Description
US Navy VR-51 Windjammers Sticker
Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 51 (VR-51) “Windjammers”
Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 51 was originally commissioned on 1 November 1970 as a Naval Reserve Force Squadron at Naval Air Station Alameda, California, initially flying Douglas C-118B Liftmaster aircraft with detachments at Alameda and NAS Glenview, Illinois. The squadron transitioned to the C-9B Skytrain in 1983 after consolidating at NAS Glenview, earning the nickname “Flamin’ Hookers” during its C-9B era for global support missions. The original VR-51 was disestablished on 30 September 1994 due to the closure of NAS Glenview, but was recommissioned in 1997 at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay.
During its first iteration, VR-51 supported key Cold War-era operations and provided critical airlift during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. Following recommissioning, the squadron adopted the “Windjammers” nickname—a reference to the large merchant sailing ships known for harnessing strong winds for long-distance voyages, fitting VR-51’s role in delivering rapid logistics support spanning the globe from its Pacific island home. The squadron operated the Gulfstream C-20G before receiving its first Boeing C-40A Clipper in May 2019, with a second arriving in July, providing worldwide passenger and cargo airlift for the Department of Defense.
VR-51 flies approximately 3,000 flight hours per year, supporting operations from Wake Island to South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. As a reserve unit of the Fleet Logistics Support Wing, the Windjammers comprise both active duty and Selected Reserve sailors stationed at MCAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.
Perfect For: VR-51 Windjammers veterans, Fleet Logistics Support Wing personnel, C-40A Clipper crews, Navy Reserve aviators, MCB Hawaii sailors, and naval logistics aviation collectors.
A tribute to the Windjammers, whose global reach from the Pacific delivers vital logistics support to naval forces around the world.
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