VPB-1

Patrol Bombing Squadron 1
VPB-1 PB2Y-3 at NAAF Galapagos c.1945
Active	15 April 1943 - 6 March 1945
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Navy
Type	squadron
Role	Maritime patrol
Engagements	World War II
Aircraft flown
Patrol	PB2Y-3

VPB-1 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 1 (VP-1) on 15 April 1943, redesignated as Patrol Bombing Squadron 1 (VPB-1) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished 6 March 1945. ^[1]

Contents

• Operational history
• Aircraft assignments
• Home port assignments
• See also
• References

Operational history

• 15 April 1943: VP-1 was established at NAS San Diego, California, under the operational control of FAW-14, as a large seaplane squadron flying the PB2Y-3 Coronado. Air crews and ground support staff were assembled and familiarization training in the PB2Y-3 commenced. Twelve aircraft were assigned to the squadron out of a contract in which 254 were built for the Navy. The squadron was formed to be an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) patrol squadron, providing convoy coverage in the southwestern Caribbean, and utility assignments by FAW-3.
• 10 October 1943: VP-1 was transferred to NAS Coco Solo, Panama Canal Zone, under the operational control of FAW-3. Convoy coverage and ASW patrols commenced immediately. The area patrolled out of Coco Solo extended roughly north as far as Jamaica, and from the east coast of Nicaragua to 77 degrees west longitude. Many utility flights were scheduled from Miami to Coco Solo, carrying up to 50 passengers each way. Early ASA radar equipment proved unsatisfactory for night patrols and was soon replaced by improved ASC radar. The electric propeller controls caused many problems during the early days of the deployment, resulting in the loss of one aircraft. Modifications to the controls eliminated the defect. Tropical modifications to the aircraft while at Coco Solo included removal of all interior heating units, de-icing equipment, armor plating and engine superchargers.
• 17 October 1943: A PB2Y flown by Lieutenant A. G. Overton, two other officers and an enlisted crew of eight—was making a ferry flight from San Diego to Coco Solo, when high winds and rough seas forced it to land at Puerto Castilla, Honduras. The storm, reaching hurricane proportions, tore the aircraft loose from its moorings. The crew struggled to taxi into the wind until rescued, but on the night of the 18th the starboard float was carried away and the aircraft capsized. Only two enlisted crewmen managed to exit the aircraft and inflate a life raft before the plane went down with the rest of the crew. AMM2c Bockus and ARM2c Smith drifted with the storm for four days. Nine days after the aircraft sank the survivors washed ashore at Buffalo Point, Great Swan Island, near a naval radio beacon station. They were rescued and given medical attention by the station personnel.
• 6 January 1944: Three PB2Ys and one PBY Catalina were formed into a detachment and flown to NAAF Salinas, Ecuador. The detachment flew east–west patrols for the interception and identification of merchant shipping. On the 14th, a single PBY-5 was sent to NAAF Corinto, Nicaragua, to fly the north–south patrol to the Galapagos with VP-206. These detachments were relieved on 14 February for return to NAS Coco Solo.
• March 1944: One by one, the four PBY-5 Catalinas were turned over to the HEDRON as replacement PB2Y-3 aircraft arrived from San Diego.
• 1 June 1944: A three-aircraft detachment was sent to the Galapagos Islands, working in conjunction with VP-15. Sections of squadron aircraft began flying the north–south track to the Galapagos, then the east–west track to Corinto, returning to Coco Solo the next day.
• 17 July 1944: Lieutenant W. D. Cauthan crashed on landing after patrol at Galapagos. Two pilots and three crew members were killed in the accident.
• 15 October 1944: Three PB2Y-3 aircraft were turned over to VPB-1 by VPB-15, which was to be disestablished.
• 20 October 1944: VPB-1 was relocated from NAS Coco Solo to NAAF Galapagos, Ecuador. The squadron flew six patrol tracks daily.
• 19 February 1945: The squadron returned to NAS Coco Solo in early February and was relieved by VPB-209. Officers and enlisted personnel of the VPB-1 were detached and returned to NAS San Diego, ferrying their aircraft from Coco Solo to San Diego via NAS Key West, Florida, and NAS Corpus Christi, Texas. Two aircraft were lost out of 11 in the flight at NAS Corpus Christi, due to high winds and rough water while moored after landing. There were no injuries in the accidents.
• 6 March 1945: VPB-1 disestablished at NAS San Diego. ^[1]

Aircraft assignments

The squadron was assigned the following aircraft, effective on the dates shown: ^[1]

• PB2Y-3 - April 1943

Home port assignments

The squadron was assigned to these home ports, effective on the dates shown: ^[1]

• NAS San Diego, California - 15 April 1943
• NAS Coco Solo, Panama Canal Zone - 10 October 1943
• NAAF Galapagos, Ecuador - 20 October 1944
• NAS Coco Solo - 3 February 1945
• NAS San Diego - 19 February 1945

See also

• Maritime patrol aircraft
• List of inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons
• List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons
• List of squadrons in the Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons
• History of the United States Navy

Related Research Articles

Patrol Squadron 46 (VP-46), also known as the "Grey Knights", is a maritime patrol squadron of the United States Navy based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington. Part of Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing Ten, VP-46 is the oldest maritime patrol squadron and the second oldest aircraft squadron in the entire U.S. Navy, second only behind VFA-14.

