vpb-111 and vp-21 Formal History

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="057285a1erlcgo.png"> <div> <B>VP-21 & VPB-111 Veterans Association</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=150 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="056d4c00dkelyh.png"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="History VP21 and VPB111"><U><B><U>BACK</U></B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div>  <A NAME="formal_history"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B><U>Formal History</U></B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>VP-21/ VPB-111 SQUADRON HISTORY FROM NAVAL HISTORIC WEB SITE</B></I></div> <bR> <div> The following was taken from the Naval Historical Web Site. There were found to be several errors in the information presented. Those errors that were found were corrected. There may be further errors in the information presented that have not been found. Please send your corrections to <A HREF="mailto:fes_vp21@msn.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:fes_vp21@msn.com"><U>Fred Schuster</U></A>, Association Historian.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>In a Nutshell</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <B>30 July 1943</B>: Established as Bombing Squadron ONE HUNDRED ELEVEN (VB-111). </div> <div> <B>1 October 1944</B>: Re-designated Patrol Bombing Squadron ONE HUNDRED ELEVEN (VPB-111).</div> <div> .</div> <div> <B>15 May 1946</B>:  Re-designated Patrol Squadron ONE HUNDRED ELEVEN (VP-111). </div> <div> <B>15 November 1946</B>: Re-designated Heavy Patrol Squadron (Land Plane) ELEVEN (VP-HL-11). </div> <div> <B>1 September 1948</B>: Re-designated Patrol Squadron TWENTY ONE (VP21), the fifth squadron to be assigned the VP-21 designation. </div> <div> <B>21 November 1969</B>: Disestablished .</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>VPB-111 (December 1944 to August 1945)</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <B>Commanding officers: </B></div> <div> <B>Commander James V. Barry (January 1944 to April 1945); </B></div> <div> <B>Lieutenant Commander Gordon R. Egbert (April 1945).</B></div> <div> <B>Based at (Tinian (December 1944); </B></div> <div> <B>Morotai ( January to February 1945); </B></div> <div> <B>Tacloban (February to April 1945); </B></div> <div> <B>Palawan (April to August 1945). </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>VPB-111 started as a European-based PB4Y-1 squadron. During it's second tour of duty in the Pacific, the squadron flew PB4Y-1s and -2s. </B></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>VP-21 Squadron Insignia and Nickname</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <B>The squadron's first insignia</B> on record was not submitted to CNO for approval until after WWII when it was designated VP-HL-11. The design approved by CNO on 19 February1948, was that of an elephant centered in a circular design overlaid on an anchor. The elephant held a depth bomb in its trunk, a searchlight around its neck, wings on its back and a gun turret on top of its back. The elephant was apparently a common theme of the period, featured in insjgnia used earlier by both VPB-52 and 101. The "elephant" of VP-HL-11 was the Navy's largest land-based bomber, the PB4Y-2 Privateer. It was utilized in an ASW role and equipped with searchlights for night attacks against surfaced submarines. Colors: elephant: gray' black and white; wings: yellow turret: blackclouds: white; sky: blue; searchlight: yellow; anchor: blue and whIte. V P-HL-11 and VP-21 used the Insignia through 1952.</div> <bR> <div> <B>The squadron's second insignia</B> was submitted in 1953 and approved by, CNO on 10 March 1953. The motif of the design was the 'Truculent Turtle, named after the P2V1 flown by Commander Thomas D. Davies on a record-breaking flight on 29 September 1946, from Perth, Australia, to Columbus, Ohio. The turtle was rampant in a cloud-filled night sky, searching out the adversary with a lantern in his right hand (corresponding to the searchlight on the starboard wing tip of the P2V-6), and ready to attack with a rocket carried in his left hand. In the background was a parachute mine</div> <div> symbolic of the squadron's primary mission in sea and air warfare. Colors: turtle, light green body, yellow eyes, dark green shell, lamp: black frame; lantern, light yellow; missile, red; cloud, gray; sky, blue; mine, black with white parachute; insignia border, black.