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Fighting Tigers Return Home To NAS Jacksonville Tuesday

U.S. Navy
The Fighting Tigers of Patrol Squadron (VP) 8 are pictured at NAS Jacksonville in this file photo.

The Fighting Tigers of Patrol Squadron 8 are returning home to Naval Air Station Jacksonville Tuesday following a six-month deployment.

The squadron’s 12 combat air crews flew over 3,000 operational hours in the P-8A Poseidon, carrying out numerous maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft missions, according to the Navy. 

The Fighting Tigers completed 16 detachments across 10 different locations within the 7th fleet, including Sri Lanka, Fiji, Brunei and Singapore.

Shortly after their arrival the squadron provided continuous coverage in support of the search and rescue efforts to locate a downed Japanese Air Self Defense Force F-35 and its pilot. The command provided support around the clock for the next six days, totaling 160 flight hours.

VP-8 also worked with the U.S. Coast Guard and various partner nations, contributing to the seizure of more than 47,000 kilograms of illegal narcotics worth more than $3.2 billion.

Other  highlights during the deployment include the monitoring and capturing of imagery of illicit ship-to-ship transfers of cargo on the high seas in violation of a United Nations Security Council Resolution enacting sweeping sanctions on North Korea.