VU-10

• Formation and Name: Utility Squadron 10 (VU-10), also known as "The Lions," was a U.S. Navy utility squadron established in 1943 during World War II. • Mission Profile: VU-10's primary mission was to provide target towing, drone operations, gunnery target services, and other utility tasks for fleet training exercises. • Home Base: The squadron was based at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, serving as the base's resident utility squadron for many years. • Aircraft Operated: Over its service, VU-10 operated a variety of aircraft, including the Grumman JRF Goose, JD-1 Invader, F6F Hellcat, F8F Bearcat, and the versatile QF-9 Cougar drone. • Drone Operations: VU-10 was notable for its pioneering use of radio-controlled drones for live-fire training, an innovation that helped improve Navy anti-aircraft gunnery skills. • Cold War Role: During the Cold War, VU-10 played a key role in providing aerial target services for ships conducting missile and gunnery exercises in the Atlantic and Caribbean. • Cuban Missile Crisis: During the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, VU-10 was on high alert at Guantanamo Bay, supporting fleet operations and base defense preparations. • Squadron Insignia: The squadron's distinctive "Lion" insignia became a symbol of pride and identity for its members and was prominently displayed on its aircraft and facilities. • Disestablishment: VU-10 was redesignated as VC-10 (Fleet Composite Squadron 10) in 1965 as part of a Navy-wide reorganization, and continued its utility mission until its disestablishment in 1976. • Legacy: The legacy of VU-10 lives on in the stories of those who served, and in the important support role it played in keeping the U.S. Navy fleet combat-ready for over three decades.