COMING UP THIS YEAR - 25th ANNIVERSARY

 

Forward deployed in MCAS Iwakuni Japan, the “Providers” of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron Three Zero, Detachment Five are the long-range critical logistics support element to the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group. Detachment Five’s mission includes the transport of high-priority cargo, mail, duty passengers, and Distinguished Visitors between the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and shore bases throughout the Western Pacific and Southeast Asia theaters.

 

VRC-30 DET 5 VRC-30 DET 5 VRC-30 DET 5 VRC-30 DET 5
    United Parts $ People Delivery Service FAR EAST COD   
    JAPAN ROUTE 98     
    Joseph Saldivar Collection NAF ATSUGI, JAPAN    

VRC-30 DET 5    
STILL DELIVERING
20 Years in the WESTPAC
 SAYONARA ATSUGI IWAKUNI  25TH ANNIVERSARY
VRC-30 DET 5 
 C-2A GREYHOUND COVID-19 
1994-2014  1994 - 2017  2017  2019  2021  
        USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76) 

 

 

 

YEAR DATE AIRCRAFT CARRIER C-2A BuNo
(Modex/Side Number)
OPERATION C-2A CREW
1994         LCDR James H Hubbard, LT Laslo, LT Light, LT Warren, LT Beckley, LT Mitchell, LTJG Taylor
1995 19 AUG 1995 - 18 NOV 1995 USS INDEPENDENCE (CV-62) NF Southern Watch CDR Shaffer-Vanaria
1996 5 MAR 1996 - 24 MAR 1996 USS INDEPENDENCE (CV-62) NF CHINA / TAIWAN  
1996 11 OCT 1996 - 11 APR 1997 USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63)   Southern Watch  
1998 23 JAN 1998 - 5 JUN 1998 USS INDEPENDENCE (CV-62)   Southern Watch last CV-62 Tour
1999 2 MAR 1999 - 25 AUG 1999 USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63)  (431) Tandem Thrust Southern Watch LCDR A Alford (CO), LT M Kekeisen (XO), LT J Goldberger, LT D Inman, LT Steven C. "LIPPS"  Lippincott
2000 11 APR 2000 - 5 JUN 2000 USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63)   Cobra Gold 2000 TSTA I/II  
2000 26 SEP 2000 - 20 NOV 2000 USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63)   Foal Eagle ANNUALEX 12G  
2001 2 MAR 2001 - 11 JUN 2001 USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63)   TSTA III/FEP Tandem Thrust  
2001 21 SEP 2001 - 23 DEC 2001 USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63)   Enduring Freedom  
2002 15 APR 2002 - 5 JUN 2002  USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63)     LCDR Mark F Light, LT Jeffery P "CLAM" Bearden, LT Jay W Driskell, LT Jeff "ROSEN" Goldberg, LFJG Jason A Buckley, ENS Terrence L Powell 
2002 25 OCT 2002 - 13 DEC 2002  USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63)   CVW-5
WESTPAC/GULF
Keen Sword '03 ANNUALEX 14G
 
2003 20 JAN 2003 - 6 MAY 2003 USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63)  

Enduring Freedom Southern Watch Iraqi Freedom

2003 1 NOV 2003 - 12 DEC 2003 USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63)   ANNUALEX 15G  
2004 18 FEB 2004 - 24 MAY 2004 USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63)   WEST PAC
TSTA I/II Foal Eagle '04
 
2004 19 JUL 2004 - 7 SEP 2004  USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63) (27) CVW-5
WEST PAC
Summer Pulse 2004 TSTA III/FEP JASEX 2004
LT Jason Hammond (OIC), LT Arun Armmugaswamy, LT Christopher R. "BONK" Brenner, LT Kirstopher Carter, LT Bobby Dempsey, LTJG Charles Daniel
2005 10 FEB 2005 - 28 MAR 2005 USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63)   WEST PAC
Foal Eagle 2005
 
