Another Navy "Bee" patch

[Patchcollector]

Hi all,I saw the post on the mystery "Bee" patch,and found one in my collection.This unit,the VC-6 Firebees,used Drones for targeting and recon missions.

Originally VU-6,they became VC-6 in 1965,and decommissioned in 2008.Here are some photos of the VC-6 patch:

 

 

 

VU-6 Established 1 Mar 1952

VU-6 Redesignated VC-6 1 Jul 1965

Decomissioned 2008

[Patchcollector]

The unit most recently used the Pioneer RQ-2 drone.Here is a pic of the VU-6 patch(not from my collection),and some photos and links that are related to the unit:

 

A Pioneer drone link

Another Drone link

VC-6 unit info

Another VC-6 info site

[Patchcollector]

The unit flew recon UAVs from Battleships during the gulf war,and some may remember the famous story that I will list here:

 

During the Gulf War all the UAV units at various times had individuals or groups attempt to signal the Pioneer, possibly to indicate willingness to surrender. The most famous incident occurred when the USS MISSOURI, using her Pioneer to spot 16 inch rifle fire, devastated the defenses of Faylaka Island off the coast near Kuwait City. Shortly thereafter, while still over the horizon and invisible to the defenders, the USS WISCONSIN sent her RPV over Faylaka Island at low altitude. When the Pioneer came over the island, the defenders heard the obnoxious sound emitted by the two cycle engine, because the air vehicle was intentionally being flown low to let the Iraqis know that they were targeted. Recognizing that with the "vulture" overhead, there would soon be more of those 2000 pound naval gunfire rounds landing on their positions with the same accuracy, the Iraqis made the right choice and, using handkerchiefs, undershirts, and bedsheets, they signaled their desire to surrender.

When the Navy wanted to donate a Pioneer drone to the Smithsonian,the staff asked specifically for the drone that the Iraqi soldiers surrendered to,and here is a pic of it,in the Smithsonian!

 

 

 

 

 

Caption from Smithsonian

This one operated from the battleship Wisconsin during the 1991 Gulf War. While it was assessing damage from naval gunfire to targets on Faylaka Island near Kuwait City, several Iraqi soldiers signaled their intention to surrender to the aircraft during a low pass-the first time enemy soldiers had ever surrendered to an unmanned aerial vehicle. They were later captured by U.S. ground troops.

[Patchcollector]

Another pic I found showing the Pioneer Drone's size:

[Patchcollector]

I found another image,this one is drone recovery on a Battleship: