Kane'ohe squadron ends war deployment

By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer

A Navy squadron of P-3 Orion anti-submarine warfare aircraft is returning to Kane'ohe following a six-month deployment to the Arabian Gulf and island base of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

Navy officials said the patrol squadron spent "considerable time" fighting in the war against terrorism in Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

P-3s that are part of the VP-9 "Golden Eagles" have been returning daily to Marine Corps Base, Hawai'i at Kane'ohe, the Navy said. Some 200 personnel were expected to return to Hickam Air Force Base tomorrow as part of the airlift.

Other squadron members are arriving by chartered jet at Ho-nolulu International Airport.

Squadron aircraft are expected to return through Wednesday.

The four-engine turboprop P-3 is widely used for anti-submarine warfare and maritime surveillance, with sub detection sensors and magnetic anomaly detection equipment.

The $36 million aircraft can carry 20,000 pounds of ordnance, including Harpoon and Maverick missiles, as well as torpedoes, rockets and mines.

VP-4, another P-3 squadron based at Kane'ohe, is deploying in place of VP-9.

Nearly 2,300 Navy personnel were transferred to the Marine Corps base at Kane'ohe in 1999 when 29 P-3s and nine SH-60 Sea Hawk helicopters were moved there from Barbers Point Naval Air Station.

The 1993 Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommended shutting down the 3,700-acre naval air station.

Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-5459.