VPNAVY VP-5 Mercury Capsule Recovery
http://www.vpnavy.org
VPNAVY Address

HistoryVP-19 HistoryHistory

Circa 1959

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: History ThumbnailCameraVP-19 and VP-20 "...VP-19 and VP-20 - December 29, 1955 - NAS Alameda, California Unit Will Move to NAS Whidbey Island, Washington...Publication Title: 13th Naval District Public Information Department Press Clippings, 1942-1960 - Content Source: NARA - Publication Number: P2012 - Date Range: 1956-Apr 1960 - Reel Number: 0004 - WebSite: http://www.footnote.com/..." Forwarded by Stephen Miller f134kilmil@comcast.net [14AUG2008]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation News November 1959 "...Chores Of 45 At Iwakuni - Page 31 - Naval Aviation News - November 1959..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1950s/1959/nov59.pdf [16AUG2004]

VP History ThumbnailCamera

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation News October 1959 "...Winners Get ASW Awards - Page 30 - Naval Aviation News - October 1959..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1950s/1959/oct59.pdf [16AUG2004]

VP History ThumbnailCamera

Circa 1957-1958

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: History ThumbnailCameraVP-19 History "...CDR E. E. WOOD reported to VP-9 in 1951. In December 1957 he reported to VP-19 as XO and November 1958 assumed command...." Official U. S. Navy Documention [24DEC2012]


Circa 1955

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...I was fortunate to get a ride with Jay R. Beasley and Captain Cuccius in the first P2V-7 assigned to the squadron in during that month. I will always remember the take-off of that plane equipped with the standard props and two jet engines. I couldn't believe the power it had going what seemed like straight up!..." Contributed by MASTERS, PH2 William billmasters@saintly.com [02SEP2012]

Photograph's LEFT to RIGHT: P2V-7 Neptune NAS Alameda March 1955, Capt. Cuccias and Jay Beasley in P2V-7 NAS Alameda 1955 and Navy Photographer Bill Masters NAS Alameda 1955

History - Tap To Enlarge ThumbnailHistory - Tap To Enlarge ThumbnailHistory - Tap To Enlarge Thumbnail

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation News July 1955 "...Squadrons Receive New P2V-7's - Page 36 - Naval Aviation News - July 1955..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1950s/1955/jul55.pdf [04AUG2004]

VP History ThumbnailCamera

Circa 1954

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: P2 AircraftCameraVP-19 P2 BUNO: Unknown "...This photo is of the replacement for CH-1 that was shot down by the Russians. The photo was taken in October 1954 on return to NAS Alameda, California. Lilly was the name of Captain Wayne's wife..." Contributed by BRYANT, AO1 Ted tedconnieb@comcast.net [15OCT2003]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...04 SEP 54 - A P2V of VP-19, on routine reconnaissance over international waters, was attacked by two MiG aircraft and forced to ditch off the Siberian coast. Nine of the crew escaped and were later rescued, but one went down with the plane..." http://www.history.navy.mil/avh-1910/PART08.PDF [28MAY2003]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...04SEP54 - A USN P2V-5 of VP-19, operating from NAS Atsugi, Japan was attacked 40 miles off the coast of Siberia by two Soviet MiG-15s. The aircraft ditched and one crewmember, Roger H. Reid was lost. The other crewmembers, John B. Wayne, John C. Fischer, William A. Bedard, Frank E. Petty, Anthony P. Granera, Texas R. Stone, Paul R. Mulmollem, Ernest L. Pinkevich and David A. Atwell were rescued by a USAF SA-16 amphibian..." Website: Aircraft Downed During the Cold War and Thereafter http://www.silent-warriors.com/shootdown_list.html [20FEB2003]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...From 1945 to 1969, U.S. Navy aircraft were involved in a number of aerial incidents with forces of the Soviet Union, People's Republic of China, North Korea, and Czechoslovakia. These incidents resulted in the loss of eight Navy aircraft and one Coast Guard aircraft, eighty-one Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard aviators and crewman, and several aircraft damaged and crewmen wounded and injured. The list below, compiled from official and unofficial sources, does not include aircraft lost in direct action in the Korean and Vietnam wars, nor aircraft shot down by Chinese forces in the vicinity of Vietnam in connection with that war..." Naval Historical Center, Department Of The Navy, Washington, D. C http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/dictvol2.htm [06MAY2001]

  • 4 Sep 1954 P2V-5 VP-19
    Operating from NAS Atsugi, Japan, this aircraft ditched in the Sea of Japan, 40 miles off the coast of Siberia after an attack by two Soviet MiG-15s. One crewmen was lost, and the other nine were rescued by a USAF SA-16 amphibian.

    HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Cruisebook "...Cruisebook "The Tale of the Tiger" Patrol Squadron 19 in Japan - NAS Atsugi, Japan March 1954 through September 1954...SQUADRON PERSONNEL" Contributed by Harvey Henning LCDR USN(ret). harvhenn@erols.com [18JUN2000]

