P-3 Orion Research Group
The Netherlands
this page was last updated on 5 September 2023
Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion Squadrons

Since 1962 many USN and international squadrons, as well as civil operators, have operated P-3 Orions. Below we listed all those squadrons. The list is divided in two parts: "active P-3 operating squadrons" and "former P-3 operating squadrons and units". Both categories are divided in US Navy, international squadrons and civil operators. For more details about the US Navy Patrol Squadrons see "Patrol Squadrons Service Details" (please note that this article does not contain the entire history of each and every squadron, but only mentions the period in which these squadrons operated with P-3 Orions).


Active P-3 operating US Navy squadrons
© P-3 Orion Research Group / 1997 - 2023
VQ-1 PR World Watchers NAS Whidbey Island
VX-30 BH Bloodhounds NAS Point Mugu
VXS-1 RS Researchers NAS Patuxent River
BUPERS SDC     2008 - 2023
CinCLANT (VP-30 ASA) 1977 - 2003
CinCAFSE (ETD Sigonella) 1986 - 2004
CNO (VP-30) 1977 - 2005
HQ USMC (VP-30) 1982 - 1997
CinCPAC (VRC-30 / ETD Hawaii) 1986 - 2005
NADC     1962 - 1994
NAS Keflavik 1984 - 2004
NARDET Moffet 8C 1969 - 1970
NARDET Pax River 8K 1970
NAS Bermuda 1990 - 1995
NAWC-AD 1992 - 1995
NAWC-23 / NAWC-FS 1978 - 2008
NWL 1962 - '70s
NWEF 1962
NFATS 1996 - 2002
NRL 1972 - 2004
NTPS 1998 - 2009
NAWC-AD Det. 1992 - 1999
NWTS 1995 - 2002
VC-1 Blue Alii 1977 - 1986
VP-MAU Brunswick LB Northern Sabres 1983 - 1991
VP-MAU Moffett PS Rolling Thunders 1983 - 1991
VP-4 YD Skinny Dragons 1966 - 2016
VP-5 LA Mad Foxes 1966 - 2012
VP-6 PC Blue Sharks 1966 - 1993
VP-8 LC Tigers 1962 - 2014
VP-9 PD Golden Eagles 1963 - 2017
VP-10 LD Red Lancers 1965 - 2015
VP-11 LE Pegasus 1967 - 1997
VP-16 LF War Eagles 1964 - 2012
VP-17 ZE White Lightnings 1968 - 1995
VP-19 PE Big Red 1963 - 1991
VP-22 QA Blue Geese 1964 - 1994
VP-23 LJ Sea Hawks 1970 - 1995
VP-24 LR Batmen 1967 - 1995
VP-26 LK Tridents 1966 - 2015
VP-28 QC Hawaiian Warriors 1965 - 1969
VP-30 LL   The Pro's Nest 1962 - 2023
VP-31 RP Black Lightnings 1963 - 1993
VP-40 QE Fighting Marlins 1967 - 2019
VP-44 LM Golden Pelicans 1962 - 1991
VP-46 RC Gray Knights 1963 - 2019
VP-45 LN Pelicans 1963 - 2013
VP-47 RD Golden Swordsmen 1965 - 2017
VP-48 SF Boomers 1966 - 1991
VP-49 LP Woodpeckers 1963 - 1994
VP-50 SG Blue Dragons 1967 - 1992
VP-56 LQ Dragons 1968 - 1991
VP-60 LS Cobras 1974 - 1994
VP-62 LT Broadarrows 1971 - 2022
VP-64 LU Condors 1973 - 2004
VP-65 PG Tridents 1974 - 2006
VP-66 LV Liberty Bells 1973 - 2006
VP-67 PL Golden Hawks 1978 - 1994
VP-68 LW Blackhawks 1970 - 1997
VP-69 PJ Totems 1974 - 2022
VP-90 LX Lions 1974 - 1994
VP-91 PM Stingers / Black Cats 1970 - 1999
VP-92 LY Minutemen 1976 - 2007
VP-93 LH Executioners 1976 - 1994
VP-94 LZ / PZ Crawfishers 1976 - 2006
VPU-1 OB Old Buzzards 1982 - 2012
VPU-2 SP Wizards 1969 - 2020
VRC-30 RW Providers 1993 - 1995
VW-4 MH Hurricane Hunters 1971 - 1975
VX-1 JA Pioneers 1963 - 2011
VXN-8 JB World Travellers 1973 - 1993
VAQ-33 GD Firebirds 1982 - 1993
VQ-2 JQ / LQ The Dons 1971 - 2012
VQ-11 LP Bandits 1997 - 2000
Argentina (AN) EA6E BAN Almirante Zar
Australia (RAAF) 10 SQN Striker RAAF Edinburgh
  292 SQN Mariner RAAF Edinburgh
ARDU RAAF Edinburgh
Brasil (FAB) 1°/7° Gav Orungan Salvador
Canada (RCAF) 404 (MP&T) SQN Buffaloes CFB Greenwood
405 (MP) SQN Pathfinders CFB Greenwood
  407 (MP) SQN Demons CFB Comox
415 (LRPFD) SQN Swordfishes CFB Greenwood
Chile (CN) VP-1 Vina del Mar
Germany (GN) MFG 3 Graf Zeppelin NAS Nordholz
Iran (IRIAF) Wing No. 7 Shiraz AB
Japan (JMSDF) 2 Kok Odin Hachinohe AB
5 Kok Pegasus Naha AB, Okinawa
51 Kok Peacock Atsugi AB
81 Kok Violet Iwakuni AB
91 Kok Delphi Iwakuni
203 Kok Atlas Shimofusa AB
South Korea (RKoN) 613 SQN Pohang AB
615 SQN Jeju AB
Pakistan (PN) 28 SQN PNS Mehran
Portugal (FAP) Esq 601 Lobos Beja AB
Taiwan (RoCAF) 33 SQN   Pingtung North
  34 SQN   Pingtung North
Australia (RAAF) MATS 1977 - 1980
  11 SQN Shepherd 1968 - 2017
Greece (HAF) 353 MNAS Triaina 1996 - 2009
Japan (JMSDF) 1 Kok Jupiter 1989 - 2022
  3 kok Neptune 1982 - 2017
4 Kok Blacky 1987 - 2008
6 Kok Lucifer 1983 - 2008
7 Kok Omega 1992 - 2008
8 Kok Thunder 1992 - 2001
9 Kok Seaser 1993 - 2008
  206 Kok   1990 - 1997
Norway (RNoAF) 333 SKV The Saints 1969 - 2023
New Zealand (RNZAF) 5 SQN   1966  2023
Spain (SpAF) Esc 221   1973  2022
The Netherlands (RNLN) VSQ 2 1981 - 1993
VSQ 320 1982 - 2005
VSQ 321 1984 - 2005
Thailand (RTN) 102 SQN 1995 -
Active civil P-3 Orion operators
Active P-3 operating International squadrons
Airstrike Firefighters LLC McClellan, CA
Buffalo Airways McClellan, CA
Dept. of Homeland Security (CBP) NAS Corpus Christi, TX
MHD Rockland Flight Operations Keystone Heights Airport, FL
NASA (GSFC) Wallops Island, VA
NOAA (OAO) Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, FL
Former P-3 operating US Navy squadrons and units
Former P-3 operating international squadrons
Former civil P-3 Orion operators
Aero Union Corporation 1989 - 2011