P-3 Orion aircraft return to Brunswick

BRUNSWICK (WGME) -- For decades, the roar of P-3 Orion aircraft were synonymous with the naval base in Brunswick.

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When the base closed, the planes and pilots moved to Florida. Friday, that familiar sound was back, probably for the last time.

The P-3 Orion is a plane that primarily hunts for nuclear submarines in the ocean.

For years, several squadrons of the planes were based in Brunswick.

Current and former flight crews of the planes say it's more like a family than a career.

“Pulls at the heartstrings,” Commander Dan Labyak said. “I was a junior officer here from 1996 to 2000. I haven’t been back here in 21 years, so to bring an aircraft back here and it be, it’s essentially where I started my career and now where I’m going to end my naval career here, very significant.”

“A lot of people don’t realize it, a flight crew especially, but anybody in the squadron, it’s like a family and it’s like seeing family members you haven’t seen in years,” retired Navy Pilot Bill Locke said.

The Navy says this is the last time a P-3 Orion from an active duty air squadron will land at the former Brunswick Naval Air Station.