    ENLISTED

    Abbatoy, J. W.
    Acree, B. R.
    Adams, L. H.
    Aguilar, H.
    Antonelli, J. R.
    Apple, T. A.
    Ashburn, B. H.
    Atcheson, R. G.
    Atwell, D. A.
    Ashley, F. P.
    Baker, R. F.
    Ball, F. R.
    Barberi, L. D.
    Barnes, D.
    Battle, W. W.
    Becraft, B. R.
    Bedard, W. A.
    Behling, A.
    Bell, H.
    Benson, R. A.
    Binford, R. N.
    Bishop, J. j.
    Blanchard, R. L.
    Blank, J. H.
    Blaszkowski
    Blnm, A. R.
    Bolt, V. H.
    Brace, J. E.
    Bramlett, C. R.
    Scottsburg
    Brown, D. L.
    Brown, 0. D.
    Brown, T. F.
    Brozick, M. J.
    Brunts, F. A.
    Bryant, T. C.
    Caldwell, Idaho
    Caggiano, R. E.
    Callaway, D.
    Callihan, D. L.
    Carnpagna
    Case, J. R.
    Catt, R. F.
    Caulkins, j. D.
    Caulkins, K. D.
    Covey, J. R.
    Chase, K. C.
    Christian, S. W.
    Chunat, D. J.
    Cohl, D. E.
    Collins, R. M.
    Comeau, R. F.
    Coon, R. D.
    Cooper, F. J.
    Crocker, R. T.
    Cunningham, F. J.
    Dailey, G.
    D'Angelo, S. A.
    Davis, D.
    DeBoard, L. F.
    Dennan, P. A.
    Dennee, J. F.
    Depola, NI. P.
    DeRutte, P. S.
    Doggett, R. A.
    Dulaney, j. S.
    Dyrud, L. W.
    Edwards, C. E.
    Edwards, F. L.
    Farr, J. R.
    Flangher, R. C.
    Ford, D. E.
    Ford, D. T.
    Fox, B. H.
    Fox, I. M.
    Frederick, K. R.
    Fresorger, C. E.
    Fritzler, L. R.
    Fuller, 0. H.
    Garcia, P. B.
    Gendron, P. J.
    Golden, V. F.
    Gordon, E.
    Granera, A. P.
    Grooms, J. S.
    Groves, C. L.
    Halpin, W. F.
    Hamilton, F. A.
    Hampton, R. D.
    Hans, R. E.
    Harber, J. L.
    Billings, Mont.
    Hart, G. W.
    Havens, I. R.
    Heape, N. L.
    Henderson, H. L.
    Herendeen, J. E.
    Herman, E. B.
    Hess, D. H.
    Heyden, J. D.
    Hocking, W.
    Holden, R. C.
    Houska, H. L.
    Hudson C. H.
    Huebbe B. C.
    Hughes, L. R.
    Humphrey, C.
    Hurt, R. G.
    Jackson, V. B.
    Jerde, R. L.
    Jirsa, F. R.
    Johnson, C. W.
    Johnson, E. N.
    Johnson, C. I.
    Johnson, J.E.
    Johnson, R.C.
    Julian, C. L.
    Kauffman, S. L.
    Kelley, J. L.
    Kelley, J. O.
    Kennedy, J. S.
    Killeen, W. C.
    Kilroy, D. J.
    Kimbell, E. C.
    Kindred, M. A.
    Kitchens, H. E.
    Klein, R. C.
    Knebel, C. A.
    Komrosky, E. L.
    Krings, G. E.
    Ladson, L. L.
    Lamp, K. C.
    Lanphear, P. E.
    Lee, R. C.
    Legacy, J. E.
    Lewis, J. P.
    Lind, J. G.
    Lowe, G. K.
    LuJan, J. R.
    Lutten, R. F.
    MacBoyle, B. L.
    McConnell, W. F.
    McDaniels, J. M.
    McDaniel, H. D.
    McGuire, R. L.
    McIntyre, C. E.
    Mack, E. E.
    Marshall, D. F.
    Martin, R. L.
    Masters, W. A.
    Mathis, H. T.
    Matthews, R. H.
    Medler, E. L.
    Metcalf, O. D.
    Miksch, T. L.
    Miller, C. B.
    Miller, R. P.
    Mitchell, R. D.
    Mixon, H. F.
    Morris, R. E.
    Mueller, L. F.
    Mulhollem, P. R.
    Murchison, K. H.
    Murray, H. H.
    Negro, C.
    Nelson, B. J.
    Nelson, C. G.
    Nichols, C. L.
    Nixon, Q. J.
    Noble, R. W.
    Noonan, J. L.
    Norbeck, J.R.
    North, A. A.
    Olander, M. D.
    Oppfelt, R.L.
    Owenby, W.
    Pafford, J. L.
    Pangbiirn, V. P.
    Paul, H. M.
    Pedersen, M. D.
    Pedersen, H. E.
    Petty, F. E.
    Phillips. R. L.
    Pierce, B. A.
    Pinkevich, E.L.
    Porter, L. L.
    Prosise, H. T.
    Puff, W. S.
    Quail, L. J.
    Rachels, W. F.
    Reese, W. A.
    Reid, L. E.
    Rice, "C" "J"
    Rice, H.
    Richards, J. C.
    Richardson, P. E.
    Robison, D. K.
    Roper, R. E.
    Root, J. O.
    Roy, V. P.
    Rogers, J. A.
    Russell, J. E.
    Sabatini, M. A.
    Sablack, S.
    Saunders, J. F.
    Sawyer, R. C.
    Schrebel, T. J.
    Schneider, 0. G.
    Scott, R. C.
    Shaw, R. C.
    Shephard, R. R.
    Sheridan, J. F.
    Shewmake, J. C.
    Shoemaker, M. J.
    Shorter, R. G.
    Sigler, I. R.
    Silva, C. V.
    Snell, W. M.
    Snelling, K. G.
    Sommer, A.
    Sonnek, D. E.
    Spainhower, R. D.
    Stafford, L. F.
    Stayer, E.
    Stearns, J. R.
    Stewart, V. V.
    Stoddard, M. D.
    Stone, T. R.
    Swanson, H. A.
    Swords, 0. W.
    Thiele, D. D.
    Thompson, B. A.
    Thompson, D. L.
    Thompson, G. M.
    Thompson, J.
    Thompson, R. W.
    Tipton, F. F.
    Todd, A. J. Jr.
    Tucker, P. M.
    Turrieta, C. B.
    Vargo, D.
    Vaughn, J. 0.
    Vermaaten, E.
    Voelrnle, R. F.
    Wagar, B.
    Wakeman, R. A.
    Walsh, R. G.
    Watkins. W. J.
    Weens, A. 0.
    Widlits, C.
    Williford, D. L.
    Winkler, W. A.
    Winters, R. G.
    Wolik, F. S.
    Woodard, C. L.
    Wright, B. D.
    Yemola, J. S.
    Zajack, F. W.