</div> <bR> <div> <B>The squadron's third insignia</B> was approved by CNO on 17 August 1959. It was a circular patch with VP-21 at the bottom. In the patch were two playing cards, an ace of spades and a jack of spades. The squadron derived its nickname from the latter card, the "Black Jacks." The squadron insignia was changed when it's primary mission was changed from aerial mine warfare to anti-submarine warfare. Colors: playing cards, black and white; background red; squadron logo, black with white letters; border, black.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Chronology of Significant Events</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <B>30 July 1943:</B> VB-111 was established at NAS Norfolk, Va. Half of the personnel from VP-201 formed the cadre of the new squadron. The next day a new commanding officer was designated and all personnel began relocating to NAS Oceana, Va., for training in the Consolidated PB4 Y-1 Liberator patrol bomber. Operational control of the squadron came under FAW-5.</div> <div> <B>15 August 1943</B>: Six crews were sent to San Diego, California to pick up half of the squadron's allotment of aircraft. After their arrival the crews completed their familiarization training using auxiliary fields at Chincoteague, Va., and Cherry Point, N.C.</div> <div> <B>1 October 1943</B>: The squadron received its orders to deploy to St. Eval. England under the operational control of FAW -7. </div> <div> <B>4 November 1943</B>: VPB-111 transferred to Port Lyautey, French Morocco, under the operational control of FAW-15, to guard the western approaches to Gibraltar. </div> <div> <B>8 February 1944</B>: The squadron had its first contact with the enemy on this date, carrying out one attack on a German U-boat. Postwar records indicate no enemy losses on that date.</div> <div> <B>2 March 1944</B>: Over a period of four months, sections of three aircraft at a time were transferred back to S1.Eval, England,</div> <div> under the operational control of FAW-7<B>. </B></div> <div> <B>By 13 July 1944</B>, the entire squadron was gathered at St. Eval in preparation for its return to NAS Quonset Point, R.I.</div> <div> <B>14July1944</B>: The first section of three aircraft departed England for the U.S., arriving on the 19th. The last section arrived at NAS Quonset Point on 23 July 1944. The squadron began a training program that was conducted through 19 August 1944.</div> <div> <B>20 August 1944</B>: The first section of VB-111 aircraft began the transit across the U.S. to the West Coast, with the last section arriving at NAS Camp Kearney, Calif. on the 22d. The squadron came under the operational control of FAW-14. A brief period of training for South Pacific operations was undertaken through the end of September.</div> <div> <B>24 September 1944</B>: VB-Ill personnel (13 officers and 102 enlisted) boarded Makassar Strait (CVE 91) for transportation to NAS Kaneohe, Hawaii. Aircrews began the TransPac on 1 October 1944, with the last section arriving on 5 October 1944.</div> <div> <B>29 November 1944</B>: VPB-111 was given combat indoctrination training under operational control of FAW-2</div> <div> through the end of November. On the 29th. the squadron received orders to transfer to the combat zone at NAB West Field, Tinian. The last section of aircraft arrived on 1 December 1944, and the squadron came under the operational control of FAW-1. Strategic long-range searches were conducted from that location through the middle of January 1945.</div> <div> <B>5 January 1945</B>: Two squadron PB4Y11s, flown by Lieutenant Howard E. Sires and Franklin B. Emerson, spotted and attacked a midget submarine two miles southwest of Chichi Jima. The submarine was sunk using 250 pound G.P. bombs and strafing with 50-caliber guns.