Patrol Squadron 4 (United States Navy)

Patrol Squadron 4
Active1 July 1943 – Present
Country United States
Branch United States Navy
TypeSquadron
RoleSubmarine
Part ofPatrol and Reconnaissance Wing 10
Garrison/HQNaval Air Station Whidbey Island, Oak Harbor, Washington
NicknameThe Skinny Dragons
EngagementsCold War
Vietnam War
Operation Desert Shield
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Aircraft flown
PatrolPV-1
PV-2
P2V-1/2/5/5F/SP-2h
P-3A/B/C
P-8A

Patrol Squadron Four (VP-4) is a U.S. Navy land-based patrol squadron based at the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Oak Harbor, Washington, which is tasked to undertake maritime patrol, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions flying the Boeing P-8 Poseidon.

The squadron was originally established as Bombing Squadron 144 (VB-144) on 1 July 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 144 (VPB-144) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 144 (VP-144) on 15 May 1946, redesignated Medium Patrol Squadron (Landplane) 4 (VP-ML-4) on 15 November 1946 and redesignated Patrol Squadron 4 (VP-4) on 1 September 1948. It is the second squadron to be designated VP-4, the first VP-4 was redesignated VP-22 on 1 July 1939.