VPB-103

Patrol Bombing Squadron 103
VB-103 PB4Y-1 off the English coast in 1943
Active	15 March 1943 – 31 August 1945
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Navy
Type	squadron
Role	Maritime patrol
Engagements	World War II
Aircraft flown
Patrol	PB4Y-1 Liberator PB4Y-2 Privateer

VPB-103 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 103 (VB-103) on 15 March 1943, redesignated as Patrol Bombing Squadron 103 (VPB-103) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 31 August 1945. ^[1]

Contents

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

Operational history

• 15 March – 24 April 1943: VB-103 was established at NAAS Camp Kearney, California, under the operational control of FAW-14. The squadron was designated as a heavy bombing squadron flying the PB4Y-1 Liberator. Most of the squadron's officers and enlisted personnel had been drawn from VP-23, a PBY-5A Catalina patrol squadron which had recently returned from the South Pacific. The squadron's ground school and basic flight training was conducted at NAAS Camp Kearney through the end of April and was rushed due to the critical nature of the U-boat threat in the North Atlantic. On 24 April, three officers and 126 ground support personnel departed San Diego, California, by train for NAS Norfolk, Virginia. The flight crews departed NAAS Camp Kearney on 29 April.
• 29 April – 14 May 1943: Upon arrival at Norfolk, the squadron was told that a change had been made. The two weeks of Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) training planned there had been cancelled and VB-103 was to proceed to NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island. The ground staff boarded another train for New Jersey. Upon arrival of the first element on 30 April, the squadron was placed under the operational control of FAW-9. The last of the squadron's personnel did not arrive at NAS Quonset Point until 14 May 1943. Installation of secret new ASW gear began with the arrival of the first aircraft on 30 April. VB-103 was the first Navy patrol squadron to be equipped with APS-15 radar, LORAN, Sonobuoys and provisions to carry the Mark 24 Fido Homing Torpedo.
• 15 May 1943: When the last stragglers arrived at NAS Quonset Point, orders were received to proceed to NAS Argentia, Newfoundland. Ground staff boarded the tender USS Barnegat and flight crews flew directly to Newfoundland. After only a day of orientation at NAS Argentia, flight crews were put on patrols over the North Atlantic convoy routes, under the operational control of FAW-7. By the time the squadron came into full operation, the U-boats had pulled out of the area.
• 24 June 1943: Lieutenant Reese and crew disappeared while on convoy patrol 700 miles (1,100 km) northeast of Argentia. Reese had reported a radar blip and came through a very heavy overcast to investigate. No further messages were received. On the next day in clear weather, three huge icebergs were seen in the area. The squadron learned from this incident that when investigating an isolated radar blip in bad weather, always allow a five-degree offset on the radar scope until a visual contact is obtained.
• 7 August 1943: Lieutenant (jg) Henry and crew crashed into the sea from unknown causes while on a training mission with a Canadian submarine in Placentia Bay. All hands (11) perished.
• 12–15 August 1943: Squadron aircraft conducted an attack on a submarine on this date with negative results. This was the only attack on a submarine conducted by the squadron on the western periphery of the Atlantic. It was presumed the CVEs that were escorting convoys were having so much success against the U-boats that it may have caused them to change their hunting grounds. ASW searches and convoy patrols remained the primary missions until 15 August when the squadron received orders to proceed to RAF St. Eval, England.
• 17 August 1943: VB-103 became operational at RAF St. Eval. Special training was given in ASW techniques for patrols over the Bay of Biscay. Upon completion of training at the end of the month the squadron was moved to RAF Dunkeswell in Devonshire, England.
• 2 September 1943: Lieutenant Wickstrom and crew failed to return to base. It was believed the aircraft fell victim to specially equipped Ju 88 long-range heavy fighters of KG 40 tasked with shooting down Allied ASW aircraft.
• 4–18 September 1943: Lieutenant (jg) Alexander and crew were conducting an antisubmarine patrol over the Bay of Biscay when they were forced to ditch their flaming PB4Y-1 after an attack by six Ju 88s. One enemy aircraft was shot down during the combat and another damaged. Alexander and his crew safely exited the sinking bomber and reached the English shore in a life raft 36 hours later. Lieutenant (jg) Alexander was later awarded the Navy Cross for his action. The enemy fighter shot down by Alexander's crew was a Ju 88C-6 Werk No. 360382 from 13/KG40 flown by Leutnant G. Blankenberg. Leutnant Blankenberg and his two crewmen were subsequently listed as missing by the Luftwaffe. Two other RAF bombers out of Dunkeswell, were also shot down that same day. Another VB-103 crew was attacked on 16 September without casualties, and a fourth on 18 September, also without any damage or loss of personnel.
• 24 September – 6 November 1943: The 19th USAAF squadron departed Dunkeswell to join the 8th Air Force, followed by the 22nd USAAF on 28 September. Three Navy patrol squadrons (VBs 103, 110 and 105) took over the ASW role previously assumed by the USAAF in England. The USAAF squadrons were phased out and their equipment, similar to that on the VB-103 aircraft, was turned over to the Navy. The USAAF flew its last ASW mission from Dunkeswell on 31 October 1943, and the 4th USAAF squadron departed on 6 November.