VPB-84 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 84 (VP-84) on 1 October 1941, redesignated as Patrol Bombing Squadron 84 (VPB-84) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 28 June 1945. The squadron flew the PBY-5A Catalina throughout its operational history.

VPB-91 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 91 (VP-91) on 1 December 1941, redesignated as Patrol Bombing Squadron 91 (VPB-91) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 2 April 1946.

VPB-92 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 92 (VP-92) on 26 December 1941, redesignated as Patrol Bombing Squadron 92 (VPB-91) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 28 May 1945. It operated the PBY-5A Catalina throughout its operational history.

VPB-105 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 10 (VP-10) on 29 May 1924, redesignated Patrol Squadron 2D-15 (VP-2D15) on 21 September 1927, redesignated Patrol Squadron 2-S (VP-2S) on 1 July 1931, redesignated Patrol Squadron 2-F (VP-2F) on 17 July 1933, redesignated Patrol Squadron 2 (VP-2) on 1 October 1937, redesignated Patrol Squadron 31 (VP-31) on 1 July 1939, redesignated Bombing Squadron 105 (VB-105) on 15 May 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 105 (VPB-105) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 27 June 1945.

VPB-23 was a patrol bombing squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 10-S (VP-10S) on 1 July 1930, redesignated Patrol Squadron 10-F (VP-10F) on 17 July 1933, redesignated Patrol Squadron 10 (VP-10) on 1 October 1937, redesignated Patrol Squadron 25 (VP-25) on 1 July 1939, redesignated Patrol Squadron 23 (VP-23) on 1 August 1941, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 23 (VPB-23) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 25 January 1946.

VP-20 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 8-S (VP-8S) from elements of VT-9S on 1 July 1929, redesignated Patrol Squadron 8-F (VP-8F) on 3 April 1933, redesignated Patrol Squadron 8 (VP-8) on 1 October 1937, redesignated Patrol Squadron 24 (VP-24) on 1 July 1939, redesignated Patrol Squadron 12 (VP-12) on 1 August 1941, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 120 (VPB-120) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 120 (VP-120) on 15 May 1946, redesignated Heavy Patrol Squadron (Landplane) 10 (VP-HL-10) on 15 November 1946, redesignated Patrol Squadron 20 (VP-20) on 1 September 1948 and disestablished on 31 March 1949. It was the third squadron to be designated VP-20, the first VP-20 was redesignated VP-44 on 1 July 1940 and the second VP-20 was redesignated VPB-20 on 1 October 1944.

VP-40 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 55 (VP-55) on 1 August 1940, redesignated Patrol Squadron 74 (VP-74) on 1 July 1941, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 74 (VPB-74) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 74 (VP-74) on 15 May 1946, redesignated Medium Patrol Squadron (Seaplane) 10 (VP-MS-10) on 15 November 1946, redesignated Patrol Squadron 40 (VP-40) on 1 September 1948 and disestablished on 25 January 1950.

VPB-4 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 102 (VP-102) on 1 March 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 4 (VPB-4) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 1 November 1945.

VPB-15 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 15 (VP-15) on 15 March 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 15 (VPB-15) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 23 November 1945.

VPB-33 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 33 (VP-33) on 1 April 1942, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 33 (VPB-33) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 7 April 1945.

VPB-34 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 34 (VP-34) on 16 April 1942, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 34 (VPB-34) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 7 April 1945.

VPB-52 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Torpedo Squadron 3D15 (VT-3D15) on 12 July 1928, redesignated Patrol Squadron 3-S (VP-3S) on 21 January 1931, redesignated Patrol Squadron 3 Base Force (VP-3F) on 17 July 1933, redesignated Patrol Squadron 3 (VP-3) on 1 October 1937, redesignated Patrol Squadron 32 (VP-32) on 1 July 1939, redesignated Patrol Squadron 52 (VP-52) on 1 July 1941, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 52 (VPB-52) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 7 April 1945.

VPB-54 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 54 (VP-54) on 15 November 1942, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 54 (VPB-54) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 7 April 1945.

VPB-121 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 19 (VP-19) on 1 October 1937, redesignated Patrol Squadron 43 (VP-43) on 1 July 1939, redesignated Patrol Squadron 81 (VP-81) on 1 July 1941, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 121 (VPB-121) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 1 June 1946.

VPB-141 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 141 (VB-141) on 1 June 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 141 (VPB-141) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 16 June 1945.

VPB-206 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron Two Hundred Six (VP-206) on 15 November 1942, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron Two Hundred Six (VPB-206) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 4 June 1945.

VPB-207 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron Two Hundred Seven (VP-207) on 1 December 1942, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron Two Hundred Seven (VPB-207) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 26 June 1945.

VPB-209 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron Two Hundred Nine (VP-209) on 1 January 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron Two Hundred Nine (VPB-209) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 20 June 1945.

VPB-214 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron Two Hundred Fourteen (VP-214) on 18 October 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron Two Hundred Fourteen (VPB-214) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 21 June 1945.

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons .