VAP-61

File:AJ-2P VAP-61 in flight near Guam.jpg near Guam, c.1956-9]]

File:RA-3B of VAP-61 landing on USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) c1968.jpg landing on {{USS|Kitty Hawk|CV-63}} c.1968]]

File:RA-3B VAP-61 camouflaged.jpg]]

• March 1951: A squadron detachment was ordered to photograph the Mississippi Delta area and adjacent coastline.
• May 1951: A squadron detachment was ordered to Alaska in connection with mapping Alaska for the U.S. Army Map Service.
• May 1964: Squadron detachments began flying photographic reconnaissance missions from carriers operating in the South China Sea over Laos and South Vietnam as part of Yankee Team Operations.
• 2–5 August 1964: Squadron detachments aboard carriers provided photo reconnaissance support during the Gulf of Tonkin Incident.
• 1965: Squadron detachments continued to operate from carriers in the South China Sea; providing photo-reconnaissance support for Yankee Team Operations, Operation Rolling Thunder and Operation Market Time.
• 13 June 1966: A squadron RA-3B operating from {{USS|Hancock|CV-19|6}} was shot down on a nighttime photo-reconnaissance mission over Hà Tĩnh Province, North Vietnam, the 3 man crew were killed in action, body not recovered.{{cite web|url=http://www.virtualwall.org/dg/GlanvilleJT01a.htm|title=LCDR John Turner Glanville|publisher=Virtualwall.org|accessdate=28 December 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dpaa.mil/portals/85/Documents/VietnamAccounting/pmsea_una_p_name.pdf|title=U.S. Unaccounted-For from the Vietnam War|publisher=Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency|accessdate=28 December 2015}}
• 7 August 1966: The squadron flew its first night combat infrared reconnaissance mission over North Vietnam interdicting truck convoys at night.
• 1 January 1968: RA-3B #144847 operating from {{USS|Oriskany|CV-34|6}} was hit by ground fire on a night photo-reconnaissance mission over North Vietnam, its 3 man crew were missing in action, presumed dead.{{cite web|url=http://www.virtualwall.org/dd/DennisonJR01a.htm |title=James Dennison, CDR |work=The Virtual Wall|accessdate=28 December 2015}}
• 20 August 1968: A squadron RA-3B on an R&R flight to Bangkok went out of control at 25,000 ft and the 3 passengers bailed out. Only two parachutes were observed and two men were recovered. At 10,000 ft the pilot recovered control of the RA-3B and flew it back to Da Nang Air Base. The other passenger Photographer 2nd Class Charles Lindbloom from VAP-62 was killed in action, body not recovered.{{cite web|url=http://www.virtualwall.org/dl/LindbloomCD01a.htm |title=PH2 Charles David Lindbloom |work=The Virtual Wall|accessdate=28 December 2015}}
• 31 January 1970: The squadron’s participation in Yankee Team Operations came to an end after 68 months.{{rp|309–10}}

The squadron was assigned to these home ports, effective on the dates shown:{{rp|311}}

• NAS Miramar – 20 January 1951
• NAS Agana – June 1956

The squadron first received the following aircraft on the dates shown:{{rp|312}}

• PB4Y-1P/P4Y-1P Liberator - January 1951
• AJ-2P Savage - 14 September 1952
• F8U-1P Crusader - August 1959
• A3D-2P/RA-3B Skywarrior - September 1959
• KA3B Skywarrior - 26 December 1963

• Reconnaissance aircraft
• List of inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons
• History of the United States Navy

{{reflist}}

{{US Navy navbox}}

{{United States Navy Aircraft Squadrons}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vap-61}}

Category:Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons

Category:Fleet air reconnaissance squadrons of the United States Navy