• 10 November 1943: VB-103 was a participant in one of the longest surface battles of aircraft against a U-boat in World War II. At 08:00, a VB-105 aircraft piloted by Lieutenant L. E. Harmon, was alerted by an RAF aircraft of a radar contact near the coast of Spain. Harmon located the surfaced U-966, and made two strafing attacks. Heavy anti-aircraft (AA) fire damaged his aircraft and forced him to break off the attack. An RAF fighter then dove to attack the submarine. Harmon made a third strafing attack but had to break off afterwards due to a fuel shortage. Lieutenant K. L. Wright, of VB-103, located U-966 near Ferrol at 10:40, and delivered a strafing and depth charge attack. Intense AA fire drove him off and he too had to depart the target for lack of fuel. Lieutenant W. W. Parish and crew then arrived on the scene. A depth charge attack was conducted in cooperation with a rocket-firing RAF Liberator at 12:30. The submarine was abandoned by its crew after running aground at Oritiguiera, Spain. The German crewmen were quickly picked up by nearby Spanish fishing vessels.
• 12 November 1943: Lieutenant (jg) Brownell made a night attack on a submarine. His aircraft was apparently heavily damaged by the U-boat's AA fire and crashed into the sea with the loss of all hands. The next day two oil slicks were spotted about 5 miles (8.0 km) apart. Postwar examination of German records indicate that he sank U-508.
• 3 December 1943: Worsening weather conditions made flying and patrol activities very dangerous. On this date, Lieutenant Lucas and his crew were killed when their aircraft crashed into a high ridge while flying on instruments on a training flight.
• 24 December 1943: A flotilla of German destroyers attempted to provide cover for a blockade runner, Alsterufer. Several missions were run against the enemy ships over a period of five days. The blockade-runner was sunk on 27 December by a Czech squadron, leaving the destroyers fleeing for port. The enemy lost three destroyers to British surface units, but in the action shot up several squadron aircraft. Ensign Anderson and his crew were hit on a strafing run and had to bail out over Spain where they were interned for several months before returning to England.
• 1 January 1944: VB-103 came under the operational control of 19 Group RAF Coastal Command.
• 28 January 1944: Lieutenant Enloe and crew caught a U-boat on the surface, dropping six depth charges. The submarine quickly settled by the stern and slid beneath the surface. Postwar examination of records indicate that the submarine was U-271.
• 14 February 1944: Lieutenant (jg) Wright and crew were attacked while on patrol over the Bay of Biscay by two Ju 88s. During the attack Wright's crew managed to shoot down one of their attackers, a Ju 88C-6 Werk No. 750967, flown by Oberleutnant K. Necesany of Stab 1/ZG1. Oberleutnant Necesany and his two crewmen were subsequently listed as missing by the Luftwaffe. Wright managed to escape into the cloud cover with one engine out. During the attempt to return to base another engine cut out and the crew was forced to ditch the aircraft. Only one crew member failed to exit the plane before it sank. One other crewman died in the life raft from internal injuries before the remaining eight crew members were picked up the next day.
• 20 March 1944: Lieutenant (jg) Kessel and crew crashed at sea from unknown causes while returning from an operational mission. All hands were lost.
• 23 March 1944: RAF Dunkeswell came under Navy control. The facilities under the RAF had been extremely spartan. With the change of Dunkeswell to a Naval Air Facility, conditions improved dramatically. A PATSU took over maintenance for the squadron.
• 6 Jun 1944: During the Normandy invasion the squadron provided patrols over the southern entrance to the English Channel to prevent U-boats from approaching the invasion fleet. Aircraft patrolled the area at 30-minute intervals. VB-103 conducted seven sorties a day during the operation. There were no encounters with enemy fighters but on 8 June Lieutenant Anderson exchanged gunfire with an Fw 200 Condor.
• July–December 1944: The capture of French ports used for submarine bases greatly curtailed the activities of the German U-boat fleet. The use of the schnorkel by the German U-boats made intercepts more dependent on the use of radar. Although 16 sonobuoys were dropped on radar contacts in the months of October to December 1944, the results were negative.
• 11 March 1945: Lieutenant Field and his crew caught U-681, on the surface southwest of the Scilly Isles and straddled the vessel with a perfect salvo of depth charges. Forty survivors exited the U-boat before it sank. The survivors were picked up by British naval units.
• 25 April 1945: Lieutenant Nott and crew spotted a schnorkel on the surface southwest of the Brest peninsula and dropped a salvo of depth charges directly on top of the unsuspecting submarine. The schnorkel was blown into the air, a large oil slick appeared, and the body of one of the German submariners surfaced. Postwar examination of records indicate that the submarine was U-326.
• 28 May 1945: Operations were ceased on orders from 19 Group Coastal Command. A detachment of two aircraft was sent to the Azores for duty.
• 4–14 June 1945: VPB-103 departed England for Norfolk. Ground staff proceeded by sea aboard the tender USS Unimak, arriving on 14 June 1944. All hands were given rehabilitation leave upon arrival at Norfolk. Operational control over the squadron during this period was exercised by FAW-5.
• 24 June 1945: After return from leave the squadron was transferred to NAS Alameda, California. VPB-103 was operational at NAS Alameda by 30 September, coming under the operational control of FAW-8. Training was begun at both NAS Alameda and NAAS Crows Landing, California, but was discontinued with the cessation of hostilities in the Pacific on 10 August and the subsequent Surrender of Japan.
• 31 August 1945: VPB-103 was disestablished at NAS Alameda.

