VP-18

Patrol Squadron 18 (VP-18), known as the "Flying Phantoms," was a U.S. Navy maritime patrol squadron established in 1946. Originally formed as VP-914 in the Naval Reserve, it was redesignated as VP-18 in 1953. The squadron operated various aircraft, including the P-2V Neptune, conducting anti-submarine warfare, reconnaissance, and maritime patrol missions, primarily in the Atlantic and Caribbean regions. VP-18 played an active role during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, providing surveillance and reconnaissance support. The squadron was disestablished on October 10, 1968, after more than two decades of service.