Disestablished: 01 September 1994.

The insignia chosen by VP-60 was approved by CNO on 28 December 1971. The device featured a large Cobra coiled around a submarine, symbolizing the squadron’s primary mission of antisubmarine warfare.
Colors: snake, green body, yellow belly, red tongue and eyes; water, blue; submarine, black; scroll at bottom had PATRON 60 lettering in blue on a white scroll background.

Nicknames: Cobras, 1970–1994 (aka, Snake Snappers, 1974).

01 Nov 1970: VP-60 was one of 12 VP and three VR squadrons established in 1970 as a continuation of a program initiated in July 1968 to give Naval Air Reserve squadrons an improved combat readiness. The concept, known as the 12/2/1 had 12 VP squadrons under two commands, Commander Fleet Air Reserve Wings Atlantic and Commander Fleet Air Reserve Wings Pacific, both under the control of one central authority, Commander Naval Air Reserve. VP-60 was established at NAS Glenview, IL. under Commander Reserve Patrol Wings, Atlantic. It was formed by combining personnel from VPs 70V1, 70V2, 70V3 and 49V4, at NAS Glenview and NAS Twin Cities, Minn. The squadron conducted flying operations with 12 SP-2H Neptunes.

01 Jul 1975: Administrative control for VP-60 was transferred from Commander Reserve Patrol Wings, Atlantic to Commander Reserve Patrol Wings, Pacific.

Jun–Nov 1980: The Cobras transitioned from the P-3A airframe to the P-3B. The B-model Orions came with more powerful engines and improved avionics. Transition training was completed in November.

27 Mar 1981: VP-60 deployed to NAF Kadena, Okinawa, with detachments at NAS Whidbey Island, Wash., and NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii. Crews operating with the two detachments completed basic and advanced antisubmarine warfare qualification flights in the weapons systems trainer. The unit at Kadena provided the only available on-the-spot sea-air rescue support in April when one of the Navy’s SSBNs collided with a Japanese freighter that resulted in the sinking of the freighter.

Mar 1983: The first of the squadron’s 9 P-3B Orions was sent to the Naval Air Rework Facility (NARF) at NAS Alameda, Calif., for retrofit to the P-3B Tactical Navigational Modification (TAC/NAV MOD).

1993: In its last year of operational flying, VP-60 provided support to UNITAS XXXIV/93, a series of ASW exercises conducted with naval units in Uruguay.

17Aug 1993: VP-60 was selected to conduct a live over-the-horizon HARM (high-speed antiradiation missile) and Harpoon launch at NAS Point Mugu, Calif. The exercise was unique in that the crew launched their Harpoon using coordinated satellite targeting data delivered straight to the cockpit instead of the aircraft’s onboard radar data.

01 Sep 1994: VP-60 was disestablished at NAS Glenview, Ill.

CDR Robert A. Galbraith, 01 Nov 1970
CDR George L. Young, Jr., 30 Jun 1971
CDR Alfred M. Fenstad, 06 Jan 1973
CDR Richard C. Riebe, 04 Jan 1975
CDR Stephen G. Snipes, 17 Jul 1976
CDR Howard C. Lysne, 29 Jul 1978
CAPT Gary L. Engel, 12 Jul 1980
CDR John J. Mumaw, 16 Jan 1982
CDR Richard D. Nilson, 06 Aug 1983
CDR Michael Mazurczak, II 03 Mar 1985
CDR John I. Hallquist, 21 Sep 1986
CDR James B. Johnson, 19 Mar 1988
CDR James C. Schultz, 09 Sep 1989
CDR James L. Cook, 1990
CDR Jerome D. Kulenkamp, 1992
CDR Brian P. Burghgrave, 1993

Wing Assignments

COMRESPATWINGLANT,  01 Nov 1970
COMRESPATWINGPAC,  01 Jul 1975

Type of Aircraft,  Date First Received

SP-2H, 01 Nov 1970
P-3A, Jan 1974
P-3B, Jun 1980
P-3B MOD, Mar 1983

Unit Awards,  Inclusive Dates

Navy “E” Award
01 Oct 1976 – 30 Sep 1978
01 Oct 1978 – 30 Sep 1980

VP-60 won both “Battle E” awards consecutively during the commands of CDR Stephen G. Snipes, CDR Howard C. Lysne and CAPT Gary L. Engel. VP-60 remained the top squadron for a period of 58 months, a record that still stands.

In addition, VP-60 was the first winner of the Golden Wrench Maintenance award from Lockheed. The COBRAS had the highest promotion rate of any squadron in the Navy from 1976 thru 1980, active or reserve. The reenlistment rate was also the highest in the Navy during that time. VP-60 was the first and only unit in the Navy to achieve C-1 status during the period Oct 1978 thru July 1980.