Lockheed Martin® P2V7 Neptunes, VP-10 Red Lancers, 18in Mahogany Scale Model

LD-1 flies again with the VP-10 Red Lancers with markings from 1962. Proudly display this 18 inch P-2v7 model carefully carved and painted.

HISTORY OF PATROL SQUADRON TEN

Patrol Squadron TEN (VP-10) is one of the original, and oldest, aviation squadrons in the U.S. Navy.  VP-10 was originally a derivative of VS-15, which formed in 1921.  The squadron traces its official heritage, however, to July 1, 1930, with the commissioning of Patrol Bombing Squadron 10S.

In February 1935, as VP-10F, the squadron established a world record for non-stop formation transpacific flight in a twenty-four hour transit from San Francisco to Hawaii.  After four years in Hawaii, VP-10 was redesignated as VP-25 in 1939.  The Squadron was again redesignated and became VP-23 in 1941.

On December 7, 1941, eight of twelve squadron aircraft were damaged or destroyed in the attack on Pearl Harbor.  On June 4, 1942, a squadron PBY-5A “Catalina” aircraft flown by LTJG Howard Ady and LT William Chase was the first to locate and report the positions of four large aircraft carriers of the Japanese Navy’s striking force on their way toward the Island of Midway.  This action helped begin the greatest victory in American naval history–the Battle of Midway.

The squadron went on to serve with distinction at the Gilbert and Marshall Islands, Guadalcanal, and the Solomon Islands during World War II.  The squadron was disestablished following the war on January 25, 1946.

Patrol Squadron TEN’s modern era begins with its reestablishment at NAS Jacksonville in March 1951, flying the PB-4Y “Privateer.”  In February 1952, VP-10 transitioned to the P-2V “Neptune” and moved to Brunswick, Maine.

Two years of transition began in 1965 when the P-3A Orion aircraft was delivered. It was around this time, the RED LANCER call sign and logo was adopted. One year later, the P-3B arrived and served the squadron until 1980 when transition to the P-3C Update II began.  These aircraft provided significant advancements in the rapidly developing field of anti-submarine warfare.

Transition to the P-3C Update III occurred in 1996 and delivered improvements in both the aircraft’s anti-submarine and anti-surface capabilities.  In 1998, VP-10 received the P-3C Update III Aircraft Improvement Program (AIP) aircraft.  The AIP aircraft brought upgrades in satellite communications, electronic surveillance, and computer systems.

Over the last four decades, the squadron has flown P-3 aircraft to numerous sites around the world.  The squadron deployed to Sigonella, Sicily, in 1991 and 1994, operating in support of Operations DESERT STORM, RESTORE HOPE, PROVIDE PROMISE, SHARP GUARD, and DENY FLIGHT.

From 1996-1998, VP-10 completed back-to-back multi-site deployments to Puerto Rico, Iceland, and Panama.  During this period, the squadron was credited with interdicting the flow of over $2 billion of illicit narcotics to the United States.  This unprecedented success was topped in 2000 when the squadron interdicted 34 metric tons of narcotics worth over $5 billion.

In February 1999, VP-10 began a six-month deployment to Sigonella, Italy.  This deployment saw the RED LANCERS become one of the first squadrons tasked with the operational employment of the AIP aircraft.  VP-10 was also the first squadron to operationally employ the Stand-Off Land Attack Missile during Operation ALLIED FORCE.

From 1999-2004, the squadron participated in Operations DELIBERATE FORGE, EAGLE EYE, ALLIED FORCE, NOBLE ANVIL, and ENDURING FREEDOM while on numerous worldwide deployments.  In December 2005, the RED LANCERS completed a challenging six-month, multi-site, EUCOM, CENTCOM, and SOUTHCOM deployment.  They achieved unparalleled mission accomplishment in Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, FREEDOM, JOINT GUARDIAN, DELIBERATE FORGE, CAPER FOCUS, CARIB SHIE