The team of officers, chief petty officers and sailors of Patrol Squadron 40 recently left Whidbey Island Naval Air Station for deployment to U.S. 7th Fleet.

Following an exceptional 13-month Inter-Deployment Readiness Cycle, VP-40’s P-3C Orion anti-submarine aircraft and squadron personnel embarked to Kadena Air Base on the island of Okinawa, and Misawa Air base on the main island of Honshu, Japan.

Upon arrival in 7th Fleet, VP-40 took over for VP-46, the Grey Knights, who returned to NAS Whidbey Island having ended a successful seven-month deployment with Cmdr. David S. Brinson at the helm.

With recent political and military escalation in Southeast Asia VP-40 will assume a critical role in providing surveillance, reconnaissance and security in the 7th Fleet Area of Responsibility under Commander Task Force 72.

VP-5, a P-8 Poseidon squadron out of Jacksonville, Fla., will soon be joining the Fighting Marlins in Kadena.
VP-40’s leadership includes Cmdr. Timothy Thompson as the executive officer and Command Master Chief Carlos J. Alamo as the squadron’s senior enlisted advisor.