Upon arrival the squadron began an intensive period of combat training and operational patrols over the ocean near the Hawaiian Islands.

On 9 January 1944 VB-144 was transferred to Hawkins Field, Tarawa, where combat patrols commenced as soon as the squadron was checked in and assigned space for the crews and aircraft.

Upon arrival, the squadron was based at NAS Kaneohe Bay, where a combat training syllabus of several weeks was undertaken.

From 11–23 May 1945 a detachment of squadron aircraft and crews was flown to Midway Island to provide combat air patrol coverage.

On 15 September 1945 flights were conducted over Kusaie, Ponape and the Caroline Islands as a show of force to the remaining Japanese troops who had not yet surrendered.

VP-4 remained in NAS Whidbey Island until November 1953 and was then transferred to Kadena Air Base and subsequently to NAF Naha, Okinawa, where the squadron flew shipping patrols in the vicinity of Taiwan.

In 1956, VP-4 was relocated to NAF Naha, from this base, the squadron flew reconnaissance and Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) missions to counter the Communist Chinese threat to the islands of Matsu and Quemoy.

In April 1964, VP-4 returned to NAS Barbers Point, from there, the squadron made numerous deployments to Southeast Asia in support of the Vietnam War.

The logo caused some confusion on the part of waitresses in the local Officer's Club, who remarked that it more closely resembled a "Skinny Dragon" and the new nickname was quickly adopted.

Making numerous deployments to NAS Cubi Point; Diego Garcia; Kadena Air Base and Misawa Air Base, Japan; NAS Adak, Alaska and numerous other remote detachment sites, the squadron located, tracked and collected vital intelligence on Soviet ballistic missile and attack submarines.

Additionally, during this time, the squadron's concern for the safety and welfare of its Sailors was marked by surpassing 100,000 hours of mishap-free flying and earning back-to-back Golden Anchor Retention Excellence awards in 1987 and 1988.

In 1989 VP-4 completed a highly deployment to NAS Adak, conducting numerous ASW operations and participating in PACIFIC EXERCISE-89, the largest Naval exercise since World War II.

Deploying to Diego Garcia in November 1990, VP-4 quickly established a detachment at RAFO Masirah, Oman to enforce the United Nations Embargo against Iraq during Operation Desert Shield.

In early 1997, VP-4 completed a quad-site deployment to Diego Garcia; Masirah, Oman; Manama, Bahrain, and Kadena AB, Japan.

VP-4 acted as the fleet's "eyes in the sky" in support of Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO), enforcing United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs) and the Iraqi Oil for Food program.

While at JTFEX/FLEETEX, the squadron participated in 23 events, including AIP and AGM-84 Standoff Land Attack Missile (SLAM) demo flights.

The squadron also saved 22 lives in various Search and Rescue (SAR) operations within the Seventh Fleet’s Area of Responsibility (AOR).

[4] During their 2003 deployment, VP-4 continued to support Operation Enduring Freedom against terrorist factions in the Philippines, providing critical real-time intelligence.

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 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.

Starting 26 March 1965, the squadron began a split-site deployment to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, with detachments at various dates located at Naval Air Facility Tan Son Nhut Air Base, South Vietnam; Naval Station Sangley Point and NAS Cubi Point, Philippines.

31 January 1967: The squadron again deployed to WestPac at Iwakuni, Japan, and provided support to Task Force 72 during Operation Market Time (coastal patrols off the coasts of South Vietnam).

Upon completion of deployment, Commander Patrol Forces, Seventh Fleet presented the squadron a letter of commendation for its support of operations and assistance in the destruction of an enemy trawler carrying arms destined for the Viet Cong.

Yankee Team was a joint U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy operation begun in 1963 that provided low-level aerial reconnaissance of suspected Communist infiltration routes in eastern and southern Laos.

[8] On 10 November 1990, as a normal rotation, NAS Barbers Point based VP-4 (with P-3C Update I's) relieved VP-1 at Diego Garcia and RAFO Al Masirah.

During one 34-hour period, P-3s provided the detection and target locating information that resulted in a substantial reduction in the Iraqi Navy's offense of capability.

A group of 15 Iraqi vessels heading for Maridim Island, an outpost in Kuwaiti hands was detected by VP-4s Crew Five, who vectored strike aircraft against the force, resulting in five ships sunk and seven more damaged.