    OFFICERS

    Barnard, J. H.
    Biasi, V. J.
    Bloom, M. R.
    Boate, T. N.
    Crase, L. H.
    Crawford, B. C.
    Donnelly, G.
    Dowhal, J. K.
    Doyle, D. L.
    Duhov, B.
    Emery, J. 0.
    Ferre, F. B.
    Fisher, J. C.
    Funk, E. J.
    Galbraith, R. A.
    Gallon, R. W.
    Hening, H. S.
    Hopkins, F. D.
    Hopkins, J. C.
    Husmann, R. I.
    Inqram, J. F.
    Jessen, G. E.
    Keith, D. B.
    Kent, R. F.
    McCall, W. A.
    McDonald, T. E.
    McNeill, C. W.
    Messenger, F.
    Meyers, C. J.
    Morgan, A. F.
    Nix, H. B.
    Nugent, E.
    Osborne, C. N.
    Player, L. D.
    Reid, R. H.
    Root, W. J.
    Sabin, R. P.
    Skelton, S. A.
    Smiley, C. B.
    Snyder, R. D.
    Spiegler, F. R.
    Staup. J. T.
    Sullivan, D. F.
    Taylor, J. L.
    Torbert. J. H.
    Van Kleeck, J. L.
    Wayne, J. B.
    Wilson, R. F.
    Wolf, E. C.
    Zitzman, L. L.

    HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "04SEP54--The shoot down of a P2V-5 on 4 Sep 1954 was not a VP-1 Aircraft. The Aircraft was from VP-19. One crewman was lost, ENS Reid. The football field at NAS Atsugi, Japan was named after ENS Reid. I was an AE3 assigned to the squadron at the time. ENS Reid was my division officer..." Contributed by Carl G. Nelson Jr. AVCM (RET) gunnarn32@gmail.com


    Circa 1953

    HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: The squadron deployed in January 1953 to NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii.

    We were the ready mining squadron for the Pacific on this deployment. This meant that we could be ordered to move anywhere in the Pacific and be ready to operate from the new location within 48 hours (a so called emergency deployment).

    We spent 3 months at NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii getting ASW training (there no submarines available at NAS Alameda, California for this training).

    The squadron left NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii on a simulated emergency deployment to NAS Agana, Guam on April 20th and was ready to operate out of NAS Agana, Guam on April 23rd. We made it in 47 hours 10 minutes. And the plane that my crew was flying had to change a prop on Johnston Island.

    We started a planned 10 day simulated mining operation on April 26th.

    The exercise consisted of 16-3 plane section missions in eight days. Followed by 2 full squadron (12 plane) missions in two days.

    Day 1 Section 1 flew a mission to NS Subic Bay, Philippines and RONed at NS Sangley Point, Philippines.

    Day 2 Section 1 flew a mission back to NAS Agana, Guam.
    Section 2 flem a mission to NS Subic Bay, Philippines and RONed at NS Sangley Point, Philippines.

    Day3 Section 1 flew a penetration mission to Okinawa and RONed at Kadena AFB.
    Section 2 flew a mission to NAS Agana, Guam.
    Section 3 flew a mission to NS Subic Bay, Philippines and RONed at NS Sangley Point, Philippines.

    Day 4 Section 1 flew a mission back to NAS Agana, Guam.
    Section 2 flew a penetration mission to Okinawa and RONed at Kadena AFB.
    Section 3 flew a mission to NAS Agana, Guam.
    Section 4 flew a mission to NS Subic Bay, Philippines and RONed at NS Sangley Point, Philippines.

    Day 5 Section 2 flew a mission to NAS Agana, Guam
    Section 3 flew a penetration mission to Okinawa and RONed at Kadena AFB.
    Section 4 flew a mission to NAS Agana, Guam.

    Day 6 Section 3 flew a mission to NAS Agana, Guam.
    Section 4 flew a penetration mission to Okinawa and RONed at Kadena AFB.

    Day 7 Section 4 flew a mission to NAS Agana, Guam.

    Day 9 Squadron mining mission to Truk and return. (12 planes)

    Day 10 Squadron mining mission to Palau and return (12 planes)

    The following photos were probably taken on Day 10.
    VP19 P2 ThumbnailCameraVP-19 P2 BUNO: Unknown
    VP19 P2 ThumbnailCameraVP-19 P2 BUNO: Unknown
    VP19 P2 ThumbnailCameraVP-19 P2 BUNO: Unknown
    VP19 P2 ThumbnailCameraVP-19 P2 BUNO: Unknown

    We missed only one one plane flight during these 10 days. We had to fly the Fairwing Commander to Okinawa and back the day before the operation started and the plane he used had to change a cylinder after it got back. That second section plane missed the mission to Subic Bay, but it rendesvoused with the second section on the return mission to gaum so we didn't miss that mission.

