VPB-24

Patrol Bombing Squadron 24
Patrol Bombing Squadron 24
Active	7 January 1930 - 20 June 1945
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Navy
Type	squadron
Role	Maritime patrol
Engagements	World War II
Aircraft flown
Patrol	PD-1/PM-1 ; PBY-1/2/3/4/5/5A

Last updated April 17, 2021

VPB-24 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 9-S (VP-9S) on 7 January 1930, redesignated Patrol Squadron 9-B (VP-9B) on 1 October 1930, redesignated Patrol Squadron 9-F (VP-9F) on 26 October 1931, redesignated Patrol Squadron 9 (VP-9) on 1 October 1937, redesignated Patrol Squadron 12 (VP-12) on 1 July 1939, redesignated Patrol Squadron 24 (VP-24) on 1 August 1941, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 24 (VPB-24) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 20 June 1945.^[1]

Operational history

7 January 1930: VP-9S was established at NAS Hampton Roads, Virginia, as a command under Scouting Fleet.
1 October 1930: VP-9S was redesignated VP-9B during the reorganization from Scouting Fleet to Battle Force.
26 October 1931: VP-9B was redesignated VP-9F during another reorganization, this time as an element under Base Force.
22 April 1935: The squadron participated in exercises in Alaska flying from Humboldt Bay and Sitka. USS Gannet and USS Wright provided tendersupport during the cold weather operations. The crews found it extremely difficult to start engines and moor aircraft in the cold, rough seas.
1 October 1937: VP-9F was redesignated VP-9 as a result of the reorganization of patrol squadrons under Patrol Wings. VP-9 came under the operational control of PatWing-1, based at NAS San Diego, California.
18 January 1938: VPs 9 and 10 conducted a record-breaking flight with 18 PBY-1 aircraft, flying from NAS San Diego, to Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Upon delivery of the aircraft, the crews returned to San Diego aboard SS Matsonia.
17 March 1938: The combined squadrons of PatWing-1 (VPs 7, 9, 11 and 12) and PatWing-4 (VPs 16, 17, 19) participated in Fleet Problem XIX (Phase II), as a part of White Force. The squadrons conducted patrol sweeps at distances of 600 miles (970 km) from Black Force, successfully attacking and damaging major elements of the enemy forces. The exercises marked the Navy's first use of long-distance radio bearings as an aid to aerial navigation.
25 June 1938: VP-9 and the other squadrons of PatWing-1 departed NAS San Diego for NAS Kodiak, Alaska, on a three-month deployment.
13 August 1938: VP-9 hosted Hollywood photographers during the filming of a movie about the Navy. Part of the action being filmed was the squadron's participation in Fleet Exercise XIX.
11 January 1939: The squadron flew with the rest of PatWing-1 to NAS Coco Solo, Panama Canal Zone, for training exercises in the Caribbean area. PatWing-1 returned to San Diego from the deployment on 10 May 1939.
1 August 1941: VP-12 was redesignated VP-24 and relocated to NAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, under PatWing-2.
1 October 1941: VP-24 transferred from NAS Kaneohe to NAS Ford Island, Hawaii.
7 December 1941: The squadron's six aircraft were among the few spared during the Attack on Pearl Harbor. Its planes were conducting joint submarine exercises off the coast of Hawaii when the attack came; the crews were subsequently given sectors by radio to conduct searches for the attacking Japanese forces. Having made no enemy contact, the squadron returned to NAS Ford Island to begin the cleanup and restoration of its devastated facilities.
31 May 1942: VP-24 was directed to send one PBY-5A and three crews in a detachment to Midway Island. The detachment was involved in the Battle of Midway, the next day. The group remained on Midway until 17 July 1942, when it returned to NAS Pearl Harbor.
21 September 1942: A three-plane detachment was sent to Luganville Seaplane Base, Espiritu Santo, with tender support by USS Curtiss.