2005 23 MAY 2005 - 20 AUG 2005 USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63)   Talisman Sabre '05 Orange Crush JASEX '05 LCDR Mark A. Nicholoson, LT Christopher R. "BONK" Brenner, LT Samuel C. Bryant, LT Kristopher A. Carter, LT Charles J. Daniel, LTJG David R. Lupo, LTJG Jeremy K. Mundy
2005 24 OCT 2005 - 12 DEC 2005  USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63) (30) / (43) CVW-5
ANNUALEX 17G
LCDR Mark A. Nicholoson, LT Christopher R. "BONK" Brenner, LT Samuel C. Bryant, LT Kristopher A. Carter, LT Charles J. Daniel, LTJG David R. Lupo, LTJG Jeremy K. Mundy
2006 8 JUN 2006 - 15 SEP 2006 USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63) 162148 (NF-31) / 162159 (NF-30)  JASEX 2006  Valiant Shield 2006  
2006 17 OCT 2006 - 10 DEC 2006 USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63) 162148 (NF-31)  ANNUALEX 18G  
2007 23 MAY 2007 - 21 SEP 2007 USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63) 162148 (NF-31)  Talisman Sabre 2007 Valiant Shield 2007 Malabar 07-2  
2007  21 OCT 2007 - 27 NOV 2007 USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63) 162148 (NF-31) / 162152 (NF-32) CVW-5
ANNUALEX 19G
 
2008 15 APR 2008 - 12 MAY 2008 USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63) 162148 (NF-31)     
2008 28 MAY 2008 - 2 SEP 2008  USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63) 162148 (NF-31) / (26) 

CVW-5
Homeport Change
RIMPAC 2008

LCDR Mark A. Nicholoson, LT Caleb Rorex, LT Charles Daniel, LT Robert J. Deneau, LT Georgy G. Jenic, LT Jeremy K. Mundy, LT David R. Lupo
2008   USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73)  162169 (NF-27)    
2009 10 JUN 2009 - 3 SEP 2009  USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73)    Talisman Sabre '09  
2009  6 OCT 2009 - 23 NOV 2009 USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73) 162169 (NF-27) ANNUALEX '09 LCDR Chad White (OIC), LCDR Greg Jonic, LT William Callahan, LT Cody Dowd, LT James Hawke, LT Caleb Rorex
2010 14 JUN 2010 - 1 NOV 2010  USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73) (20)  USWEX Invincible Spirit Valiant Shield 2010 LCDR Gregory Jonic (OIC), LT James Hawke, LT Adam Heil, LT Matthew Ostrye, LT Ronnie Stahl Jr.
2011 12 JUN 2011 - 25 AUG 2011 USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73)   Talisman Sabre '11 June 10, 2009 - September 3, 2009
2011 19 SEP 2012 - 22 NOV 2011  USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73) (22)  / (30) ANNUALEX '11 LCDR Gregory Jonic (OIC), LCDR Adam Heil, LT William Callaham, LT Brett Cameron, LT James Hawke, LT Matthew Ostry, LT Ronnie Stahl  Jr.
2012 26 MAY 2012 - 26 JUL 2012 USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73)      
2012 20 AUG 2012 - 20 NOV 2012  USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73)  (32) Valiant Shield 2012 ANNUALEX 24G/Keen Sword LT Matt "SPLISH" Ostrye, AWF2 Tyson Hockstaff
2013 26 JUN 2013 - 23 AUG 2013 USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73)   Talisman Sabre 2013  
2013 13 SEP 2013 - 5 DEC 2013  USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73) 162175 (33) (27) (32)  Damayan ANNUALEX 25G  LCDR Kristopher Carter (OIC), LCDR William Chard, LT William Caldwell, LT Brett Camerson, LT Gordon "CHARLIE BROWN" Mohl, LT Glen Premo
2014 24 MAY 2014 - 8 AUG 2014 USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73)   Malabar 2014  
2014  2 SEP 2014 - 25 NOV 2014 USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73)  (27) (35) Valiant Shield 2014 ANNUALEX 26G/Keen Sword 2015 LCDR Kristopher Carter (OIC), LT Joseph Reardon, LCDR Christopher Leffakis, LT Glen Premo, LT Gordon "CHARLIE BROWN" Mohl, LT Marty "PEACOCK" Sheehan (32), LT William Caldwell 
2015 15 OCT 2015 - 3 DEC 2015  USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76) 

162173 (24) / (32) / 162175 (NF-33) (35)

