VP-44

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.