Fleet Tactical Support Squadrons 50

 "COD Fish Airlines", "Rawhides"

....

History 

 1. October 1966 VRC-50 Established at NAS Atsugi Japan
7. October 1994 VRC-50 Disestablished at Andersen AFB Guam

Tailcodes 

1966 - 1994 RG
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Planes:
 

 

 

1966 - 1981
C-1A

   
 

 

 

1966 - 1994
C-
2A

   
 

 

 

1967 - 1988
CT-39E

   
 

 

 

1969 - 1971
1977 - 1994
C-130F

   
 

 

 

1981 - 1994
US-3A

   
..
VRC-50 Deployments 
7. April 1982 - 18. October 1982 CV-61 USS Ranger CVW-2 Det. C-2A, US-3A RG 00
1. April 1981 - 23. November 1981 CV-63 USS Kitty Hawk CVW-15 Det. C-2A RG 425
13. January 1984 - 1. August 1984 CV-63 USS Kitty Hawk CVW-2 Det. C-2A, US-3A RG 00
24. April 1984 - 14. November 1984 CV-66 USS America CVW-1 Det. A C-2A RG 420
24. February 1989 - 24. August 1989 CV-61 USS Ranger CVW-2 Det. US-3A RG 700
23. June 1990 - 20. December 1990  CV-62 USS Independence CVW-14 Det. C-2A RG 00
8. December 1990 - 8. June 1991 CV-61 USS Ranger CVW-2 Det. US-3A RG 700
1. April 1991 - 11. December 1991 CV-63 USS Kitty Hawk CVW-15 Det. C-2A RG 420
3. November 1992 - 3. Mai 1993 CV-63 USS Kitty Hawk CVW-15 Det. C-2A RG 420
11. May 1993 - 1. July 1993 CV-62 USS Independence CVW-5 Det. C-2A RG 00
15. Juni 1993 - 15. December 1993 CVN-72 USS Abraham Lincoln CVW-11 Det. 3 C-2A RG 420
17. November 1993 - 17. March 1994 CV-62 USS Independence CVW-5 Det. C-2A RG 00
19. July 1994 - 29. August 1994 CV-62 USS Independence CVW-5 Det. C-2A RG 00
10. April 1995 - 9. October 1995 CVN-72 USS Abraham Lincoln CVW-11 Det. 3 C-2A RG 20
..
VRC-50 Commanding Officers 
Cdr. Harry L. Benson 1. Oct. 1966 2. Jul. 1967
Cdr.  Benjamin B. Fowke 2. Jul. 1967 15. Jul. 1968
Cdr.  Elton E. Guffey 15. Jul. 1968 17. Jul. 1969
Cdr.  James R. Smith 17. Jul. 1969 14. Jul. 1970
Cdr.  Randall L. Williams 14. Jul. 1970 25. May 1971
Cdr.  Newton C. Youngblood 25. May 1971 15. Sep. 1972
Capt. Joseph D. Atkins 15. Sep. 1972 10. Sep. 1974
Capt. John B. Davis 10. Sep. 1974 23. Aug. 1976
Capt. Charles N. James 23. Aug. 1976 24. Aug. 1978
Capt. William E. Dennison 24. Aug. 1978 30. Oct. 1980
Capt. Charles N. Tanner 30. Oct. 1980 29. Nov. 1982
Capt. Paul A. Ruth 29. Nov. 1982 23. Jul. 1983
Cdr. John E. Kohler 23. Jul. 1983 28. Jul. 1983
Capt. Richard S. Parker 28. Jul. 1983 17. Nov. 1983
Capt. David P. Gauthier 17. Nov. 1983 13. Dec. 1985
Capt. Donald M. Snyder 13. Dec. 1985 8. Apr. 1988
Capt. Robert W. Geeding 8. Apr. 1988 20. Jan. 1989
Cdr.Stephen E. Behringer 20. Jan. 1989 6. Feb. 1989
Capt. Ted C. Sexton 6. Feb. 1989 8. Feb. 1991
Capt. Paul R. Statskey 8. Feb. 1991 24. Jun. 1993
Capt. Victor E. Dodds 24. Jun. 1993 29. Apr. 1994
Cdr. Donald T. Boothe 29. Apr. 1994 30. Sep. 1994
- nil - 30. Sep. 1994 7. Oct. 1994
...

