During their 2003 deployment , VP-4 continued to support Operation Enduring Freedom against terrorist factions in the Philippines , providing critical real time intelligence . These missions highlighted the expanse of Coalition operations against Al-Qaeda and Al-Qaeda backed terrorists . VP-4 also had the opportunity to conduct the P-3C 's primary mission , ASW , against diesel and nuclear powered submarines , completing this deployment by flying over 4,000 mishap-free flight hours and completing over 800 missions . In 2005 , VP-4 successfully completed a wartime deployment to the Middle East and Western Pacific , carrying out a wide variety of missions ranging from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief support missions to the Indian Ocean tsunami victims , to direct support of ground combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan . In December 2006 , the squadron deployed to Misawa AB and Kadena AB , and to the Philippines , in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in the Philippines . This was followed by a return to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in November 2008 . On this deployment , VP-4 supplied detachments in support of numerous joint and multinational exercises at RAF Lakenheath , United Kingdom ; RAF Kinloss , Scotland ; and NAS Sigonella , Sicily . This experience proved invaluable during the ensuing interdeployment readiness cycle , when VP-4 successfully planned , hosted , and executed the world 's largest joint , multinational military exercise , RIMPAC 2010 . Following completion of a series of detachment operations , VP-4 departed MCB Kaneohe Bay for a split site deployment in November 2010 , supporting assets in both the US 5th Fleet and US 7th Fleet AORs . Following the catastrophic 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami of 11 March 2011 , VP-4 forward-deployed to Misawa AB in fewer than 24 hours and re-established CTG 72.4 as an operational entity and the first US aviation unit on station for Operation Tomodachi , with VP-4 subsequently providing 254 flight hours of humanitarian and disaster relief support to the Japanese people
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
Patrol Squadron 4 (United States Navy)