</div> <div> <B>15 January 1945</B>: The squadron and its headquarters were relocated to NAB Morotai under the operational control of  FAW-17, with a detachment of four aircraft at Tacioban Air Base, Leyte. Philippines, under FAW 10. Long-range reconnaissance missions and anti-shipping patrols were carried out from both locations.</div> <div> <B>1 February 1945</B>: VPB- 111 began transferring personnel and assets to the Tacloban Air Base from Morotai. By 6 February 1945, the entire squadron had been relocated, with a detachment of four crews at McGuire Field, Mindoro. Long-range reconnaissance missions and anti-shipping patrols were carried out from both locations.</div> <div> <B>17 </B><B>March</B> <B>1945: </B>The Mindoro detachment rejoined the squadron at Tacloban to prepare for the upcoming invasion of Okinawa. Interdiction cover patrols for TF 58 en route to Okinawa began on 21 March 1945.</div> <div> <B>11 April 1945: </B>VPB-lll relocated to Palawan Army Air Field. On 1 May 1945, the squadron received several new PB4Y-2 Privateers as replacements for its worn-out PB4Y11s. With its new and refurbished complement of aircraft, the squadron commenced a series of daytime strikes on targets along the Borneo and Malaya coasts. On one such mission against the enemy installations at Singapore, two squadron Privateers were teamed up for an attack. One of the aircraft was badly damaged during its bombing run. and the second, flown by Lieutenant (JG) Romayn F. Heyler. flew through heavy enemy fire to protect its withdrawal from the area. During the escape from the target area a squadron of enemy fighters attacked the Privateers. Lieutenant (JG) Heyler's crew managed to shoot down one fighter and damage several others while escorting their squadron mates safely back to base. For his heroic actions while protecting his comrades Lieutenant (JG) Heyler was later awarded the Navy Cross.</div> <div> <B>7 July 1945: </B>A detachment of five aircraft was sent to Mindoro, Philippines. for a two-week tour of duty, returning to Palawan on 20 July.</div> <div> <B>27 October 1945: </B>After a brief period of stand down for maintenance, the squadron began the transit back to NAS Kaneohe, Hawaii, and from there to the u.S.</div> <div> <B>24 November 1945: </B>VPB-lll concluded its transit from the South Pacific to NAS New York, where crews were given leave. Over the next three months many of the wartime personnel were discharged from military service to civilian status.</div> <div> <B>1 March 1946: </B>VPB-111 began a period of postwar reforming and retraining of new crews at NAS New York.</div> <div> <B>June 1946: </B>The squadron was designated an Atlantic Fleet Antisubmarine Warfare Squadron.</div> <div> <B>3 January 1949: </B>VP-21 deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for training. One squadron aircraft crashed at Patuxent River, Md., killing two crewmen.</div> <div> <B>28 June 1950: </B>The squadron received its first P4M-1. VP-21 was selected to be one of the few Navy patrol squadrons to fly the new Mercator.</div> <div> <B>15 July 1951 Thru 22 July 1952: </B>The entire squadron went on a 6500</div> <div> mile flight. Stops at Pensacola, San Diego, Alameda (a formation flight of the entire squadron), Seattle and return to Pax. River. All aircraft completed the 6500 mile flight with only minor problems.</div> <div> <B>21 October 1952</B>: The squadron gave a demonstration of the P4M-l's capabilities to CNO and BuAer officials, which included minelaying to show the bomber's ability to carry 13,000 pounds of mines in an internal bomb bay.</div> <div> <B>February 1953</B>: VP-21 replaced its P4M-l Mercators with P2V-6 Neptunes, carrying the latest equipment for minelaying and ASW, a steerable nose wheel and reversible pitch propellers.</div> <div> <B>May 1954</B>: Home Station was changed ftom NAS Patuxent River, MD, to NAS Brunswick, Maine.</div> <div> <B>1 August 1958</B>: The squadron's primary mission was changed from aerial</div> <div> minelaying to antisubmarine warfare.</div> <div> <B>8 July </B>1958: VP-21 deployed to RNAS Halfar, Malta. During the deployment, the squadron participated in the Lebanon Incident from 15 July to 1 October 1958. VP-21 and VP-10 provided ASW coverage to the Sixth Fleet during the crisis.