US Navy VP-17 White Lightning Leather Patch
Patrol Squadron 17 (VP-17) "White Lightnings"
Established as Reserve Patrol Squadron VP-916 on 1 July 1946 at NAS Los Alamitos, California, the squadron was one of 21 naval reserve squadrons formed after World War II. Redesignated VP-ML-66 on 15 November 1946, VP-772 in February 1950, and finally VP-17 on 4 February 1953, the squadron flew a succession of maritime patrol aircraft including the PV-2 Harpoon, PBY-5A Catalina, P4Y-2 Privateer, P2V Neptune, and the P-3 Orion.
As VP-772, the squadron became the first activated naval reserve squadron to participate in the Korean War, deploying to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, in January 1951 and beginning combat operations on 31 January from NAS Atsugi, flying missions over Korea, the Sea of Japan, the Yellow Sea, and the Tsushima Strait. The White Lightnings' detachments provided illumination flares for USMC night attack aircraft at K-1 Air Base, Pusan — operations so successful they were continued by other patrol squadrons. During the Cold War, VP-17 tracked Soviet submarines and surface vessels, participated in intelligence-gathering Pony Express operations on Soviet missile launches from Midway Island in 1977, and supported surveillance patrols for Vietnam refugees during the Mayaguez Incident in 1975.
Based at NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii, as part of Patrol Wing 2's "Rainbow Fleet," VP-17 was disestablished on 30 March 1995 after nearly 50 years of distinguished service in maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare.
Perfect For: VP-17 White Lightnings veterans, Navy patrol squadron personnel, P-3 Orion crews, anti-submarine warfare specialists, NAS Barbers Point sailors, and maritime patrol aviation collectors.
A tribute to the White Lightnings, whose vigilant patrols across the world's oceans helped safeguard the seas from Korea to the end of the Cold War.
