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From the Whidbey News-Times–

Naval Air Station Whidbey Island is preparing to become the primary home on the West Coast for the Navy’s newest maritime patrol aircraft, the P-8A Poseidon.

The federal government is spending millions of dollars on construction on base as well as moving three P-3C Orion squadrons from Hawaii to Whidbey, consolidating operations with the four P-3 squadrons and one EP-3E squadron here.

Already, personnel from Hawaii and their families are arriving on Whidbey, and more are expected to arrive in the fall.

The Navy also is in the midst of transitioning from the aging P-3 turboprop to the P-8, a military version of the Boeing 737-800 built for sub-hunting, surveillance and surface ship attack.

Here’s a picture of NAS Whidbey circa 1943, with a ramp full of Lockheed PV-1 Venturas.