History 

Fleet Tactical Support Squadron FIFTY (VRC-5O) was established 1. October 1966 at NAS Station, Atsugi , Japan. Prior to establishment, VRC-5O was an Atsugi based VR-21 detachment. The newly formed squadron initially operated the C-1A "Trader" aircraft for Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) The introduction of the C-2A "Greyhound", 6. December 1966, marked the beginning of C-2A COD service to the fleet. Seven months later, on 11. July 1967. the CT-39E Sabreliner arrived and an additional phase of operations commenced. The CT-39E aircraft cruised at 450 knots at a maximum altitude of 45,000 feet, providing rapid transportation between Western Pacific military and civilian airports.

In September 1968, a permanent VRC-50 detachment was established at Naval Air Station, Cubi Point, Republic of the Philippines. VRC-5O operated 10 C-2As in direct support of SEVENTH Fleet carriers operating in the Tonkin Gulf, Philippine Sea, and South China Sea. In recognition of VRC-50's efforts and contributions in the Far East, The squadron was awarded the National Defense Transportation Award in 1968, 1978, 1982 and 1993 for sustained outstanding performance in military transportation.

In June 1969 three C-130F Hercules transports were assigned to the squadron. Then in February 1971, VRC-50 received orders to change its homeport from Atsugi, Japan to NAS North Island at San Diego, California. As part of this move, the C-130 aircraft were transferred to VR-21 in Barber's Point, Hawaii, while the CT39Es, C-1As, and five C-2As were transferred to VRC-50 Detachment Cubi Point, Republic of the Philippines on a six-month rotational basis. In December 1971, the squadron established a C-1A detachment at Danang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, and assumed responsibility for Yankee Station Carrier Onboard Delivery. A further change of homeport, from Naval Air Station, North Island to Naval Air Station, Cubi Point Republic of the Philippines occurred in July 1972. The Danang Detachment following the homeport change, was phased out seven months later allowing the squadron to operate as a unit for the first time in 4 1/2 years.

In April 1976, VRC-50 was redesignated "Fleet Logistics Support Squadron FIFTY. The return of the C130 aircraft in March 1977 brought the aircraft inventory to six C-1As, seven C-2As, two CT-39Es and three C-130Fs. With additional use of the C-1A and expanded use of the C-2A aircraft, VRC-5O again provided Carrier Onboard Delivery support to SEVENTH Fleet units operating in the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean until calendar year 1981.

With the retirement of the C-1A from the operational service, the first US-3A detachment personnel reported aboard in August 1981, and VRC-50 assumed operational control of the Diego Garcia detachment in March 1982, providing direct support to Carrier Battle Groups on "Gonzo" Station in the North Arabian Sea. It was here that the US-3A aircraft earned the name "Miss Piggy" following its 2,000 mile mail run.

In December 1988, VRC-5O closed a chapter in its long operational history when its remaining CT-39E was transferred to MCAS Futenma, Okinawa.

In August 1990, the C-2A detachment aboard USS INDEPENDENCE (CV 62) established a 1-plane foothold in the Arabian Gulf which later combined with other logistic units to facilitate the biggest assembly of naval, air and land forces since D-Day. On 15. January 1991, two days before the commencement of Operation DESERT STORM, VRC-50 established a permanent detachment in Fujairah , United Arab Emirates, which remained until 1. September 1993.

Following the eruption of Mount Pinatubo and as part of the U. S. military withdrawal from the Republic of the Philippines, VRC-.50 made a homeport change from Naval Air Station, Cubi Point to Andersen Air Force Base Guam effective 1. August 1992 while still providing uninterrupted logistics support to SEVENTH Fleet units.

In August 1994 the US-3A completed 13 years of Fleet service with the transfer of VRC-50's final four "Pigs" to VS-41 at NAS North island, California, for use as fleet replacement pilot trainers and VIP aircraft. In September 1994 one C-130 aircrafl was explosively disabled on Andersen AFB, Guam and the final two C-130F's were transferred to Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, for preservation. All C-2A aircraft were transferred to VRC-30 at NAS North Island or to VRC-30 Det 5, Atsugi, Japan.

On 30 September 1994, the FOG-DOGS' final Commanding Officer, Commander Donald T. Boothe, led the last 32 officers and 230 enlisted personnel in a disestablishment ceremony aboard Andersen AFB, Guam. This ended over 28 years of dedicated sacrifice and service to SEVENTH Fleet forces operating in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, an area of responsibility (AOR) nearly two thirds the earth's surface. Throughout this time men and women of the VRC-50 FOO DOGS have provided the airborne logistics support that made possible America's forward Naval presence in Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific. Supported by VRC-50, these forces have ensured stability, built international relationships, provided humanitarian aid, deterred aggression and won conflicts. VRC-50 was officially disestablished on 7. October 1994.


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last update 18. August 2023

written 1. February 2010

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