VMFP-3

Marine Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron 3
225px VMFP-3 insignia
Active	July 1, 1975 - September 30, 1990
Country	United States
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Role	Reconnaissance
Part of	Inactive
Nickname(s)	Eyes of the Corps
Tail Code	RF

Marine Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron 3 (VMFP-3) was an aviation unit of the United States Marine Corps active between 1975 and 1990.

Mission

Conduct aerial, multisensor imagery reconnaissance to include aerial photographic, infrared, and side looking airborne radar reconnaissance in support of Fleet Marine Force operations.

History

VMFP-3 was activated on July 1, 1975 as part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California (USA). The squadron was deactivated on July 1st, 1990 ( See AlMar 24-1990).

Photo and electronic reconnaissance had previously been conducted by three Marine Composite Reconnaissance Squadrons (VMCJ-1, 2, 3) located at MCAS Iwakuni (Japan), MCAS Cherry Point, and MCAS El Toro, respectively. These squadrons, (each flying RF-4Bs and EA-6As) were consolidated into two squadrons- VMAQ-2 at MCAS Cherry Point operating all the EA-6s, and VMFP-3 operating all the RF-4Bs. Each squadron would deploy detachments to Iwakuni to fly missions previously flown by VMCJ-1.

Overseas detachments, in addition to supporting FMF operations, continued the 7th fleet support started by VMCJ-1 in 1974. RF-4Bs of VMFP-3 were permanently deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Midway (CV-41) from 1975 to 1984. A six-plane detachment operated as part of Carrier Air Wing Five, although retaining their own tail code "RF".

File:RF4B VMFP3.JPEG

Two RF-4B Phantoms in flight in 1990. ( This cannot be 1990. The paint Scheme of black cockpit banding was discontinued in 1987. Se NA 01-1A Manuals for RF-4B airframes dated 1987 or beyond

Actually it is 1990, date July 10 taken by Robert L. Lawson. These were some of the last RF-4Bs in service. Repainted during final months.

In 1990 Marine tactical reconnaissance was taken over by the Advanced Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance System carried by McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Hornet aircraft of Marine fighter attack squadrons (VMFA). Consequently, all RF-4Bs were retired and VMFP-3 was disbanded.

See also

• United States Marine Corps Aviation
• List of inactive United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons

References

Notes

Bibliography

Web

• VMFP-3 History

This is a dead link These 2 sites are much better overall links for Data on VMFP -3 and its various deployments:

http://cv41.org/vmfp3hist.html

http://www.gonavy.jp/usmc07.html

External links

• Photo of an RF-4B Phantom II, with VMFP-3 markings, on display at the National Museum of Naval Aviation
• Photo of an RF-4B Phantom II, with VMFP-3 markings, on display at the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum at MCAS Miramar

These are both dead links

Here is Side No #26, in storage approximately 6 months after the MCAS at El Toro was decommissioned. The A/C was to have been turned into a target drone QF-4 for the missile range at Pt Mugu. 

MCAS El Toro remains deactivated with several acres and several A/C still languishing with no foreseeable future. http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Marines/McDonnell-RF-4B-Phantom/1160203/L/

Here's another VMFP -3 RF- 4B A/C from better times:

http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Marines/McDonnell-RF-4B-Phantom/2004126/L/

circa 1988. Note the correct paint scheme for 1987-1990.

a previous VMCJ-2 unit Airframe:

http://www.mcara.us/RF-4B_photos.html