VPB-94

Patrol Bombing Squadron 94
Active	3 March 1942 - 22 December 1944
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Navy
Type	squadron
Role	Maritime patrol
Engagements	World War II
Aircraft flown
Patrol	PBY-5A Catalina

VPB-94 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 94 (VP-94) on 3 March 1942, redesignated as Patrol Bombing Squadron 94 (VPB-94) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 22 December 1944. It operated the PBY-5A Catalina throughout its operational history. ^[1]

Contents

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

Operational history

• 3 March 1942: VP-94 was established at NAS Norfolk, Virginia, as a seaplane squadron flying the PBY-5A Catalina under the operational control of Eastern Sea Frontier, PatWing-9. The squadron conducted routine training while stationed at Norfolk.
• 18 May 1942 – 14 January 1943: The squadron remained at NAS Norfolk under training until 18 May when orders were received to transfer to NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island, for patrol duties and coastal convoy protection. Within two weeks the operational demands of the Eastern Sea Frontier resulted in the formation of a six aircraft detachment being deployed to NAS Jacksonville, Florida. This detachment was split into two three-aircraft sections, one remaining at Jacksonville and the other deployed to Charleston, South Carolina on 10 June 1942. A third detachment of two aircraft was formed and deployed to MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina, on 1 September 1942. The squadron shifted aircraft and crews between the various detachment sites until 14 January 1943, when all of the personnel and aircraft were reunited at NAS Jacksonville in preparation for deployment to Brazil.
• 16 January 1943: VP-94 deployed to NAF Natal, Brazil. Administrative headquarters were established at that site on 20 January 1943, placing the squadron under the operational control of FAW-11. Convoy patrols and Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) searches were conducted along the coastal convoy routes.
• 18 – 24 June 1943: The squadron's reach was extended when a detachment of six aircraft was formed and deployed to NAF Belém, Brazil. A second detachment of three aircraft was sent to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 24 June.
• 9 July 1943: Lieutenant S. Auslander, from the Belém detachment, attacked and sank U-590, in the Atlantic off Trinidad. On the same day, Lieutenant Frank Hare made an attack on another submarine caught on the surface. The U-boat immediately opened fire with its quad-mount anti-aircraft guns, killing Lieutenant Hare and forcing the aircraft to break off the attack.
• 21 July 1943: Lieutenant R. H. Rowland from the Belém detachment attacked and sank U-662, in the Atlantic off Dutch Guiana. Lieutenant Rowland's crew dropped life rafts for the 3 survivors from the attack. The German submariners were later picked up by PC 494 from Task Force 2.
• July 1943: The decision was made to relocate the headquarters of the squadron to Belém, where the majority of the squadron was now located. The move was made on 13 July 1943, leaving a five-aircraft detachment at NAF Natal and seven aircraft at NAF Belém. Over the next eight months, detachments were deployed at various times to Recife, Fernando de Noronha, Sao Luiz and Fortaleza, Brazil; Trinidad and Zandery Field, Dutch Guiana.

• 19 July 1943: A Brazilian PBY-5A Catalina flown by a trainee pilot, Cadet A. Tories, assigned to VP-94, sunk U-199 in the Atlantic off Cabo Frio, Brazil. Out of the crew of 60 there were only 11 survivors. The survivors initially were under Brazilian captivity but were later transferred to the U.S.
• 29 April 1944: The headquarters for the squadron was moved for the third time to NAF Maceió, Brazil, then on to Ipitanga, Brazil, on 15 May 1944, placing it under the operational control of FAW-16. Detachments operated from Maceió, Fernando de Noronha, Ipitanga, Caravelas and Santa Cruz until August 1944.
• 10 August 1944: A detachment of five aircraft was formed and transferred to Santa Cruz, Brazil, to initiate the US/Brazilian Aviation Training Unit. VP-94 had previously assisted in the training of Brazilian pilots while at Belém in April 1944. Part of a Brazilian squadron of PBY-5s was located at Belem at the time. VP-94 began a program of training, consisting of practical classes for radiomen and antisubmarine bombing practice for pilots.
• 12 December 1944: The squadron's entire complement of aircraft and supplies was formally presented to the Forca Aerea Brazileira at Galeão Air Force Base, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Squadron personnel received orders for their return to NAS Norfolk on 15 December, and VPB-94 was officially disestablished on 22 December 1944. ^[1]

Home port assignments

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

• NAS Norfolk, Virginia - 3 March 1942
• NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island - 18 May 1942
• NAF Natal, Brazil - 20 January 1943
• NAF Belém, Brazil - July 1943
• NAF Maceió, Brazil - 29 April 1944
• Ipitanaga Field, Brazil - 15 May 1944
• NAS Norfolk - 15 Dec 1944

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

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-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.

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-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-34 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 15-F (VP-15F) on 1 September 1936, redesignated Patrol Squadron 15 (VP-15) on 1 October 1937, redesignated Patrol Squadron 53 (VP-53) on 1 July 1939, redesignated Patrol Squadron 73 (VP-73) on 1 July 1941, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 73 (VPB-73) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 73 (VP-73) on 15 May 1946, redesignated Amphibian Patrol Squadron 4 (VP-AM-4) on 15 November 1946, redesignated Patrol Squadron 34 on 1 September 1948 and disestablished on 30 June 1956.. It was the second squadron to be designated VP-34, the first VP-34 was redesignated VPB-34 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-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-45 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 45 (VP-45) on 10 March 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 45 (VPB-45) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 5 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-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-125 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 20 (VP-20) on 1 September 1938, redesignated Patrol Squadron 44 (VP-44) on 1 July 1940, redesignated Patrol Squadron 61 (VP-61) on 6 January 1941, redesignated Patrol Squadron 82 (VP-82) on 1 July 1941, redesignated Bombing Squadron 125 (VB-125) on 1 March 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 125 (VPB-125) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 8 June 1945.

Patrol Bombing Squadron 61 (VPB-61) was a maritime patrol squadron of the United States Navy, in service from 1942 to 1945.

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-126 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 93 (VP-93) on 5 January 1942, redesignated Bombing Squadron 126 (VB-126) on 1 March 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 126 (VPB-126) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 27 June 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-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-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-211 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron Two Hundred Eleven (VP-211) on 15 February 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron Two Hundred Eleven (VPB-211) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 14 June 1945.

References

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