Ken Shwartzman

VF-171, originally established as VF-82 in 1944 and redesignated VF-17A in 1946 before becoming VF-171 in August 1948, was a pioneering U.S. Navy fighter squadron. It holds the distinction of being the Navy’s first operational jet fighter squadron, flying the FH-1 Phantom and later the F2H Banshee. VF-171 was based at NAS Quonset Point and participated in early carrier qualifications for jet aircraft, marking a significant transition from propeller-driven to jet-powered naval aviation. The squadron was disestablished in March 1959, but its legacy endures as a trailblazer in naval jet operations.

Patrol Squadron 44 (VP-44) was a United States Navy maritime patrol squadron established during World War II. Commissioned in June 1942, the unit initially flew the PBY Catalina on anti-submarine and reconnaissance missions in the Atlantic and later transitioned to the PBM Mariner and P5M Marlin. Throughout its service, VP-44 played a vital role in maritime patrol, surveillance, and search and rescue operations during the Cold War, particularly in the Atlantic and Mediterranean theaters. The squadron was eventually equipped with the P-3 Orion before being disestablished on June 1, 1991, as part of post-Cold War force reductions.

Lakehurst Naval Air Base, established in 1921 in New Jersey, quickly became a pivotal center for U.S. Navy lighter-than-air operations. The base gained historical significance as the site of the Hindenburg disaster in 1937, highlighting the end of the airship era. During World War II, Lakehurst played a vital role in anti-submarine patrols and the training of airship crews. In the postwar years, it continued to support naval aviation research, particularly in launching and recovery systems for aircraft carriers. Today, it is part of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, supporting a variety of military operations and training missions.