1 October 1942: VP-24 transferred its assets and personnel back to NAS Kaneohe Bay. Five PBY-5A aircraft were traded to VP-23 for nonamphibian PBY-5s before the move, since the amphibian version would not be needed in the South Pacific, where VP-24 was soon to be sent. Most of the squadron's coming operations would be based afloat, serviced by seaplane tenders. Many of the flight crews actually preferred the older PBY-5, as they felt that the retractable gear of the newer PBY-5A added to the weight of the aircraft, reducing power and range.
1 November 1942: Two additional aircraft were sent to Espiritu Santo to supplement the original detachment, bringing it up to six operational planes.
1 Feb 1943: The remainder of VP-24 began to transfer by detachments to Espiritu Santo. The transfers were completed by April.
30 March 1943: VP-24 conducted Dumbo (air-sea rescue) missions for the forces taking part in the New Georgia Campaign, concluding on 29 September 1943. This was the first time that an entire squadron had assumed Dumbo work as its primary duty. The squadron rescued or evacuated 466 men during the campaign.
29 September 1943: Preparations were made to depart Espiritu Santo for return to NAS Kaneohe Bay and eventual return to the United States.
7 December 1943: VP-24 was given home leave while administrative details covering reforming of the squadron and reassignment of personnel were undertaken. Training of new personnel and reforming of the squadron began at NAS San Diego on 1 January 1944. In mid-March all of the squadron aircraft were given coats of flat black paint, droppable wing tanks were attached, and improvements in radar and flight instruments were made.
27 March 1944: VP-24 made its second trans-Pacific flight to NAS Kaneohe Bay. Upon arrival combat patrols and training missions were conducted concurrently.
9 May 1944: Lieutenant (jg) Wade Hampton was lost with his entire crew while on patrol. His last reported message gave a position 150 miles (240 km) from Midway.
11 June 1944: The squadron arrived at Majuro Airfield in the Marshalls chain. Typical Black Cat night bombing missions were conducted, along with more mundane Dumbo and patrol missions.
27 June 1944: Lieutenant (jg) Mancini attempted to land in rough seas to rescue a downed fighter pilot 1 mile (1.6 km) from a Japanese-held island. Both engines broke off on impact and the hull of the aircraft split in two. The entire crew managed to get into life rafts, and joined the fighter pilot in awaiting rescue. A destroyer had overheard the message from the aircraft and rushed to the scene in time to rescue the aircrews before they washed ashore on the island.
1 October 1944: VP-24 was redesignated VPB-24 while based at Majuro. Duties remained essentially the same during this period.
10 October 1944: A detachment of three aircraft and crews was formed and sent to Eniwetok to provide Dumbo coverage for air operations in the area. On 19 October the squadron was broken down into smaller one-and two-aircraft detachments that were sent to Apamama, Makin, Tarawa, Roi, Saipan and Guam. Through 1 December 1944, the squadron rescued 25 aircrew without surface assistance.
28 October 1944: Ensign Troy C. Beavers received a call to medevac a crew member of an LCI who had a suspected case of acute appendicitis. Beavers landed near the ship and loaded the patient aboard. During the liftoff a rogue wave struck the starboard float, ripping off the wing. The crew and patient exited the aircraft before it sank and were picked up by the LCI.
23 January 1945: The VPB-24 detachments were reformed with two aircraft at Eniwetok, four at Kwajalein, one at Tarawa and one at Roi.
1 February 1945: The various detachments of the squadron reformed on Majuro to conduct missions in support of the psychological warfare campaign against defending Japanese forces on the island of Wotje. Additional duties included continuing Dumbo missions.
25 April 1945: VPB-24 was relieved at Majuro Atoll by VH-5. Elements of the squadron proceeded to NAS Kaneohe Bay for transport back to the United States.
1 May 1945: The personnel of the squadron loaded aboard USS Hollandia for transport to NAS North Island, San Diego, California.
20 June 1945: VPB-24 was disestablished at NAS North Island.^[1]

