory increased with receipt of several additional TA-4J's from Training Command.
1978: Fleet Composite Squadron TWO is awarded the Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award-1978 for completing over 5 years and 29,000 flight hours of accident-free operations. VC-2 transitions to all A-4E/TA-4J Skyhawk jet inventory with the transferring out of all US-2B Grumman Trackers.
August, 1980: VC-2 awarded Secretary of the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation for operational period 1 January 1979 to 1 June 1980.
September 30, 1980: Navy Fleet Composite Squadron TWO, VC-2, the Blue Falcons, is disestablished.
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VU-2 / VC-2 SQUADRON COMMANDING OFFICERS:
1952 ------ Lcdr. Carlton Soderholm
1960 ------ Cdr. Kirk Hershey
1961 ------ Cdr. P. O. Harwell
1962 ------ Cdr. R. J. Mattus
1964 ------ Cdr. W. F. Tobin
1965 ------ Cdr. D. E. Cummings
1965 ------ Cdr. W. E. McLuckie
1966 ------ Cdr. R. I. McFarland
1967 ------ Cdr. R. N. Andresen
1968 ------ Cdr. W. C. Larry
1969 ------ Cdr. H. C. Whelchel Jr.
1970 ------ Cdr. R. Clifton Jones
1971 ------ Cdr. Larry Renner
1972 ------ Cdr. C. B. Howard
1973 ----- Cdr. Taylor
1974 ----- Cdr. R. A Lambert
1975 ----- Cdr. L.T. Lowe
1976 ----- Cdr. T.K. Whittaker
1977 ------ Cdr. P. R. Black
1978 ------ Cdr. W. T. Lesuer
1979 ------ Cdr. M. B. Chesser
1980 ---- Squadron Decommissioned
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(Note: Deepest thanks to Mr. Dan Lee, curator of the FLECOMPRON TWO VC-2 website for the foregoing history of VC-2.)