USMC Helicopter Squadrons
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VR-55 Minutemen Pacific Coast Hercs Shoulder Patch
Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 55 (VR-55) — "Minutemen" — Pacific Coast Hercs
Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 55, the Minutemen, was established on 1 April 1976 at NAS Alameda, California, during the United States Bicentennial celebration — earning the nickname "Bicentennial Minutemen" in honor of the nation's 200th birthday. Captain Richard Hendel, USN Ready Reserve, took command of three C-9B Skytrain II aircraft and 220 personnel, making VR-55 the Navy's first reserve jet logistics squadron. In its first partial year of operations, the Minutemen recorded 3,030.7 flight hours, transported 55,507 passengers, and moved 2.8 million pounds of cargo.
The Minutemen pioneered the Navy's "pathfinder" program using their advanced navigational capabilities, playing a vital role in Operation Key Joint by escorting A-6 Intruders from Barbers Point, Hawaii, to NAS Cubi Point in the Philippines. In September 1993, VR-55 transitioned from the C-9B to the C-130T Hercules and relocated to Moffett Federal Air Field. In March 1992, the squadron had flown a C-9 into Constanta, Romania — only the third U.S. military aircraft ever to do so. In 2013, VR-55 received two KC-130T-30 aircraft with enhanced cargo capacity, and by the end of fiscal year 2018, the squadron had accumulated 177,177 accident-free flight hours across 41 years of operations.
Today, VR-55 operates from Naval Air Station Point Mugu, California, with approximately 275 personnel including 35 pilots, providing 24-hour global logistics support across the Pacific, Mediterranean, Middle East, Europe, Africa, and the Americas under the Fleet Logistics Support Wing.
Perfect For: VR-55 Minutemen active and reserve personnel, C-130T Hercules aircrew, Fleet Logistics Support Wing members, NAS Point Mugu personnel, Navy Reserve aviators, and military logistics aviation enthusiasts.
The Minutemen of VR-55 — the Navy's Pacific Coast Hercs, delivering global logistics around the clock since the Bicentennial.
If you want to swap patches on/off gear, choose hook & loop (velcro). If you’re attaching permanently to uniforms or fabric, choose sew-on. If you want quick application on compatible fabric, choose iron-on / heat seal (when offered). Backing options are shown on the page and update based on the variant you select.
Size is shown on the product page and updates with the variant you select (example: 3"). If you’re mounting on a hat or small panel, choose smaller sizes; for plate carriers and display boards, larger sizes fit better.
If the product is officially licensed, it will say “Officially Licensed” in the title and/or in the product details. If it doesn’t, it’s still a legitimate product—just not part of a licensed program.
Yes. If you see a note like “bulk reruns available,” that means we can support group orders or reruns. If you don’t see it, contact us with the unit/squadron and quantity and we’ll confirm options.
Yes—custom solutions are available (patches, name tags, lanyards, apparel). Use the custom request page and include artwork, size, backing preference, and quantity.