</div> <div> <B>1 January 1967</B>: Six VP-21 aircraft deployed to Rota, Spain, relieving VP24. On 6 June to 23 June 1967, the Rota detachment deployed four aircraft to Souda Bay, Crete, for advanced base operations during the Arab-Israeli conflict.</div> <div> <B>21 November 1969</B>: VP-21 was disestablished at NAS Brunswick, Maine.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B> <A NAME="bases_and_aircraft"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></I><I><B>Bases and Aircraft</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <B>         Home </B><B>Port Assignments</B></div> <bR> <div> <U>        Location  </U><B>                                                     </B><U> </U><I><U>Date of Assignment</U></I></div> <div> NAS Norfolk, Va.                                                    30 Jul 1943</div> <div> NAAS Oceana. Va.                                                1 Aug 1943</div> <div> NAF Port Lyautey. F.M.                                          4  Nov 1943</div> <div> NAS Quonset Point, R.I.                                         23 Jul 1944</div> <div> NAS Kaneohe. Hawaii                                             <I>5 </I>Oct 1944</div> <div> NAB Tinian                                                                1 Dec 1944</div> <div> NAB Morotai                                                            15 Jan 1945</div> <div> NAB Tacloban, Philippines                                      1 Feb 1945</div> <div> AAF Palawan                                                           11 Apr 1945</div> <div> NAS New York, N.Y.                                                24 Nov 1945</div> <div> NAS Atlantic City, N.J.                                            23 May 1946</div> <div> NAS Patuxent River. Md.                                        11 May 1948</div> <div> NAS Brunswick, Maine                                          26 May 1954 to 1969</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>             </B><B><U>Aircraft Assignment</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <U>Type ofAircraft</U><I>     </I><U>Date Type First Received</U></div> <bR> <div> PB4Y-1                      Aug 1943</div> <div> PB4Y-2                      May 1945</div> <div> P4M-1                       June 1950</div> <div> P2V-6                         Feb 1953</div> <div> P2 V-5F                     Aug 1953</div> <div> P2V-7S                      Dec 1957</div> <bR> <div> The P2V-7S was redesignated SP-2H in 1962.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Major </B></I><I>Overseas </I><I><B>Deployments</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Date of            Date of                           Base of          Type of     Area of</B></I></div> <div> <I><B><U>Departure       Return            Wing      Operations     Aircraft     Operations</U></B></I></div> <bR> <div>     1 Oct 1943       3 Nov 1943     FAW-7     St. Eval            PB4Y- 1     NorLant</div> <div>    4 Nov 1943       1 Mar 1944     FAW- 15   Port Lyautey   PB4Y- I      Med</div> <div>    2 Mar 1944        13 Jul1944     FAW-7     St. Eval            PB4Y- 1     NorLant</div> <div> 24 Sep 1944      27 Oct 1945     FAW-2     Kaneohe          PB4Y- 1     WestPac</div> <div>   1 Dec 1944      14 Jan 1945     FAW-1     Tinian               PB4Y-1      SoPac</div> <div>  15 Jan 1945*      <I>5 </I>Feb 1945     FAW-17   Morotai            PB4Y-1     SoPac</div> <div>  15 Jan 1945*      5 Feb 1945     FAW- 10  Tacloban          PB4Y- I     SoPac</div> <div>    6 Feb 1945      10 Apr 1945     FAW-l0    Mindoro           PB4Y-1     SoPac</div> <div>   11 Apr 1945      27 Oct 1945     FAW-10   Palawan          PB4Y-2     SoPac</div> <div>   28 Apr 1947     14 May 1947     FAW-5     Argentia          PB4Y-2     NorLant</div> <div>     3 Jan 1949     26 Feb 1949     FAW-5     Guantanamo   PB4Y-2     Carib</div> <div>   21 Apr 1949       2 Aug 1949     FAW-5     Argentia          PB4Y-2     NorLant</div> <div>                1952                  