COVER INSERTED HERE 1 PLANESIDE Cover Photo CDR Stephen Weeks snapped this photo while flying in the backseat of the lead solo jet, Blue Angel #5, on 09 May 2017 during a farewell flight from the Blue Angels upon the conclusion of his Commanding Officer tour at VT-4 in Pensacola, FL. VT-4 wings all of the Naval Flight Officers for the MPRA community. NAS Pensacola/Sherman Field appears in the background, as well as Fort McCrea to the far right. PLANESIDE is a quarterly online magazine published for the Maritime Patrol Association, Inc. Copyright 2012-2017. P.O. Box 147 Orange Park, FL 32067
[email protected] * www.maritimepatrolassociation.org 2 P-8 PROVEN OVER LAND OVER SEA OVERALL Surveillance and reconnaissance. Long-range, anti-submarine capabilities. Search and rescue. The P-8 is the most capable multi-mission aircraft deployed around the world, protecting seas and securing borders. With the global supportability of a 737, P-8 delivers confi dence in an uncertain world—in any condition, anywhere, at any time. Discover more at boeing.com/p-8 3 PLANESIDE In this Issue Features: Welcome from the President 5 CPRG: Checking On Station 7 Whidbey Island Symposium Information 8 In the News: CPRW-2 Disestablishes After 80 Years 10 Vice CNO Visits NAS Jax 12 CPRG Holds Change of Command 14 DSCA Director Retires After More Than Three Decades of Naval Service 16 Community: VP-30 ‘Pro’s Nest’ Holds Change of Command 19 VP-5 “Mad Foxes” Hold 66th Change of Command 21 Cmdr. Coonan Takes Command Of VP-40 at NASWI 23 VP-4 Declared