VP-47 1st Insignia 1948-1964 Patch

VP-47 1st Insignia 1948-1964 Patch Aviators! Are you looking for a high-quality patch you'll proudly wear or display? Look no further than the VP-47 1st Insignia 1948-1964 Patch! 4" Embroidered US Naval Aviator Owned Business Sew On Plastic Backing (increases rigidity; the patch lasts longer and stays flat) Reproduction Origins Patrol Squadron FORTY-SEVEN came into existence with the commissioning of VPB-27 at Harvey Point, North Carolina, on 1 June 1944. Its initial deployment was to Hawaii in the PBM "MARINER" aircraft. In World War II, VPB-27 actively participated in the Okinawa Campaign. After the war, the squadron remained in the Western Pacific to fly courier missions. The need for military forces in the Western Pacific soon diminished and VPB-27 returned to Hawaii and was ultimately redesignated VP-47. 1940's/50's In 1949, VP-47's PBM aircraft could be seen on patrols from Alaska to Mexico, flying out of their new homeport in San Diego. The squadron deployed to Saipan, Sangley Point, Republic of the Philippines and Oppama, Japan in January of 1950. With the advent of the Korean conflict, VP-47 extended its deployment to Japan to play a supportive role flying patrol missions and courier routes in the Western Pacific. By the end of the conflict, VP-47 had made three deployments in support of United Nations forces in Korea and made a home port change to Alameda, California. Here the squadron acquired the new P5M-2 seaplane. Adopting as their motto, "The Best in the West," VP-47 flew the Navy's most modern seaplanes on four deployments to Iwakuni, Japan. The next five years were highlighted by winning the Dual Pilot Aircraft Safety Award in 1955, the Commander Naval Air Pacific Forces "Fleet Battle Efficiency" Award in 1956 and the Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award for seaplanes in 1957 with over 7,000 accident-free hours flown. 1960's   The squadron was again awarded the CNO Safety Award in 1960 for flying over 8,000 accident-free hours. As the new decade began, VP-47 retrained in SP-5B seaplanes at their new homeport, Whidbey Island, Washington. In 1962, the squadron deployed with the USS CURRITUCK to Kodiak and Cold Bay, Alaska. Subsequently, the "Golden Swordsmen" joined the USS SALISBURY SOUND in 1964 for another challenging deployment to Cold Bay. VP-47 saw a great change in climate and operations in 1964 when they departed for Sangley Point, Republic of the Philippines in support of Seventh Fleet operations. During this tour, Patrol Squadron FORTY-SEVEN distinguished itself as the first full patrol squadron to be deployed to Vietnam. In March of 1965, VP-47 moved to Moffett Field, California. Here the squadron transitioned from the SP-5B to the new Lockheed P-3A Orion, thus entering the modern era of Antisubmarine Warfare (ASW) Operations. By January of 1966, the newly trained "Golden Swordsmen" were flying in WESTPAC out of Naha, Okinawa and Sangley Point, Republic of the Philippines. Adding the Bullpup missile to its weapon inventory, VP-47 returned to Naha, Okinawa in June of 1967, becoming one of the first missile-equipped squadrons in WESTPAC. VP-47 continued to prove the worth of the P-3A during its next two deployments to Sangley Point and Naha in 1968 and 1970.   1970s In April of 1971, the squadron received a Meritorious Unit Commendation from the Philippine Air Group for its actions against enemy supply lines in the South China Sea. Upon returning to Moffett Field, the squadron transitioned to the P-3C, the Navy's more advanced, computerized ASW aircraft. In early 1971, VP-47 was once again fully operational as the first P-3C squadron in the Pacific Fleet. By June of the same year, VP-47 was operating out of Adak, Alaska. A second Meritorious Unit Commendation followed in 1972 for the squadron's invaluable support of the Cannakin Project in Amchitka during its 1971 Adak, Alaska deployment. In 1972, VP-47 began operating a tri-site deployment that stretched across the Pacific and included Adak, Guam a