    On the last two days , it was rerally something to hear the skipper call "Agana Tower, One Warpath, Takeoff for 12" and have the tower reply "at Pilots discresion' We put all 12 planes out of the field in less than 2 and ˝ minutes two days in a row. The sections joined up on takeoff on the turn out and section 1 made a 180 and the sections joined up. It was a memorable experience.

    We had fun on the way back too. We broke the squadron over the field like a bunch of overgrown fighters. It was really an exciting time.

    The rest of the deployment was the usual and we returned to Alameda in July 1953 Contributed by Harvey Henning LCDR USN(ret). harvhenn@erols.com..." [20JUN2000]

    HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...The designation change from VP-871 to VP-19 was April 1953. The squadron was based in NAS Alameda, California and deployed to NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii from January 1953 to April 1953, NAS Agana, Guam from April 1953 to July 1953, and NAS Atsugi, Japan from March 1954 to September 1954..." Contributed by Harvey Henning LCDR USN(ret). harvhenn@erols.com [20JUN2000]

    HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: UNIT: VP-19 PREVIOUS DES: VP-871 NAME: Big Red TAIL CODE: CH/PE ACTIVATED: 2-4-53 DEACTIVATED: 8-31-91 TYPICAL LOCATION(S): NAS Moffett Field, California
    Books"Title: Lockheed P2V Neptune An Illustrated History by Wayne Mutza wmutza@wi.rr.com...A Schiffer Military History Book...ISBN: 0-7643-0151-9...286 pages full of pictures and history!


    Circa 1950 - 1953
    Korean War

    HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...Patrol Squadron Korean War Deployments - 1950 Deployments - 1951 Deployments - 1952 Deployments - 1953 Deployments..." WebSite: Naval Historical Center http://www.history.navy.mil/a-korea/vp-deploy.htm [26MAY2007]

        VP-1

          Deployed to: NAF Naha, Okinawa, Japan
          Date In: 19 Aug 1950
          Date Out: 13 Nov 1950
          Patrol Area: Formosa Straits
          Aircraft: P2V-3/3W
          Losses: None
          Detachment Location: None

          Deployed to: NAF Naha, Okinawa, Japan
          Date In: Apr 1951
          Date Out: 29 Aug 1951
          Patrol Area: Korean coast
          Aircraft: P2V-3
          Losses: None
          Detachment Location: None

          Deployed to: NAF Naha, Okinawa, Japan
          Date In: 29 Mar 1952
          Date Out: 5 Oct 1952
          Patrol Area: Korean coast
          Aircraft: P2V-3
          Losses: None
          Detachment Location: None

          Deployed to: NAF Naha, Okinawa, Japan
          Date In: 27 May 1953
          Date Out: 1 Dec 1953
          Patrol Area: Korean coast
          Aircraft: P2V-5
          Losses: None
          Detachment Location: None

        VP-2

          Deployed to: Detachment only
          Detachment Location: NAF Naha, Okinawa, Japan
          Detachment Date In: 1 Aug 1951
          Detachment Date Out: 2 Dec 1951
          Patrol Area: East China Sea; Yellow Sea
          Aircraft: P2V-3W
          Losses: None

        VP-6

          Deployed to: Johnson AFB
          Date In: 7 Jul 1950
          Date Out: 6 Aug 1950
          Patrol Area: Yellow Sea

          Deployed to: Tachikawa AFB
          Date In: 7 Aug 1950
          Date Out: 12 Feb 1951
          Patrol Area: Korean coastline; Sea of Japan
          Aircraft: P2V-3/3Wbr>Losses: None
          Detachment Location: NAS Atsugi, Japan
          Detachment In: 5 Jan 1951
          Detachment Out: 12 Feb 1951
          Patrol Area: Yellow Sea; Korean coastline

          Deployed to: NAS Atsugi, Japan
          Date In: 1 Aug 1951
          Date Out: 14 Jan 1952
          Patrol Area: Yellow Sea; Sea of Japan; Tsushima Straits
          Aircraft: P2V-3/3W
          Losses: P2V-3 on 16 Aug 1951, crew rescued P2V on 6 Nov 1951, 10 KIA (combat)
          Detachment Location: None

        VP-7

          Deployed to: NAS Iwakuni, Japan
          Date In: 28 Jun 1953
          Date Out: 27 Jul 1953
          Patrol Area: Sea of Japan; Yellow Sea
          Aircraft: P2V-5
          Losses: None
          Detachment Location: None

        VP-9

          Deployed to: NAS Iwakuni, Japan
          Date In: 27 Jun 1952
          Date Out: 16 Nov 1952
          Patrol Area: Sea of Japan
          Aircraft: P4Y-2S
          Losses: None
          Detachment Location: Pusan
          Detachment Date In: Jul 1952
          Detachment Date Out: 3 Jan 1953
          Patrol Area: Inland Korea

        VP-17

          Deployed to: NAS Iwakuni, Japan
          Date In: 1 Feb 1953
          Date Out: 30 Jun 1953
          Patrol Area: Sea of Japan; Yellow Sea
          Aircraft: P4Y-2/2s
          Losses: None
          Detachment Location: None

