The Tactical Training Team of Commander Patrol Wings Pacific was an
elite group of antisubmarine warfare experts selected from VP-31, the
Pacific P-3 Fleet Replenishment Squadron. Our job was to teach graduate-level
ASW tactics to fleet operators. I became the team's first assigned
intelligence officer in October 1987.
This was TTT’s unofficial logo, which hung on the back side of
our office door in the FASO spaces of Hangar One at Moffett Field.
Map showing Areas of Operations (AORs) for P-3 Orion squadrons forward
deployed in the Pacific Command for 6 month periods during the early
1980s. These bases included: Diego Garcia (Indian Ocean), NAS
Cubi Point (Philippines), NAF Kadena (Okinawa), NAF Misawa (Japan),
and NAS Agana (Guam). After 1985 we began deploying a squadron to NAS
Adak (Aleutian Islands) instead of Guam.
This is the classification slide I normally began all my briefings with
while working on the Tactical Training Team (TTT) between 1987-91.
PATWINGSPAC Tactical Training Team in 1990; kneeling (left to right):
AW2 Phil Marshall, LT Karl Glaeser, LT Marty Martin, LT Dave Rogers.
Standing (left to right): LT C.J. Kalb, AW1 Mike Minn, AWC Joe Ladwig,
LCDR Carl Rehling, LT Mark Radice and AWC Ken Thomas.
Here I am standing next to Romeo Papa ONE SIX, the spanking new P-3C
Update III leased and operated by the Tactical Training Team (TTT),
whenever VP-31 would allow. This was taken shortly before my first
WESTPAC deployment site tour in April 1988. TTT logged about 35,000
miles on each WESTPAC tour and we tried to make two tours per year.
On August 23, 1988 I was promoted to senior Lieutenant by CDR W.G. Bozin,
skipper of VP-31 (on left). TTT leader LCDR Deon Harkey is at
right. Eric Thorsen and B.X. Mack are standing behind me, waiting
for the wetting down party at Tide House in nearby Mountain View.
One of my first duties after being winged was being a tour guide at
the NAS Moffett Field Air Show and Open House in October 1990.
In this view I am extolling the virtues of one of NASA’s F/A-18’s
from their Ames Research Center, located there on the same base.
Aerial view of NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii, home of Patwing 2 during the
Cold War. We briefed a Patwing 2 squadron about every 8 weeks
while I was with TTT, flying to Hawaii on Sunday and returning to Moffett
Field Friday evenings.
The Aussies also fly P-3 Orion aircraft and we had an exchange program
with them at VP-31. We also flew patrol missions with the Aussies out
of RAAF Butterworth in Malaysia. The Aussie’s maritime patrol
wings were headquartered in Perth. Whenever we had a trip to Perth
I would be asked to set up a “World War II remembrance tour”
as we passed through the South Pacific going and coming (we had to make
stops for fuel anyway). So, I was able to visit most of the islands
where the principal battles were fought between 1942-45.
Questions
or comments on this page?
E-mail Dr. J David Rogers at rogersda@mst.edu.
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