Aircraft assignments

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

PD-1 - 1931
PM-1 - 1931
PBY-1 - August 1937
PBY-2 - January 1938
PBY-3 - June 1938
PBY-4 - October 1939
PBY-5 - 1940
PBY-5A - April 1942

Home port assignments

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

NAS Hampton Roads, Virginia - 7 January 1930
NAS San Diego, California - 1930
NAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii - 1 August 1941
NAS Ford Island, Hawaii - 1 October 1941
NAS Kaneohe Bay - 1 October 1942
NAS San Diego - December 1943
NAS Kaneohe Bay - March 1944
NAS San Diego - 1 May 1945

Related Research Articles

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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-25 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 115 (VB-115) on 1 October 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 115 (VPB-115) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 115 (VP-115) on 15 May 1946, redesignated Heavy Patrol Squadron (Landplane) 13 (VP-HL-13) on 15 November 1946, redesignated Patrol Squadron 25 (VP-25) on 1 September 1948 and disestablished on 1 January 1950. It was the third squadron to be designated VP-25, the first VP-25 was redesignated VP-23 on 1 August 1941 and the second VP-25 was disestablished on 28 June 1946.

VP-29 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 14-F (VP-14F) on 1 November 1935, redesignated Patrol Squadron 14 (VP-14) on 4 September 1937, redesignated Patrol Squadron 52 (VP-52) on 1 July 1939, redesignated Patrol Squadron 72 (VP-72) on 1 July 1941, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 122 (VPB-122) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 122 (VP-122) on 15 May 1946, redesignated Heavy Patrol Squadron (Landplane) 12 (VP-HL-12) on 15 November 1946, redesignated Patrol Squadron 29 (VP-29) on 1 September 1948 and disestablished on 18 January 1950.

VP-32 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 62 (VP-62) on 6 September 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 62 (VPB-62) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 62 (VP-62) on 15 May 1946, redesignated Amphibian Patrol Squadron 2 (VP-AM-2) on 15 November 1946, redesignated Patrol Squadron 32 (VP-32) on 1 September 1948 and disestablished on 6 June 1949. It was the second squadron to be designated VP-32, the first VP-32 was redesignated VP-52 on 1 July 1941.

VP-33 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 12-F (VP-12F) on 1 November 1935, redesignated Patrol Squadron 12 (VP-12) on 1 October 1937, redesignated Patrol Squadron 51 (VP-51) on 1 July 1939, redesignated Patrol Squadron 71 (VP-71) on 1 July 1941, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 71 (VPB-71) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 71 (VP-71) on 15 May 1946, redesignated Amphibian Patrol Squadron 3 (VP-AM-3) on 15 November 1946, redesignated Patrol Squadron 33 (VP-33) on 1 September 1948 and disestablished on 15 December 1949. It was the third squadron to be designated VP-33; the first had been redesignated from VP-5 on 1 July 1939 and was in turn redesignated as VP-32 on 1 October 1941. The second VP-33 was redesignated VPB-33 on 1 October 1944.

VP-41 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 21 (VP-21) on 1 March 1944, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 21 (VPB-21) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 21 (VP-21) on 15 May 1946, redesignated Medium Patrol Squadron (Seaplane) 11 (VP-MS-11) on 15 November 1946, redesignated Patrol Squadron 41 (VP-41) on 1 September 1948 and disestablished on 23 April 1949.

VP-42 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 22 (VP-22) on 7 April 1944, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 22 (VPB-22) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 22 (VP-22) on 15 May 1946, redesignated Medium Patrol Squadron (Seaplane) 2 (VP-MS-2) on 15 November 1946, redesignated Patrol Squadron 42 (VP-42) on 1 September 1948 and disestablished on 26 September 1969.

VP-43 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 28 (VP-28) on 1 July 1944, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 28 (VPB-28) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 28 (VP-28) on 25 June 1946, redesignated Medium Patrol Squadron (Seaplane) 3 (VP-MS-3) on 15 November 1946, redesignated Patrol Squadron 43 (VP-43) on 1 September 1948 and disestablished on 31 March 1949. It was the third squadron to be designated VP-43, the first VP-43 was redesignated VP-81 on 1 July 1941 and the second VP-43 was redesignated VPB-43 on 1 October 1944.

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VPB-13 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 13 (VP-13) on 1 July 1940, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 13 (VPB-13) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 1 December 1945.

VPB-197 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 21 (VP-21) on 1 September 1938, redesignated Patrol Squadron 45 (VP-45) on 1 July 1939, redesignated Patrol Squadron 14 (VP-14) on 1 December 1939, redesignated Patrol Squadron 26 (VP-26) on 15 April 1941, redesignated Patrol Squadron 14 (VP-14) on 1 July 1941, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 14 (VPB-14) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 197 (VPB-197) on 2 December 1944 and disestablished on 1 April 1946.

VPB-44 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 44 (VP-44) on 3 June 1941, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 44 (VPB-44) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 20 June 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.

VP-AM-1 was a Amphibian Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 53 (VP-53) on 1 May 1942, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 53 (VPB-53) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 53 (VP-53) on 15 May 1946, redesignated Amphibious Patrol Squadron 1 (VP-AM-1) on 15 November 1946 and disestablished on 5 May 1948.

VPB-202 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron Two Hundred Two (VP-202) on 15 September 1942, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron Two Hundred Two (VPB-202) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 20 June 1945.

References

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

1 2 3 4 Roberts, Michael D. (2000). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 2, Chapter 4 Patrol Bombing Squadron (VPB) Histories (VPB-17 to VPB-29). Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. pp. 435–9. Retrieved 7 June 2016.

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[DANAS2-4-1] 1 2 3 4 Roberts, Michael D. (2000). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 2, Chapter 4 Patrol Bombing Squadron (VPB) Histories (VPB-17 to VPB-29). Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. pp. 435–9. Retrieved 7 June 2016.

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