        VP-22

          Deployed to: NAF Naha, Okinawa, Japan
          Date In: 4 Nov 1950
          Date Out: 1 May 1951
          Patrol Area: Chinese mainland; Formosa
          Aircraft: P2V-4
          Losses: P2V, 21 Jan 1951 (non-combat)
          Detachment Location: None
          VP-22

          Deployed to: NAS Atsugi, Japan
          Date In: 1 Dec 1951
          Date Out: 31 May 1952
          Patrol Area: Tsushima Straits; Sea of Japan
          Aircraft: P4Y-2S
          Losses: None
          Detachment Location: None
          VP-22

          Deployed to: NAS Atsugi, Japan
          Date In: 30 Nov 1952
          Date Out: 31 May 1953
          Patrol Area: North and South China Sea
          Aircraft: P2V-5
          Losses: P2V-5, 18 Jan 1953 (combat), 7 rescued, 4 KIA and 2 POW (combat related)
          P2V-5, 31 Jan 1953 (non-combat)
          Detachment Location: None

        VP-28

          Deployed to: NAF Naha, Okinawa, Japan
          Date In: 16 Jul 1950
          Date Out: 7 Aug 1950
          Patrol Area: Foochow; Shanghai
          Aircraft: PB4Y-2S
          Losses: None
          Detachment Location: NAF Agana
          Detachment Date In: Jan 1950
          Detachment Date Out: 7 Aug 1950
          VP-28

          Deployed to: Tachikawa AFB
          Date In: 1 Apr 1951
          Date Out: 9 Oct 1951
          Patrol Area: Yellow Sea; Tsushima Straits
          Aircraft: PB4Y-2S
          Losses: None
          Detachment Location: Itami AFB
          Detachment Date In: 24 Apr 1951
          Detachment Date Out: 30 Apr 1951
          Patrol Area: Japanese coast, ASW ops.
          Detachment Location: Kimpo AFB
          Detachment Date In: 1 Oct 1951
          Detachment Date Out: 13 Dec 1951
          Patrol Area: Inland Korea
          VP-28

          Deployed to: NAF Itami
          Date In: 1 Jun 1952
          Date Out: 2 Dec 1952
          Patrol Area: North Korean coast; China coast
          Aircraft: P2V-3/P4Y-2/2S
          Losses: None
          Detachment Location: None

        VP-29

          Deployed to: NAS Atsugi, Japan
          Date In: 27 Sep 1952
          Date Out: 1 Apr 1953
          Patrol Area: Sea of Japan; Korean coast
          Aircraft: P2V-5/6
          Losses: None
          Detachment Location: None

        VP-40

          Deployed to: NAS Iwakuni, Japan
          Suisun (AVP 53), 11 Apr 1951–late 1951
          Date In: 9 Jun 1951
          Date Out: 13 Dec 1951
          Patrol Area: Yellow Sea; Tsushima Straits
          Aircraft: PBM-5/5S
          Losses: None
          Detachment Location: None
          VP-40

          Deployed to: NS Sangley Point, Philippines
          Date In: 2 Sep 1952
          Date Out: 28 Mar 1953
          Patrol Area: South China Sea; Formosa Straits
          Aircraft: PBM-5/5S
          Losses: None
          Detachment Location: Pescadores
          Detachment Date In: 2 Sep 1952
          Detachment Date Out: 28 Mar 1953
          Patrol Area: South China Sea and East China Sea
          Detachment Location: NAF Naha, Okinawa, Japan
          Detachment Date In: 2 Sep 1952
          Detachment Date Out: 28 Mar 1953
          Patrol Area: East China Sea; Yellow Sea

        VP-42

          Deployed to: NAS Iwakuni, Japan
          Date In: 19 Jul 1950
          Date Out: 10 Aug 1950
          Patrol Area: Korean coast

          Deployed to: NAS Yokosuka
          Date In: 11–31 Aug 1950
          Date Out: 1 Sep 1950
          Patrol Area: Tsushima Straits; Sea of Japan

          Deployed to: NAS Iwakuni, Japan
          Pine Island (AV 13), Aug 1950–Dec 1950
          Curtiss (AV 4), 1 Nov 1950–1 Dec 1950
          USS Gardiners Bay (AVP-39), 18 Oct 1950–27 Feb 1951
          Suisun (AVP 53), 11 Apr 1951–15 Jul 1951
          Date In: 1 Sep 1950
          Date Out: 9 Apr 1951
          Patrol Area: Yellow Sea
          Aircraft: PBM-5
          Losses: PBM-5, 7 Jan 1951 (non-combat)
          Detachment Location: Inchon
          USS Gardiners Bay (AVP-39), 3–13 Oct 1950
          Detachment Date In: 3 Oct 1950
          Detachment Date Out: 17 Oct 1950
          Patrol Area: Korean waters
          Detachment Location: Chinhae
          USS Gardiners Bay (AVP-39), 13–18 Oct 1950
          Detachment Date In: 14 Oct 1950
          Detachment Date Out: 18 Oct 1950
          Patrol Area: Korean waters; Yellow Sea

          Deployed to: NAS Iwakuni, Japan
          Date In: 7 Dec 1951
          Date Out: 6 Jun 1952
          Patrol Area: Korean coast
          Aircraft: P4Y-2
          Losses: None
          Detachment Location: Chinhae
          Detachment Date In: 15 Mar 52
          Detachment Date Out: Apr 1952
          Patrol Area: Inland Korea

        VP-46

          Deployed to: Pescadores Islands
          Suisun (AVP 53) 30 Jul 1950–6 Mar 1951
          Date In: 31 Jul 1950
          Date Out: 6 Feb 1951
          Patrol Area: Formosa Straits; China

