You can access two articles regarding the history of Patrol Squadron 28.  The Heritage article written by by CDR Lebiedz is shown below.  In addition, you can read the official history of VP-28 by clicking on the Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons. 


The Heritage of VP-28's Hawaiian Warriors 
 The Heritage of the Hawaiian Warriors

Since Patrol Squadron TWENTY EIGHT was commissioned in San Diego in 1943, The Hawaiian Warriors have compiled an outstanding record and certainly have earned a permanent place in the history of Naval Aviation.

VB-108, as the squadron was designated then, saw service early in World War II with PB4Y-2 Privateers in the Taiwan Straits, the Japan and Yellow Seas, and along the coast of the Chinese Mainland.  Working closely with the Marine Corps, the squadron helped to perfect night flare dropping techniques that proved amazingly effective against the “human sea” attacks of the Communist troops.  The squadron was awarded the Korean Presidential Unit Citation.

In 1952, VP-28 returned to Hawaii and adopted the name of the “Hawaiian Warriors” and also adopted a “new look” by trading its PB4Y’s for P2V Neptunes.  Flying these P2V aircraft, the squadron periodically rotated to advance bases in Alaska and Japan.  In 1958, the Warriors were part of the Navy Air Force-Atomic Energy Commission team which conducted atomic energy tests in the Marshall Islands.

Returning to Hawaii after a six-month deployment to Japan with the Seventh Fleet in November 1961, the squadron was commended for its outstanding performance of duty in the WESTPAC area by Commander, Fleet Air Wing SIX.

During the summer of 1962, VP-28 was a member of Joint Task Force EIGHT, deployed to Christmas and Johnston Island and flew in support of the U.S nuclear tests.  During this three month deployment, the squadron flew enough miles to circumnavigate the globe 18 times and passed 53,000 accident-free hours.  

 

 
 

In November 1962, VP-28 again deployed to Japan.  Operating from MCAS Iwakuni, the squadron flew over 5,000 accident–free hours during six months of ocean surveillance air patrols and ASW exercises.

Transition from SP2E aircraft began in August 1963 and was completed in January 1964.  In October 1963, four crews of the Royal Australian Air Force Squadron 10 were hosted by VP-28.  This program to exchange ideas and techniques was continued when two VP-28 crews visited Australia in February 1964.

In May 1964, VP-28 deployed once again to Japan.  During this deployment, the Hawaiian Warriors operated from advanced bases as one of the Seventh Fleet units which supported operations in the Gulf of Tonkin after the North Vietnamese PT-boat attacks.  During this crisis, VP-28 flew a record 1608 hours during the month of August averaging 134 hours per flight crew.  As a result of this outstanding performance, despite limited support, VP-28 received letters of commendation from Commander Seventh Fleet, Commander U.S. Patrol Forces, Seventh Fleet, and Fleet Air Wing SIX.  Subsequently, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal was authorized for flight crew members who flew missions into or adjacent to the Gulf of Tonkin.

Upon returning to NAS Barber’s Point in October 1964, the Hawaiian Warriors transitioned to the new P3A Orion.  The transition was completed in April 1965.  Shortly thereafter, VP-28 hosted four crews from No. 11 Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force who participated in a joint exercise with Anti-Submarine Warfare Group FIVE.

In July 1965, two VP-28 aircraft participated in a joint Royal New Zealand Navy/Air Force and U.S. Navy ASW exercise in New Zealand.  Following completion of Exercise LONGEX 65, the VP-28 Orions flew to Australia in order to acquaint military personnel with the ASW capabilities of the P3A Orion.

VP-28 deployed to Naval Station, Sangley Point, Luzon, Republic of the Philippines in October 1965, and operated as a unit of the U.S. Seventh Fleet while providing reconnaissance and antisubmarine warfare support in the South China Sea.

Authored by CDR Edward F. Lebiedz, 1965.
  
 
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