VRC-30

Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 30
	VRC-30 Insignia
Active	June 24, 1943 - present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Navy
Garrison/HQ	NAS North Island
Nickname(s)	"Providers"
Commanders
Current; commander	CDR John Fischer, USN
Aircraft flown
Transport	Grumman C-2 Greyhound

Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 30 (VRC-30), also known as the "Providers", is a United States Navy Fleet Logistics Support squadron based at Naval Air Station North Island consisting of 5 detachments.^[1]

History[]

Fleet Logistics Support Squadron Three Zero (VRC-30), traces its ancestry to Air Transport Squadron Five (VR-5) which was commissioned on June 24, 1943 at Naval Air Station Seattle. The Squadron was tasked with flying the Douglas R4D "Skytrain", R5D "Skymaster", Beechcraft SNB "Expeditor" and the Noorduyn JA-1 "Norseman" aircraft in regular air service to Seattle, Oakland, San Francisco, the Aleutian Islands, Fairbanks and Point Barrow on the Alaskan Mainland.^[2]

1940s[]

In 1948, the Naval Air Transportation Service and Air Transport Command merged and became the Military Air Transport Service. VR-5 was placed under the command of Fleet Logistics Support Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

1950s[]

In 1950, VR-5 moved its base of operations from NAS Seattle to NAS Moffett Field, CA. Detachments were established in Seattle and at NAS North Island, CA. VR-5 was decommissioned July 15, 1957 and became VR-21, with detachments at NAF Atsugi, Japan and NAS North Island. VR-21 was the first squadron to fly dedicated Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) aircraft, the TBM-3Rs, transport version of the TBM-3E the General Motors version of the World War II Grumman Avenger torpedo bomber.

On June 26, 1958, VR-21 NAS North Island Detachment made the first COD with the Grumman C-1A Trader aircraft to the USS Yorktown (CV-10). The Detachment relocated to NAS Alameda in 1960.

VR-21 was also at NAS Barbers Point Hawaii flying C-118B's into the early '70's.

1960s[]

The Atsugi Detachment VRC-50, and the Alameda Detachment was commissioned as Fleet Tactical Support Squadron Three Zero (VR-30) equipped with Convair C-131 Samaritans and C-1A Trader aircraft. VR-30's mission included logistics support for Commander in Chief U.S. Pacific Fleet units. On November 9, 1966, VR-30 made their first COD arrested landing in the C-1A on the USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31). The squadron was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation for exemplary service from January 1 to November 30, 1967. From 1968 to 1973, VR-30 COD detachments operated aboard various carriers in support of recovery operations for Apollo X, XI, XII, and XVI.

In 1969, squadron C-1A's and crews operated from Danang, Republic of Vietnam in support of CTF-77. In 1971 VR-30 joined the Jet Age with two North American CT-39 Saberliners for high-speed executive airlift. In May 1973 the squadron received the first of four C-9B Skytrain II's to further improve its logistics support capability.

1970s[]

On 12 March 1974 the Navy's first female Aviator, Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Barbara A. Allen reported for duty. After relocating to NAS North Island, VR-30 was decommissioned on 1 October 1978 and VRC-30 was concurrently commissioned.

1980s[]

In February 1980, VRC-30 added the C-12 Fleet Replacement Squadron, providing ground and flight instruction for all Pacific Fleet Navy and Marine Corps Pilots and Aircrew in the UC-12B/F Beechcraft Super King Air. VRC-30's C-12 FRS acts as the Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet NATOPS Model Manager and Unit Evaluator, in addition to their primary job of flight instruction. VRC-30 retired the 6 C-1a Trader Aircraft and transitioned to the C-2A Greyhound in late 1985 by accepting deliveries of five "C-2A Greyhounds", the squadron operates a newer re-procured version of the aircraft today, the C-2A(r).

1990s[]

C2A162148atSYD — A VRC-30 Detachment Five Greyhound acting as COD for the USS *Kitty Hawk*, 2007In 1994 VRC-30 took sole responsibility for Pacific Fleet C-2 operations by absorbing personnel and aircraft when VRC-50 was decommissioned. VRC-30 DET Five was established in August 1994 in Atsugi, Japan as part of Carrier Air Wing Five and the Forward Deployed Naval Forces. Four deployable sea going detachments were formed at North Island, supported by a "homeguard" shore component. In 1997 VRC-30's detachment Three became the first fully integrated, night capable C-2 detachment when it deployed with CVW-2 aboard USS *Constellation* (CV-64).

1998 proved to be another banner year for the Providers at VRC-30. Provider detachments continued to set the standard for day/night logistics support with two highly successful deployments. Detachment One posted an impressive total of over 290,000 lbs. of cargo, 175,000 lbs. of mail, and over 2300 passengers carried in support of the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) Battlegroup. While on WESTPAC Detachment One earned the Golden Hook Award for the best landing grades in the Airwing, a squadron first. Detachment Two aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) followed suit, operating daily in support of Operation Desert Fox and Operation Southern Watch. In calendar year 1998, VRC-30 was able to accomplish astounding results including: 1356 carrier landings, 14,360 passengers, 1,877,973 lbs of cargo, and a sortie completion rate of 99.9%.

As of December 1999, the squadron has achieved 24 years and over 149,600 hours of accident-free flight. VRC30 was awarded the Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award six times between 1979 and 1992 and the Meritorious Unit Commendation for exemplary service from October 1993 to September 1994. In 1996 the Providers were awarded their first ever Commander, Naval Air Forces Pacific Battle Efficiency Award and again received the honor in 1998. VRC-30 again garnered the CNO Aviation Safety Award in 1998. In March 1998 the command adopted a full detachment concept, as a result of a 140 person reduction in manning. As a result; all five detachments have remained active throughout the turn around cycle.

2000s[]

The Providers delivered over 2.1 million pounds of cargo and mail to the fleet and more than 16,000 passengers and Distinguished Visitors were safely transported to and from carriers at sea. In addition, the FRS side of the house trained 82 new fleet ready C-12 pilots and instructor pilots and 47 newly qualified C-12/26 aircrew.