          Deployed to: NS Sangley Point, Philippines
          Date In: 1 Dec 1950
          Date Out: 6 Feb 1951
          Patrol Area: Night sector searches
          Aircraft: PBM-5
          Losses: None
          Detachment Location: Buckner Bay
          USS Salisbury Sound (AV-13), 1 Nov 1950–6 Mar 1951
          Detachment Date In: 1 Nov 1950
          Detachment Date Out: 6 Feb 1951
          Detachment Location: NS Sangley Point, Philippines
          Detachment Date In: 31 Jul 1950
          Detachment Date Out: 6 Feb 1951
          Patrol Area: Courier flights to Okinawa

          Deployed to: NAS Iwakuni, Japan
          Floyds Bay (AVP 40), 26 Sep 1951–early 1952
          USS Gardiners Bay (AVP-39), 26 Sep 1951–early 1952
          Date In: 30 Sep 1951
          Date Out: 2 Apr 1952
          Patrol Area: Korean coast
          Aircraft: PBM-5S/5S2
          Losses: None
          Detachment Location: Chinhae
          Suisun (AVP 53)
          Detachment Date In: Sep 1951
          Detachment Date Out: 2 Apr 1952
          Patrol Area: Korean coast

          Deployed to: NAS Iwakuni, Japan
          Kenneth Whiting (AV 14)
          Date In: 1 Mar 1953
          Date Out: 27 Jul 1953
          Patrol Area: Formosa Straits; east coast of Korea
          Aircraft: PBM-5S2
          Losses: None
          Detachment Location: None

        VP-47

          Deployed to: NAS Iwakuni, Japan
          USS Gardiners Bay (AVP-39), Jul 1950–1 Oct 1950
          Date In: 31 Jul 1950
          Date Out: 16 Oct 1950
          Patrol Area: Chosin Straits

          Deployed to: Chinhae/Inchon
          USS Gardiners Bay (AVP-39), 3–13 Oct 1950
          Patrol Area: Korean waters
          Date In: 16 Oct 1950
          Date Out: 15 Nov 1950

          Deployed to: NAF Yokosuka
          Date In: 16 Nov 1950
          Date Out: 1 Jan 1951
          Patrol Area: Sea of Japan; eastern Korean coast
          Aircraft: PBM-5
          Losses: None
          Detachment Location: None

          Deployed to: Pescadores Island
          Pine Island (AVP 12)
          Date In: 1 Aug 1951
          Date Out: 4 Mar 1952
          Patrol Area: Yellow Sea
          Aircraft: PBM-5
          Losses: None
          Detachment Location: NS Sangley Point, Philippines
          USS Salisbury Sound (AV-13)
          Detachment Date In: 26 Jul 1951
          Detachment Date Out: 4 Mar 1952
          Patrol Area: China Sea
          Detachment Location: Buckner Bay
          USS Gardiners Bay (AVP-39)
          Corson (AVP 37)
          Detachment In: 26 Jul 1951
          Detachment Date Out: 4 Mar 1952
          Patrol Area: China Sea
          1952 Deployments
          VP-47

          Deployed to: NAS Iwakuni, Japan
          Kenneth Whiting (AV 14)
          USS Gardiners Bay (AVP-39)
          Date In: 22 Nov 1952
          Date Out: 31 May 1953
          Patrol Area: Yellow Sea; Sea of Japan
          Aircraft: PBM-5
          Losses: None
          Detachment Location: Fukuoka
          Corson (AVP 37)
          Detachment Date In: Dec 1952
          Detachment Date Out: 31 May 1953
          Patrol Area: Sea of Japan

        VP-48

          Deployed to: NAS Iwakuni, Japan
          Kenneth Whiting (AV 14)
          USS Gardiners Bay (AVP-39)
          Date In: Jul 1953
          Date Out: Dec 1953
          Patrol Area: Yellow Sea
          Aircraft: PBM-5S2
          Losses: PBM-5 on 30 Jul 1953 (non-combat), 5 rescued, 10 killed in the crash
          Detachment Location: None

        VP-50

        VP-57

          Deployed to: NAS Atsugi, Japan
          Date In: 28 Mar 1953
          Date Out: 27 Jul 1953
          Patrol Area: Sea of Japan; Yellow Sea
          Aircraft: P2V-5
          Losses: None
          Detachment Location: None

        VP-731

          Deployed to: Buckner Bay
          USS Salisbury Sound (AV-13), 1 Nov 1950–6 Mar 1951
          Suisun (AVP 53), 6 Mar 1951–13 Aug 1951
          Date In: 7 Feb 1951
          Date Out: 13 Aug 1951
          Patrol Area: Formosa Straits; China coast
          Aircraft: PBM-5
          Losses: None
          Detachment Location: NS Sangley Point, Philippines
          USS Salisbury Sound (AV-13), 13 Mar 1951–18 Oct 1951
          Detachment Date In: 7 Feb 1951
          Detachment Date Out: 13 Aug 1951
          Patrol Area: Formosa coast; China coast
          Detachment Location: Hong Kong
          Detachment Date In: 7 Feb 1951
          Detachment Date Out: 13 Aug 1951
          Patrol Area: Courier Flights

          Deployed to: NAS Iwakuni, Japan
          Kenneth Whiting (AV 14)
          USS Gardiners Bay (AVP-39)
          Date In: 1 Jun 1952
          Date Out: 8 Dec 1952
          Patrol Area: Korean coast; Formosa Straits
          Aircraft: PBM-5S2
          Losses: PBM damaged on 31 Jul 1952, 2 KIA and 2 WIA (combat related)
          Detachment Location: None

