Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 30 (VRC-30), traces its ancestry to Air Transport Squadron 5 (VR-5) which was commissioned June 24, 1943 at Naval Air Station, Seattle. The squadron was tasked with flying the R-4D, 4-5D, DNB-2C and UC-64 aircraft in regular air service to Seattle, Oakland, San Francisco, the Aleutian Islands, Fairbanks and Point Barrow on the Alaskan mainland.
In 1950, VR-5 moved its base of operations from NAS Seattle, Washington to NAS Moffett Field, California, leaving a detachment at Seattle and establishing a second detachment at NAS North Island, San Diego, California. VR-5 was decommissioned July 15, 1957 and became VR-21, with detachments at NAS Atsugi, Japan and NAS North Island, San Diego, California.
On June 26, 1956, VR-21, NAS North Island, San Diego, California Detachment, made the first Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) with the Grumman C-1A Trader aircraft to the USS Yorktown (CV 10). The detachment relocated to NAS Alameda, California in 1960.
After relocating to NAS North Island, San Diego, California, VR-30 was decommissioned on October 1, 1978 and VRC-30 was commissioned at that time. VRC-30 transitioned to the C-2A Greyhound in late 1981 with the acceptance of deliveries of reprocured C-2A aircraft, the aircraft the squadron operates today. In February 1980, VRC-30 received its first UC-12B and in October 1980 VRC-30 established the UC-12B/F Fleet Replacement Squadron, providing ground and flight instruction for all Pacific Fleet Navy and Marine Corps pilots and aircrew in the UC-12 Beechcraft Super King Air. VRC-30’s C-12 FRS acts as the U.S. Navy C-12 B/F Fleet Model Manager and Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet NATOPS Evaluator in addition to their primary job of flight instruction.
1994 marked one of the most dynamic periods in VRC-30’s history. When VRC-50 was disestablished in September 1994, VRC-30 became the sole C-2 squadron in the Pacific, assuming the responsibility of providing COD support to all Pacific Fleet carriers. In order to support the expansion of VRC-30’s area of responsibility, the command has undergone a transition from shore-based operations to sea-based major deployment operations. The transition involved tremendous changes in manning, missions and aircraft. On August 1994, VRC-30 Det. 5 was established in Atsugi, Japan, supporting Carrier Air Wing 5 and USS Independence (CV 62). In addition to the Atsugi Detachment, the squadron maintains four sea going detachments, home based at North Island. These detachments support all Pacific Fleet carriers during their WESTPAC cruise and all CONUS at sea periods.
VRC-30 currently operates 16 C-2A Greyhounds and 3 UC-12 Super King Airs. Today the squadron has two primary missions, which consist of C-2A Carrier Onboard Delivery logistics support and UC-12 FRS training of pilots and aircrewman. Under the operational and administrative control of Commander Airborne Early Warning Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet, VRC-30 consists of 63 officers and 391 enlisted personnel. As of August 1996, the squadron has achieved 22 years and over 125,000 hours of accident-free flight. VRC-30 was awarded the Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award for the years, 1979, 1983-1985, 1990 and 1991. The squadron was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation for exemplary service from October 1993 to September 1994.
On January 12, 1984, the VRC-30 “Providers” officially adopted their present insignia. The mythological legend of “Pegasus” illustrates the mission of the squadron-airborne delivery of personnel and material to units of the Pacific Fleet. The Providers have always lived up to their motto “We Deliver”, and now validate their claim on a daily basis to destinations which span more than half of the globe.
What most people don’t know is that VR-30 COD was the very first to get the Grumman C-2A Greyhound. Even if only for a few months in 1966, VR-30 was responsible for the C-2 program and the NATOPS. The C-2A was transferred to VRC-50.
I was a crew member in VR-30 from 1976-1978. I was on a C-9B Skytrain flight crew and enjoyed every minute of it. We had the mission of pathfinding for a Marine unit of A-4 Skyhawks to Wake Island. It was the highlight of my career in the USN.
Hey Randy,
Found this website by surprise, saw your name & said his name sounds familiar,then saw your post. Don’t know if you remember me, Gary Ault, 1977-1978. I went on a pathfinder early 78 to Midway Island, Guam PI & Japan. I had a blast too. Great people to work with. I think about Glenda Pasqua, Pete Bama, Lt Rommel, Chief Hicks & several others.