ANNUALEX 27G  LCDR Steve "SPARKY" Parente (35), LT Gordon "CHARLIE BROWN" Mohl, LT Marty "PEACOCK" Sheehan (32), LT Joel "STILTZ" Chase (24), LT Joe "WOODY" Reardon, LT Steve "DEET BAG" Combs
2016 4 JUN 2016 - 26 JUL 2016 USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76)      
2016 3 SEP 2016 - 21 NOV 2016  USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76)  (24) / (32) Valiant Shield 2016 Invincible Spirit ANNUALEX 28G/Keen Sword LCDR Steve "SPARKY" Parente, LT Gordon "CHARLIE BROWN" Mohl, LT Amanda "PUDDLES" Serfass, LT Joel "STILTZ" Chase
2017 16 MAY 2017 - 9 AUG 2017 USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76)   Talisman Sabre 2017  
2017 8 DEP 2017 - 4 DEC 2017  USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76) 162175 (33) ANNUALEX 29G LCDR Steve "SPARKY" Parente, LCDR Andrew Dumm, LT Amanda "PUDDLES" Serfass, LT Steve Combs, LT Mitch Stephens, LT Dan Sanchez
2018 29 MAY 2018 - 24 JUL 2018 USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76)   Malabar 2018  
2018  14 AUG 2018 - 5 DEC 2018 USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76) 162154 (30) 162165 (31)
162152 (32) returned
 Valiant Shield 2018 ANNUALEX 30G/Keen Sword LCDR Andrew Dumm (OIC), LT Dan Sanchez; LT Kevin "BENDER" Cordell; AWF1 Craig Dondey
2019 22 MAY 2019 - 24 AUG 2019 USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76)   Talisman Sabre 2019  
2019 14 SEP 2019 - 2 NOV 2019 USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76) 162165 (31)    LT Matthew "POTT" O'Dowd 
2020 8 JUN 2020 - 14 NOV 2020 USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76)   Valiant Shield 2020 Keen Sword 21 LCDR Glen "SWEET PREEMS" Premo (OIC)
2021   USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76) 162154 (30)  Arabic Sea  LCDR Glen "SWEET PREEMS" Premo (OIC), LCDR Jim "BABY BIRD" Caldwell (AOIC)
2022   USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76)     LCDR Jim "BABY BIRD" Caldwell (OIC)

 

 

 

Grumman C-2A(R) Greyhoiund BuNo 162175 VRC-30 DET 5   Grumman C-2A(R) Greyhoiund BuNo 162175 VRC-30 DET 5   VRC-30 DET 5 - Password 33 - Never Forget
162175 C-2A(R) VRC-30 DET 5 Password 33   162175 C-2A(R) VRC-30 DET 5 Password 33   November 22, 2017
         

 

Fleet Logistics Support Squadron Three Zero Detachment Five (VRC-30 Det 5) traces its ancestry back to Air Transport Squadron Five (VR-5), which was commissioned on 24 June 1943 at Naval Air Station (NAS) Sand Point, Seattle, Washington. This squadron flew Douglas R4D Skytrain, Douglas R5D Skymaster, Beechcraft SNB Expeditor, and Noorduyn JA-1 Norseman aircraft in regular air service from Seattle to Oakland, San Francisco, the Aleutian Islands, and Fairbanks and Point Barrow on the Alaskan mainland.

In 1950, a VR-5 detachment was established at NAS North Island in San Diego, California. VR-5 was decommissioned on 15 July 1957 and replaced by Fleet Tactical Support Squadron Twenty One (VR-21). VR-21 was headquartered at NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii, and detachments were established at North Island, NAS Alameda, California, and Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan. VR-21 operated the Navy’s first dedicated Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) aircraft, the Grumman TBM-3R Avenger, and the newer Grumman C-1A Trader, in regular COD service to Pacific Fleet aircraft carriers. VR-21 also operated Convair C-131 Samaritan aircraft, among others, in support of west coast and Pacific Fleet shore transport missions.

On 1 October 1966, VR-21’s California and Japan detachments were reorganized as Fleet Tactical Support Squadron Thirty (VR-30) in Alameda and Fleet Tactical Support Squadron Fifty (VRC-50) in Atsugi. This reorganization coincided with the fleet introduction of a new COD aircraft, Grumman’s C-2A Greyhound. The Greyhound offered VR and VRC squadrons a drastically improved logistics capability over the C-1A Trader, enabling more than 8,500 pounds of cargo or up to 26 passengers to be carried to or from the ship at faster speeds, higher altitudes, and longer ranges than its predecessors. The ceremonial introduction of the Greyhound into fleet service took place on 4 October 1966 at Alameda, when bureau number 152786 was received by VR-30.

This aircraft and two others were promptly deployed aboard USS Enterprise (CVN-65) in November 1966 and transferred to VRC-50 at their detachment site in NAS Cubi Point, Subic Bay, Philippines. Due to the relatively small number of new C-2A aircraft (only 17 were originally built), the Greyhounds were primarily dedicated to forward-deployed operations in the Western Pacific (by VRC-50) and the Mediterranean (by Fleet Tactical Support Squadron Twenty Four, or VR-24). VR-30 continued to meet Pacific Fleet shore and COD transport requirements using the Samaritan and the Trader.