        VP-772

          Deployed to: NAS Atsugi, Japan
          Date In: 31 Jan 51
          Date Out: 3 Aug 1951
          Sea Patrol Area: Yellow; Tsushima Straits
          Aircraft: P4Y-2
          Losses: None
          Detachment Location: K-1, Pusan
          Detachment Date In: 12 Jun 1951
          Detachment Date Out: 3 Aug 1951
          Patrol Area: Inland Korea

        VP-871

          Deployed to: NAS Atsugi, Japan
          Date In: 1 Dec 1951
          Date Out: 7 Jul 1952
          Patrol Area: Sea of Japan
          Aircraft: P4Y-2S
          Losses: None
          Detachment Location: Kimpo AFB
          Detachment Date In: 12 Dec 1951
          Detachment Date Out: 7 Jul 1952
          Patrol Area: Inland Korea

        VP-892

          Deployed to: NAS Iwakuni, Japan
          Curtiss (AV 4) thru 30 Dec 1950
          Pine Island (AV 12), Dec 1950–mid-1951
          USS Gardiners Bay (AVP-39), 18 Oct 1950–13 Apr 1951
          Suisun (AVP 53), 11 Apr 1951 – Late 1951
          Date In: 13 Dec 1950
          Date Out: 9 Jun 1951
          Patrol Area: Yellow Sea, night patrols
          Aircraft: PBM-5
          Losses: None
          Detachment Location: None
          1951 Deployments

          Deployed to: NS Sangley Point, Philippines
          USS Salisbury Sound (AV-13)
          Date In: 1 Mar 1952
          Date Out: 12 Sep 1952
          Patrol Area: China Sea
          Aircraft: PBM-5S/S2
          Losses: None
          Detachment Location: None
          1953 Deployments

    HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...Patrol squadrons in the Korean War - Naval Aviation News, July-August, 2002 by Rick Burgess..." http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0IAX/is_5_84/ai_90332255 [29MAR2005]

    Because most of the combat action of the KOREAN WAR took place over the Korean peninsula, the bulk of the Navy's aerial contribution to the war took the form of carrier-based tactical aircraft. For Navy patrol squadrons (VP), the war was fought primarily on the peripheries of the main front, mostly in sea-control and sea-denial missions, and other roles such as mine hunting.

    The Korean War was one hot spot of many along the Asian landmass attracting the attention of VP squadrons in the early 1950s. The broader Cold War was in full chill. The Soviet Union had tested its first nuclear weapons in 1949, and its large submarine fleet presented a credible threat to the Navy's carrier and amphibious task forces. Also in 1949, the Communist Chinese People's Liberation Army forces had pushed the Chinese Nationalist forces off the Asian mainland across the Formosa Strait onto Formosa (now Taiwan). French colonial forces in Indochina were embattled by an increasingly strong Viet Minh force led by Ho Chi Minh. From the Bering Strait to Singapore, Navy patrol planes had much to monitor.

    Although the U.S. Seventh Fleet's carrier task forces were committed to the Korean area of operations, the fleet still was charged with the protection of Formosa. The fleet was able to maintain routine surveillance of the Formosa Strait with patrol aircraft, which made it impossible for the Communist Chinese to launch a surprise invasion of the island.

    In the Korean area of operations, VP squadrons participated in the blockade of North Korea, keeping merchant shipping and fishing fleets under surveillance and deterring hostile submarine activity. In addition, patrol aircraft hunted and destroyed mines, dropped flares for air strikes, and conducted weather reconnaissance and search-and-rescue operations.

    At the beginning of the Korean War, Pacific Fleet VP squadrons were equipped with three heavily armed aircraft types. Martin PBM-5/5S/5S2 Mariners were the only flying boats in active patrol squadrons (the P5M Marlin had not yet entered service.) Seaplanes were increasingly being displaced by land-based patrol bombers, such as the four-engine Consolidated Privateer P4Y-2/2S/2B, a holdover from WW II; and versions of the new twin-engine Lockheed Neptune (P2V2/3/3W/4/5), successor to the post-WWII PV-2 Harpoon patrol bomber.

    The Pacific Fleet was equipped with only nine VP squadrons in June 1950, having disestablished four squadrons in the first half of the year. VP squadrons were based at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington; NAS North Island, San Diego, California; and NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii. They deployed to NAF Yokosuka, Japan; NS Sangley Point, Philippines, Philippines.; NAS Kodiak, Alaska; and NAS Agana, Guam. By the end of 1950, seven reserve VP squadrons were activated, five of which were assigned to the Pacific Fleet. By the end of 1951, two more active duty VP squadrons were established in the Pacific Fleet, and two more reserve squadrons were activated to augment them. NAS Alameda, California, and NAS Seattle, Washington, accommodated some of the new squadrons. Only one Atlantic Fleet patrol squadron, VP-7 at NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island, was deployed to the war zone, arriving less than one month before the truce on 30 June 1953.

    When the war broke out in 1950, Fleet Air Wing FAW-1 at Guam controlled squadrons deployed to the western Pacific. In July 1950 FAW-1 moved to Naha, Okinawa, to control patrols over the Formosa Strait using one land-based and one flying boat squadron. FAW-6 was established at Atsugi, Japan, to coordinate patrols in the Yellow Sea and Sea of Japan. Eventually the typical strength of FAW-6 included three land-plane squadrons and two flying boat squadrons, as well as two squadrons of Royal Air Force Sunderland flying boats. These command structures remained in place throughout the war, except during a short period when they were relieved by FAW-2 and FAW-14, respectively.