Got transferred to Pensacola & served under the last enlisted Naval Aviator Pilot, MC Robert “NAP” K. Jones. That was an honor.
Great to hear from a fellow shipmate.
Hi Gary its chief Hicks, glad to hear you are doing good. VR-30 was good duty, C9’s I think of them daily. Still kicking at 83. Lewis
Great to hear from you Chief Hicks, Lewis! Glad you are still kicking. Hope you are doing well. Were you with VR-30 when they flew C-131F? When I transferred to NAS Pensacola after VR-30, that’s what they flew. Felt like traveling back in time from C-9B. I went back to CA after Pensacola, then to SC, GA & now back in FL. I remembered if you wanted to advance, learn everyone at VR-30 helped each other to achieve their goals. Maybe we can find a way to contact each other to see what each other has been doing.
Thanks for the greeting Lewis.
Gary
Jake Salaz here, loved being a ground pounder downstairs in the airframe shop. 75-78. Fun times.
I recognized your name then read your post. I don’t know if you remember me, Gary Ault, I arrive 1977-1978. We were in served in the Aircrew shop upstairs in the hangar. I went on a Pathfinder mission in 1978 to Midway Island, Guam, PI & Japan. I too will never forget that deployment. I really enjoyed the people in VR-30.
Lt. Rommel was a great pilot. Going on decompression training in San Diego we lost brakes on landing she bought that bird in beautifully. Never knew nothing about having no brakes. Lt. Stuart was a great pilot also. Is cool. Had some fun in Japan.
Randy, was LT Stuart short but stocky person? If so, he had a sense of humor.
Gary
I arrived at VR-30 in 1970 and worked on avionics. I had a wonderful experience during that time.
I’ll never forget those days!
I arrived at VR-30 in summer of 1971. I also worked on the aircraft avionics (work center 210) at the hanger until Nov 1974. I don’t remember you. Maybe you worked bench avionics. I also had a wonderful experience during my 3 years there. I was married and lived off base with my new bride in Oakland. Still married after 51 years. It’s good to hear from another VR-30 shipmate.
Hey Jim, I do believe you bought my little Suzuki X6 hustler back in 1970. I was AE3 Bradley at the time. Hope you’re well and happy.
Hey Jim, you bought my Suzuki X6 from me. Hope you’re well.
Had a great tour at VR30, and remember you well. Take care.
I worked in Personnel from Nov 68-Nov 70
I was in personnel from Nov 68-Nov70
hi
i was in power plants the years of 1972-76, i went to jet a school in militon Tennessee, long beach for the c9 b 727 jets and the star liner i miss having fun with my shipmates.
Hi All, I remember alot of you that was their from 1971 to 1974 when I got out. So many good people in the AE shop like you all and Bobbie Johnson who I helped get into aircrew. My name is Robert taylor and I started in line div in 71 and moved to airframe and then to aircrew and became a loadmaster for the c9 fleet. 113,114,115,116 also the C1A’s and the T-39’s. Good to here some of the good old boys and girls are still around. I was and AMH-2 when I left for Kingsville Texas.
I was Legal Yeoman 1969 through 1970. Does anyone remember the hanger number for VR-30? Also, does anyone remember Gary Owens, the Legal Yeoman who preceded me?
hello.
left in March 1969. cannot recall Owens, seaman, Vose , Gulla. Was the best duty. just stated BART then also.
cheers for the new year
My first duty station. I was C9B aircrew 1977 to until we decommissioned in 1978.
VR-30 Hangar number is #40. NARF was #41 & I don’t remember who was in #39 but there was an A-3 that went into the drink, happened in 78. The A-3 was put in hangar 39 after it was recovered out of the bay.
hey all. kowal here, was assigned to vr-30 may 1968 t0 1969. crew member on cods and convair 121. did logs for pilots and worked the line. one hook and catapult off enterprise. lots of t@gs at Moffitt field. some big hanger there. yuma az, san diego , reno with a bunch of admirals. some weapons, i Rember Lt Whitenight. VO-67 was also being decomd adjacent hanger. had to get a secret clearance for crew. lots of exploring san fran, went to the Heidi game (jets, Oakland. ). Berkley. and son on.
great duty ther. flag football champs too..
