{"product_id":"officially-licensed-vr-55-minutemen-2026-leather-patch","title":"Officially Licensed US Navy VR-55 Minutemen 2026 Leather Patch","description":"\u003cp\u003eOfficially Licensed US Navy VR-55 Minutemen 2026 leather patch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMinutemen 2026 — C-130T Hercules from Point Mugu, ready at a minute's notice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFleet Logistics Support Squadron 55 (VR-55), the \"Minutemen,\" is a U.S. Navy Reserve fleet logistics support squadron based at Naval Air Station Point Mugu, California — the Navy's only K\/C-130 squadron on the West Coast. The squadron was established on April 1, 1976 at NAS Alameda, California as the Navy's first reserve jet squadron, and was nicknamed \"The Minutemen\" because the establishment coincided with the United States Bicentennial celebration. Captain Richard Hendel took command of three C-9 Skytrain aircraft and 220 personnel; in its first partial year of operations the squadron logged 3,030.7 flight hours, transported 55,507 passengers, and moved 2.8 million pounds of cargo. In 1993 VR-55 transitioned from the C-9B Skytrain II to the C-130T Hercules, and today the squadron operates C-130T and KC-130T aircraft with approximately 275 personnel including 35 pilots — providing global logistics support for U.S. naval forces deployed worldwide, with primary theaters including the Mediterranean, Europe, Southwest Asia, the Middle East, the Indian Ocean, and the broader Pacific. The Minutemen are characterized by being warfighting-ready at a minute's notice. The 2026 commemorative leather patch marks another year on the line. Hat-ready leather, premium finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePerfect For: VR-55 Minutemen active-duty and Reserve personnel, C-130T and KC-130T pilots, loadmasters, and crew, NAS Point Mugu and Naval Base Ventura County personnel, NAS Alameda heritage operators, Navy Reserve aviation community members, Fleet Logistics Support Wing personnel, and leather hat patch collectors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eVR-55 Minutemen 2026 — Hercs from Point Mugu, ready at a minute's notice.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Military, Law Enforcement and Custom Patches by USMCinsignia.com","offers":[{"title":"Full Color","offer_id":45145504350317,"sku":null,"price":100.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Brown Stain","offer_id":45169474961517,"sku":null,"price":100.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Antique","offer_id":45145504383085,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0742\/9831\/files\/Leather5Patch_1.png?v=1777385635","url":"https:\/\/marinepatches.com\/products\/officially-licensed-vr-55-minutemen-2026-leather-patch","provider":"MarinePatches.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}