The next few years were extremely busy for the “Foo Dogs” of VRC-50, who saw two homeport changes and the addition of two new airframes between 1966 and 1972. After establishing a permanent detachment at Cubi Point in 1968, the squadron moved its headquarters from Japan to North Island in 1971. After establishing another permanent detachment site in Danang, Vietnam in December of 1971, the squadron changed its homeport again, this time moving headquarters to Cubi Point in July 1972.

The Foo Dogs received the North American CT-39E Sabreliner in July 1967 and the Lockheed C-130F Hercules in June 1969, and employed both in the role of Western Pacific shore logistics and executive transport, while continuing to fly Traders and Greyhounds in performance of the COD mission. Meanwhile, the “Providers” of VR-30 continued to support west coast fleet operations and carrier deployments to the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. From 1968 to 1973, VR-30 COD detachments operated aboard various carriers in support of recovery operations for Apollo missions X, XI, XII, and XVI. Both VR-30 and VRC-50 supported aircraft carriers operating at Yankee Station during the Vietnam War, operating C-1A and C-2A aircraft from Danang and Cubi Point.

In 1971, VR-30 received the Saberliner, followed by its first McDonnell Douglas C-9B Skytrain II aircraft in May 1973, thereby greatly increasing the shore transport capabilities of the Providers. In 1976 VRC-50 was redesignated as Fleet Logistics Support Squadron Five Zero. On 1 October 1978, shortly after relocating from Alameda to its present-day home at NAS North Island, VR-30 was redesignated Fleet Logistics Support Squadron Three Zero (VRC-30).

In 1980, VRC-30 received its first UC-12 Huron and was designated the Fleet Replacement Squadron for the Navy’s UC-12 community. Another aircraft variant was welcomed into VRC-50 in the early 1980s, the Lockheed US-3B Viking, which was operated as a Foo Dog COD aircraft for more than a decade. VRC-30 welcomed the newly reprocured C-2A in 1985, and finally retired the venerable C-1A the following year, after 28 years of service. The Providers flew their last two Traders, bureau numbers 136786 and 146024, to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, and inducted them into the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center for permanent preservation on 5 June 1986.

In 1992, following the eruption of Mount Pinatubo just north of Cubi Point and as part of the general withdrawal of United States Armed Forces from the Philippines, VRC-50 relocated to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. In the summer of 1994, VRC-50’s aircraft began to be transferred to other units in preparation for the disestablishment of the squadron. VRC-30 absorbed many former Foo Dog personnel and aircraft, and used three Greyhounds and approximately forty personnel to man and equip a brand new permanent detachment at Atsugi, Japan.

Fleet Logistics Support Squadron Three Zero Detachment Five was officially established on 7 August 1994 under the charge of CDR Linda C. Shaffer-Vanaria; the detachment was placed under the operational control of Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) in support of the Independence Carrier Battle Group. Between 18 August and 18 September 1994, Detachment Five received C-2A aircraft bureau numbers 162141, 162147, and 162150 from VRC-50.

On 30 September 1994, VRC-50 was decommissioned at Guam. On 1 December 1994, LCDR James A. Hubbard relieved CDR Shaffer-Vanaria during a “change of charge” ceremony at Atsugi and became the first permanently assigned Detachment FIVE Officer in Charge. In 1998, USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) replaced USS Independence (CV-62) as the flagship of Task Force Seventy (CTF-70). VRC-30 Det 5 continued to support CTF-70 with COD service to USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), including October 2001 deployment to the Northern Arabian Sea in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and January 2003 deployment to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In the summer of 2008, Detachment Five “cross-decked” with the rest of CVW-5 onto the new flagship of CTF-70, USS George Washington (CVN-73).

Today VRC-30 Detachment Five remains the world’s only permanently forward-deployed COD detachment. With their parent squadron headquartered in San Diego, the Providers of Detachment Five operate from their home station in Atsugi, Japan, whence they regularly deploy their two C-2A Greyhounds to shore bases throughout the Western Pacific, South Asian, Indian Ocean, and Middle Eastern theaters, providing incomparably reliable transport of high-priority cargo, U.S. Mail, duty passengers, and distinguished visitors to and from USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) in support of the entirety of Battle Force Seventh Fleet.

VRC-30 DET 5 during operation IRAQI FREEDOM 2003.