I’m Mac Hall Iwas at VR 21 when it changed to VR 30. I arrived there in 65 and stayed until 67 had about 200 hrs in the C1A COD crew loved it.lo
VR-30 was my first duty station at Alameda. 1967 to 1969. Left as an AMS3. Assigned to VS-21 at north Island. Was promoted to civilian after making AMS-2. Recruiter couldn’t guarantee me shore duty, it’s the Navy, so I packed my seabag and went home. Served with some great guys in both squadrons. Got to spend a short while on the Ticonderoga and Saratoga so our pilots could get carrier qualified. The older I get, the better I was.
Hi Bob,I was with VR-30 same years.We did some things togeather like watch the moon landing at your Mom’s house across the bay and you hooked a ride with to Oklahoma. Look forward to touching base with you.
Bob,looks like my first message got canceled-thought I’d try again.Send a note to my email address
Thanks
I transferred to VR-30 in July 1973 from VC-5 on Okinawa. I was an ADR-1 and assigned as Check Crew Co-ordinator. I had previous experience with C1As so I kimda fitted right in. It was easy to learn the C-131 and CT39 aircraft and was sent to Air Force C9 school in Illinois. 2 Years later I was Transferred to COMNAVAIRPAC DET. as SDML Liaison for the P-3, A-6 and C118 to NARF Alameda in the next hangar over. It was a very nice tour of duty.
After a tour of duty with VP=47 I was transferred to VRC-30 at NAS North Island in a flight status with C-1A NATOPS Evaluator Plus CNAP NATOPS
I was stationed for 2 years in VR 30, 1970 – 1971. The Cods picked up the moon rocks gathered by the astronauts just before I was assigned there.
Went to St Louis with the pilots for a quick school on our two new T39’s and flew them back to Alameda. It was a great time in my life. I made so many friends. Does anyone remember me? I then was transferred to the Midway for 8 months.
AE3 Paul Bradley, I should know you but can’t recall. I was in 30 the same time as you. Where
Did you work? What rate? VR30 was great for me, set me on the right track. Met many outstanding people
I arrived at vr-30 in May of 1968. Aircrew on the c-1a and the convair 131. Logs yeoman upstairs in the hanger.played flag football there. Vr-30 won it all. Ltd whitening. They were dreaming up flying tigers deals n the pilots lounge. Best duty. Oh, went to fillmore west, jets raiders game.famous as the Hiedi game. Great duty.
Jeff kowal
I was assigned to vr30 1970 adr3 transferred to amid shortly after was tad stayed there 3 years then to hurrcace hunters in nas Jax.
My dad was assigned to VR 30 and the 70s, Lieutenant Commander Rolfe. I still have a patch.
I was assigned to VR-30 from 1969-1971. I worked out of WC210 on both the C131’s and C1A’s. This was my first squadron after A school in Memphis (Millington), Lots of memories from working on those aircraft.
I specifically recall meeting the CO-I believe his name was EJ Rivard upon checking in to the squadron. I was introduced by a Lt. from personnel who had already told me I would be going to the galley for 6 months. While talking with the CO I asked him “why has the Navy spent time and money to train me as an AT only to be sent to galley duty?” The CO called the Lt. back into the office and told him “this man will go directly to WC210.” That Lt, was NOT happy with me!
Based there from March of 73 till July of 77 with VR30, then transitioned down the hall to VR55 where I flew till early 1983. Fabulous times and great people.
Don’t imagine anyone here remembers an “event” on a VR30 C131 flying nukes from Alameda to Los Alamitos in 1973? Right engine failed and diverted into Lemoore.
Would greatly appreciate any info anyone might have. Have tried to locate our CO – Cdr Hadley Ray, or the XO – Ron Pickett. Unable.
Thanks in advance.
AE3 Bradley here. 1970-1972. Great fun and many friends. AMS3 Larry schleif, AE2 Baker, Chief Bloom, many others I can’t recall. My initiation to the Nav. Retired AECS 1995
I worked in the VR-30 elect shop from late 1969 until 1971. I remember cpo
Bloom. We had the C-131, C-1a. I was selected to attend the Remert Warner factory school on the CT-39. Went on to be plane captain and aircraft on the two T-39’s we had RW 380 and Rw 381. Orders in late 1971 to VF-24 for sea duty in Vietnam. Wonderful memories of CDR Rivard and the Navy in general. AE-3 Jesse Wayne Conner