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Hic Sunt Dracones

This is my web site for me, the VP-50 Blue Dragons, and blue dragons in general.

Here are the patches from my time in VP-50

The one on the left is the approved version, while the one on the right is the unapproved and highly popular patch designed by (then) AW1 Dennis Precord.

I joined the VP-50 Blue Dragons while they flew the P-3C (basic model not any of the updated versions). After my second deployment, we became the first squadron to transition to the P-3C Update III retrofit. This later became known as the SUDS (my guess for that acronym is Semi-Up Dated Systems). While flying the NUDS (Not Up Dated Systems) VP-50 flew a home-cycle with more operational hours that any two other VP squadrons in the Pacific Fleet. But since we didn't have any shiny new toys that Congress had spent recent money on, we couldn't win the Battle E. When we did it again the next home cycle, we finally received some recognition.

During my time in VP-50 I was deployed in the Indian Ocean when the Achille Loro terrorist attack occurred. I was back on deployment in the Indian Ocean again when the USS Stark was struck by an Iraqi exocet missile while patrolling the Arabian Gulf for Iranian Bog Hammers. And we were backing Iraq against Iran at the time! We were back on deployment, flying out of Misawa Japan and Okinawa Japan for the 1988 Seoul Olympics. We had to patrol for North C=Korean commandos trying to land in South Korea and carry out terrorist attacks.

During this time, I belonged to Combat Air Crew 9 which switched to Combat Air Crew 6 on the way home from my first deployment, leading to an interesting set of crew wings. During the 1986 home cycle and 1987 deployment, The crew was very tight! LT Kevin Higman was our head pilot, and LCDR John Tromba was the Tactical officer and mission commander.

After transferring from VP-50, 21 March 1991 saw tow VP-50 P-3s collide killing all 26 crew on board. Shortly there after, as part of the Cheney Draw down, Patrol Squadron Fifty was decommissioned.

In my twenty years in the US Navy, I spent time in commands other than Patrol Squadron FIFTY, but none had near as good a name as the Blue Dragons. Plus that is where I made the best friends and learned my job.

The entire line up of VP-50 P-3C Orions at NAS Moffett Field shortly after transitioning to the then new P-3C

SG-1, the "Skipper's Bird" over California in the late 1980s.

Photo op picture of SG-1, SG-2, SG-3, and SG-4 before MINEX prior to 1988 Deployment to Misawa Japan.

Then XO CDR Boyington flew SG-4. I believe AX 2 Brett Thrailkill is in SG-4 as well. My crew was in SG-2. I'd wave, but my station was on the port side...

SG-1 158219 over NAF Atsugi Japan.

SG-5 158215 over NAF Atsugi

SG-10 157330

This particular aircraft crash landed at NAS Cecil Field FL after tearing off the port landing gear at NAS Jacksonville, FL in 1987. The wings were replaced and the aircraft was placed back into service several years later. I personally prefer to fly on non-crashed airplanes myself.