Sea Control Squdron 24 disestablished after 47 years of service

Jacksonville Air News ^ | 3-23-07 | By Lt. Louis Calisch, VS-24 PAO

[oyez]

The "Scouts" of VS-24 are being disestablished during a ceremony today at 10 a.m. at Hangar 116. The ceremony will end 47 years of service as an Atlantic fleet carrier-based antisubmarine warfare squadron (ASW). VS-24 was the first S-3 squadron to move to NAS Jacksonville in 1997 when NAS Cecil Field closed. The squadron has been in Jacksonville the past 34 years. Since their move to NAS Jacksonville, the Scouts have deployed five times with their last deployment in March 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The squadron officially deactivates March 31.

A Proud History

VS-24 has an eclectic yet distinguished two part history that dates back to Bombing Squadron 17 (VB-17) which was established Jan. 1, 1943. Embarked aboard USS Bunker Hill (CVS-17) and USS Hornet (CVS-12), VB-17 flew the Curtiss SB2C-1 Helldiver into combat throughout World War II. VB-17 was re-designated VA-5B Nov. 15, 1946 and then VA-64 April 27, 1948. Less than a year later on April 8, 1949, the squadron traded their Douglas AD-1 Skyraiders for less glamorous Grumman TBM-3/3W/3S Avengers and was redesignated VC-24 when their mission changed to ASW. The squadron became VS-24 on April 20, 1950 when it transitioned to the Grumman AF-2W/2S Guardian followed shortly thereafter by the Grumman S2F-1/2 Tracker. After participating in numerous ASW exercises conducted off small deck CVE's, CVL's and straight deck Essex-class carriers the squadron deactivated on July 1, 1956.

[oyez]

This article is a few days old, but I was out of town attending the event.

Video from First Coast News TV, Your humble narrarator is featured.

In a military victory happens when your enemy is depleated. Sea Control 24 ran out of enemy, without a shot being fired.

[ThunderStruck94]

These planes were retired too early. ASW has been completely ignored the past 7 years in Naval Warfare. The only fixed wing ASW asset left is the P-3 and it takes an act of god to get a fully working one in the air.

[oyez]

It goes back more than past 7 years. Retiring the CVS type carriers requires the Main Battle Groups to cover ASW missions, reducing their efficiency and effectiveness. If a couple of diesel electric boats began offensive operations against shipping or some other threat at least two battle groups would be diverted.

IMHO, a P-3 and a tincan is not enough.

[PAR35]

Sea Control 24 ran out of enemy, without a shot being fired.

No, they haven't. Quick, without looking it up, how many countries have submarines? How many are hostile?

Nations with submarines: Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Holland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, Israel, Egypt, China, Republic of China, India, Indonesia, Australia, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Pakistan, Singapore, Thailand, Iran, Algeria, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela

Some are junk, some have better charecteristics than the US fleet.

I'd list as hostile Iran and Venezuela, and potentially hostile China, followed by Russia and any muslim state.

[oyez]

Sea Control 24 ran out of enemy, without a shot being fired.

That statement is only applicable to the Cold War and VS-24's mission in that struggle. What we have run out of is government officials willing to acknowledge and commit to counter our current danger.

[PAR35]

I'll agree with that.

[magslinger]

SONOBUOY PING!

Post or FReepmail me if you wish to be enlisted in or discharged from the Navair Pinglist.
This is a low volume pinglist.

[P3_Acoustic]

I wouldn't make a blanket statement like "It takes an act of God to get a fully working one in the air." unless I had some facts and references. I was a readiness guru on a PATWING staff and knew the real deal. The P-3 is an awesome ASW aircraft. It's mission flexibility is the only drawback. It was designed and built as an ASW/AMW aircraft but is now used as anything but. It's too damn flexible! The last time I checked, Afghanistan did not have an ocean on it's borders. But you will find P-3 presence doing targeting and surveillance. There's so much electronics packed into the airframe that Bill Gates would drool if he seen one. By the way, I was around when the VS navy almost lost it's job to the USAF. I had only 200 hours in a S2F. ASW started moving to the back seat after bill clintoon started reducing the size of Government (read "military") Decommissioning active and reserve VP components. If the P-3 was a POS like you imply, then why is it in such huge demand by foreign governments?

[ThunderStruck94]

As a current DH and pilot in a P-3 Squadron (former SS1 and in the P-3 Navy since 1987) I can tell you that the P-3 is not a POS. My statement reflects the fact that to get a P-3 with all systems working is very difficult because the aircraft are old and parts are hard to come by. I fly P-3s everyday and I bet a buck I have a hell of a lot more experience in them than you. We just red-striped half the fleet two years ago for god's sake.

[P3_Acoustic]

I had only 1800 hrs. in the P-3. Do my 2500 hrs. in P-2's count? Does the "94" in your name have anything to do with NOLA?