1952     FAW-15    Port Lyautey   P4M-1       Med</div> <div>        Jun.1953           Nov. 1953     FAW-5     Malta (Luqa)   P2V-6       Med</div> <div>       Jun. 1954           Nov. 1954     FAW-3     Malta (Hal Far) P2V-6       Med</div> <div>       Aug 1955           Dec 1955     FAW-3     Malta               P2V-5F     Med</div> <div>      8 Jul 1958        7 Dec 1958     FAW-3     Malta               P2V-7S     Med</div> <div>    2 Mar 1960*           Aug 1960     FAW-3    Sigonella        P2V-7S     Med</div> <div>    2 Mar 1960*           Aug 1960     FAW-3    Keflavik           P2V-7S     NorLant</div> <div>     4 Jun 1961         6 Nov 1961     FAW-3     Argentia         P2V-7S     NorLant</div> <div>   27 Oct 1962*     26 Nov 1962     FAW-3     Lajes              SP-2H       NorLant</div> <div>   27 Oct 1962*       3 Dec 1962     FAW-3     Argentia         SP-2H       NorLant</div> <div> <I>    5 </I>Jan 1963          1 Jun 1963     FAW-3     Sigonella       SP-2H       Med</div> <div>   29 Apr 1963          1 Jun 1963     FAW-3     Souda Bay    SP-2H       Med</div> <div>        Apr 1964              Jun 1964     FAW-3     Argentia         SP-2H      NorLant</div> <div>       May 1964              Jun 1964     FAW-3     Guantanamo  SP-2H     Carib</div> <div>  20 Aug 1965         1 Feb 1966      FAW-3     Rota                SP-2H     Med</div> <div>  20 Aug 1965         1 Feb 1966      FAW-3     Keflavik           SP-2H     NorLant</div> <div>     1 Apr 1966       18 Apr 1966      FAW-3     Bermuda         SP-2H     Lant</div> <div>    1 Jan 1 967        29 Jun 1967     FAW-3     Rota                 SP-2H     Med</div> <div> <I>    5 </I>Jun 1967        29 Jun 1967     FAW-3     Souda Bay      SP-2H     Med</div> <div>   15 Oct 1967       15 Apr 1968      FAW-3    Sigonella          SP-2H     Med</div> <div>  20 Feb 1969       26 Jun 1969      FAW-3     Sigonella         SP-2H     Med</div> <bR> <bR> <div> * The Squadron conducted split deployments to two sites during the same date</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Wing Assignments</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>   </B></I><I><B> </B></I><I><B><U> </U></B></I><I><B><U>Wing</U></B></I><I><B>     </B></I><I><B><U>Tail Code </U></B></I><I><B>    </B></I><I><B><U>Assignment Date</U></B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>     </B></I><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >FAW-5                              1 Aug 1943</FONT></div> <div>     FAW-7                              1 Oct 1943</div> <div>     FAW-15                             4Nov 1943</div> <div>     FAW-7                              2 Mar 1944</div> <div>     FAW-5                            23 JulY 1944</div> <div>     FAW-14                          22 Aug 1944</div> <div>     FAW-2                               5 Oct 1944</div> <div>     FAW-1                              1 Dec 1944</div> <div>     FAW-17/1O                     15 Jan 1945 (SPLIT DEPLOYMENT)</div> <div>     FAW-5            HC               April 1947</div> <div>     FAW-3            HC           26 May1954</div> <div>                             LH             1 July 1957</div> <bR> <div> The squadron was assigned the tail code H.C. on 7 November 1947. The squadrons tail code was changed from HC. to LH in 1957. The effective date for this change</div> <div> was most likely the beginning of FY 1958 (1 July1957).</div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div>        <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#006699" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>Unit Awards Received</B></I></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Unit A ward     Inclusive Date Covering Unit Award</B></I></div> <div> NUC                       2Dec 1944       31 Jul 1945</div> <div> AFEM                  24 Oct 1962     31 Dec 1962</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="#formal_history" TITLE="vpb111 and vp21 Formal History"><U><U>BACK</U></U></A><A HREF="#formal_history" TITLE="vpb111 and vp21 Formal History"><U><U> TO TOP</U></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>