    Only eight patrol planes--PBMs assigned to VP-46 and the squadron it was relieving, VP-47--patrolled the Far East when the North Korean invasion began, while VP-28's PB4Ys were deployed to NAS Agana, Guam. Soon, VP-47 was regrouped and retained on deployment, VP-6's P2V-3s arrived at Johnson Air Base near Tokyo, Japan, and VP-42's PBMs staged at Iwakuni, Japan. VP-28 staged to NAF Naha, Okinawa, Japan and began daily patrols of the Formosa Strait and the coast of China. Other squadrons rotated in turn, and also deployed to far-flung bases and anchorages such as Hong Kong; the Pescadores, Buckner Bay and NAF Kadena, Okinawa, Japan; Tachikawa and Itami in Japan; and NAS Kodiak, Alaska and Shemya in the Aleutians.

    As the North Korean invasion pushed south, VP-6's Neptunes were used on three occasions to provide naval gunfire spotting for United Nations warships on the western coast of South Korea. The squadron's P2V-3s, armed with 20mm cannon, bombs and rockets, also launched many attacks themselves against North Korean targets along the northeast shore.

    On 29 July 1950, two crews destroyed a railroad train with their rockets and guns. On 13 August, crews sank three boats and two barges engaged in minelaying near Chinnampo, and damaged two surface craft near Wonsan. One VP-6 Neptune was damaged in the attack. An attack on a patrol boat near Chinnampo on 16 August was fatal to another VP-6 aircraft, which ditched after taking fire. The crew was rescued by the Royal Navy cruiser HMS Kenya. Patrol planes were prohibited thereafter from undertaking attack missions over Korea. VP-6 became the only patrol squadron awarded the Navy Unit Citation during the Korean War.

    Patrol planes--PBMs, P2Vs and Sunderlands--were used extensively in mine hunting, particularly in the harbors of Inchon and Wonsan. This tedious activity required the PBMs to fly low and slow, close enough to detonate a moored mine with machine gunfire, but high enough to avoid the mine's explosion. P2Vs dropped depth charges to wipe out magnetic mines.

    In 1951 VP squadrons were pressed into another role, this time over land, dropping illumination flares in support of air strikes. Known as Firefly missions, they helped deny the night to enemy supply movements. Admiral Arthur W. Radford suggested the use of P4Y-2 Privateers as flare ships to replace the more vulnerable R4D Skytrains in illuminating targets for Marine Corps F4U-5N Corsair and F7F-3N Tigercat night hecklers. One P4Y from VP-772 was modified For the mission and proved highly successful, and three more P4Ys from VP-772 and VP-28 were assigned as "Lamp Lighters" (later operated by successive squadrons). During a typical mission, the P4Y would rendezvous with four attack aircraft, search for truck convoys and illuminate the targets for the attack aircraft.

    Although United Nations forces were successful in maintaining air superiority over most of the Korean peninsula, lumbering patrol aircraft had a few encounters with enemy aircraft. A VP-42 Mariner was damaged on 11 May 1952 by a MiG-15 fighter over the Yellow Sea, and on 31 July 1952 a VP-731 PBM was seriously damaged by gunfire from a MiG-15, which killed two crewmen and injured two others.

    Flights off China and the Soviet Union, far from protective cover, were more dangerous. VP-28 P4Ys were attacked over the Formosa Strait on 26 July by an F-51 Mustang in North Korean markings, and on 20 September and 22 November 1950 by MiG-15s, all without result. A VP-42 PBM was lost to unknown causes in the southern Formosa Strait on 5 November. On 6 November 1951 a VP-6 P2V-3W was shot down, with no survivors, by Soviet fighters near Vladivostok. On 18 January 1953 Chinese antiaircraft batteries shot down a VP-22 P2V off Swatow. A Coast Guard PBM-5G picked up the survivors but crashed on takeoff, resulting in the loss of 11 fliers, including 7 from the P2V. The survivors were rescued by a Navy ship. Further such aircraft incidents and losses occurred in the years after the Korean truce.

    One daring P2V crew amazingly survived a series of eight or nine intentional overflights of the Soviet Union's Kamchatka peninsula between April and June 1952. A VP-931 P2V-3W--modified with special electronic intelligence equipment in its nose and flown by a handpicked crew--flew in radio silence over the peninsula at 15,000 feet in search of military installations. When military sites were detected, an Air Force RB-50 flying above and behind the P2V photographed the sites. The snoopers were intercepted on two missions by Soviet MiG fighters but apparently never were fired upon. Fortunately, the recently declassified operations never required the services of the Air Force SB-17 rescue plane assigned to the missions. This VP-931 (later VP-57) crew also performed a daring search and rescue flight in July 1953 over Vladivostok harbor for the crew of an RB-50 that was shot down by Soviet fighters. A U.S. destroyer rescued one of the crewmen.

    Land-based patrol planes saw greater use than flying boats in the Korean War, proving to be more efficient. In Korea, land-based patrol planes flew 12 sorties for every 9 flown by flying boats.

    As with U.S. forces in general, patrol aviation maintained a high level of presence in the Far East after the Korean War. Its operations increasingly focused on peripheral reconnaissance of the Soviet Union and China, particularly surveillance of the growing Soviet submarine force and vigilance against Chinese sabre-rattling against Formosa.

    U.S. Navy Patrol Squadrons in the Korean War

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