Airship Patrol Squadron (ZP-3) was located at Lakehurst from 1951 to 1961. Dozens of different airships were assigned to the squadron over the years. ZP-3 was instrumental in taking innovative developments in Lighter Than Air (LTA) into the cold war period. Antisubmarine warfare was perfected using the ZPG-2N airship equipped with sonobuoys, magnetic detection equipment, passive electronic detection equipment, and a powerful radar. This aircraft could carry a variety of underwater weapons, including target seeking torpedos. Tactics for airborne refueling from surface ships were developed and long-endurance operations were conducted for over 200 hours. More advanced systems for enemy submarine detection and tracking put an end to ZP-3 operations, such as the SOund SUrveillance System (SOSUS) that provided deep-water long-range detection capability.
Our squadron insignia.