Welcome to the 1964-65 VW-1 Typhoon Trackers Cruise book.. It is hoped that the following pages will bring you enjoyment now and in the future years, and that it will help you re-live some of the memories of your tour. Truly Guam is Good.
No Cruise book would be complete without a squadron history, and so... we start with just that.
Airborne Early Warning Squadron One evolved from a VC-11 Detachment (presently VAW-11) and was commissioned "Airborne Early Warning Squadron One" on 18 June, 1952, at NAS Barber's Point, Hawaii. This was the first land based AEW Squadron in the Pacific. PB-1W's, the Navy's version of the famed B-17 "Flying Fortress", were utilized.
The PB-1W's assigned to VW-1 crossed the Pacific in February, 1953, for a brief taste of combat patrol duty during the Korean conflict. In October, 1954, AEWRON ONE received its first "Willie Victor" (WV-2), now commonly known as the EC-121K, "Warning Star". It is the radar configured version of Lockheed's "Super Constellation" with the famed triple tail trademark and easily distinguishable radar domes; the upper housing the height finding radar and the lower dome the distance measuring radar.
A permanent detachment of VW-1 was established in WESTPAC to provide the SEVENTH fleet with heavy AEW coverage. This detachment operated out of bases in the Philippines, Okinawa and Japan and while, the Pacific and Atlantic AEW Barriers were established as extensions of the far flung DEW (Distant Early Warning) Line. VW-1 trained the initial crews for the Pacific Barrier. In 1957, VW-1 moved to NAS Agana, Guam and along with VW-3 provided heavy AEW services to the powerful SEVENTH Fleet. In 1960, VW-3 was decommissioned and VW-1 was given the additional mission of weather reconnaissance.
Training of meteorological crew commenced immediately. Meteorological instruments such as the AMQ-17 Aerograph, the MC-401 Precision Aneroid Barometer and the MC-313 Airborne Psychrometer were installed to provide an effective airborne weather observation and reporting station. One CIC radar console was removed to allow for the Dropsonde installation; however, it can be re-installed on short notice. Doppler navigational equipment has been approved but installation is pending.
In four seasons of weather reconnaissance, AEWRON ONE has tracked over ninety typhoons and forty tropical storms-completing more than 1000 assigned weather missions. In 1964, the squadron met 316 out of 317 JTWC requirements. These included daylight penetrations on tropical depressions and night radar fixes on tropical storms and typhoons. During this period VW-1 flew 3000 weather hours bringing their total to 8500 weather hours since 1961. It is noteworthy that this squadron has won the U.S. Naval Weather Service's "Outstanding Performance Award" for 1962 and 1963, and has been nominated again for 1964. It has truly earned the title of "Typhoon Trackers".
During the past year the squadron has flown 3300 vital hours of airborne early warning support for the U.S. SEVENTH Fleet in Southeast Asia.
Since commissioning, Airborne Early Warning Squadron ONE has logged over 90,000 accident free hours; the equivalent of traveling 18 million miles. Without a deep sense of personal responsibility, an advanced level of technical ability and an outstanding degree of teamwork, VW-1 would not have been able to maintain its outstanding operational and safety records. The squadrons insignia, approved in 1953 symbolizes Paul Revere mounted on the flying white horse, PEGASUS, riding in to warn his countrymen of the enemy's approach. This symbol will undoubtedly remain both familiar and respected by all WESTPAC personnel for years to come as VW-1 continues to provide early warning of typhoons and potential enemies.