Aircraft assignments

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

• PB4Y-1 Liberator - March 1943
• PB4Y-2 Privateer - June 1945

Home port assignments

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

• NAAS Camp Kearney, California - 15 March 1943
• NAS Norfolk, Virginia - 29 April 1943
• NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island - 30 April 1943
• NAS Argentia, Newfoundland - May 1943
• RAF St Eval, England - August 1943
• RAF Dunkeswell, England - September 1943
• NAS Norfolk - 4 June 1945
• NAS Alameda, California - 24 Jun 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

VP-22 was a long-lived Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy, nicknamed the Dragons from 1944 to 1950, and the Blue Geese from 1951 to 1994. It was established as Bombing Squadron VB-102 on 15 February 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron VPB-102 on 1 October 1944, redesignated VP-102 on 15 May 1946, redesignated Heavy Patrol Squadron (Landplane) VP-HL-2 on 15 November 1946, redesignated VP-22 on 1 September 1948 and disestablished on 31 March 1994. It was the third squadron to be designated VP-22, the first VP-22 was disestablished, merged with VP-101 on 18 April 1942 and the second VP-22 was redesignated VPB-22 on 1 October 1944.

VPB-63 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 63 (VP-63) on 19 September 1942, redesignated as Patrol Bombing Squadron 63 (VPB-63) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 2 July 1945.

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-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-109 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 109 (VB-109) on 2 August 1943, redesignated as Patrol Bombing Squadron 109 (VPB-109) on 1 October 1944, and disestablished on 12 October 1945.

VP-21 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Established as Bombing Squadron 111 (VB-111) on 30 July 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 111 (VPB-111) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 111 (VP-111) on 15 May 1946, redesignated Heavy Patrol Squadron (Landplane) 11 (VP-HL-11) on 15 November 1946, redesignated Patrol Squadron 21 (VP-21) on 1 September 1948 and disestablished on 21 November 1969. It was the fifth squadron to be designated VP-21, the first VP-21 was redesignated VP-45 on 1 July 1939, the second VP-21 was redesignated VP-1 on 30 July 1940, the third VP-21 was disestablished on 18 April 1942 and the fourth VP-21 was redesignated VPB-21 on 1 October 1944.

VP-27 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 83 (VP-83) on 15 September 1941, redesignated Bombing Squadron 107 (VB-107) on 15 May 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 107 (VPB-107) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 107 (VP-107) on 15 May 1946, redesignated Heavy Patrol Squadron (Landplane) 7 (VP-HL-7) on 15 November 1946, redesignated Patrol Squadron 27 (VP-27) on 1 September 1948 and disestablished on 11 January 1950.

VP-106 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 106 (VB-106) on 1 June 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 106 (VPB-106) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 106 (VP-106) on 15 May 1946 and disestablished on 5 October 1946.

VP-133 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 133 (VB-133) on 22 March 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 133 (VPB-133) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 133 (VP-133) on 15 May 1946 and disestablished on 17 June 1946.

VPB-110 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 110 (VB-110) on 18 July 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 110 (VPB-110) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 1 September 1945.

VPB-112 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 112 (VB-112) on 8 August 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 112 (VPB-112) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 1 September 1945.

VPB-113 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 113 (VB-113) on 18 August 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 113 (VPB-113) on 1 October 1944, and disestablished on 28 May 1945.

VPB-117 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 117 (VB-117) on 1 February 1944, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 117 (VPB-117) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 15 November 1945.

VPB-127 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 127 (VB-127) on 1 February 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 127 (VPB-127) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 10 July 1945.

VPB-129 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 129 (VB-129) on 22 February 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 129 (VPB-129) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 4 June 1945.

VPB-132 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 132 (VB-132) on 15 March 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 132 (VPB-132) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 30 May 1945.

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-145 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 145 (VB-145) on 15 July 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 145 (VPB-145) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 18 June 1945.

VPB-203 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron Two Hundred Three (VP-203) on 1 October 1942, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron Two Hundred Three (VPB-203) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 30 June 1945.

VPB-212 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron Two Hundred Twelve (VP-212) on 15 March 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron Two Hundred Twelve (VPB-212) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 15 May 1946.

References

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