Operational history VPB-4

pb2ys of vp-102 , vp-13 in submarine basin @ midway island in january 1944



1 march 1943: vp-102 established @ nas san diego, california, patrol squadron flying pb2y-3 coronado seaplane. squadron training continued @ san diego through october 1943, when preparations begun trans-pacific flight nas kaneohe bay, hawaii.
8 november 1943: squadron officially came under operational control of faw-2, nas kaneohe bay, , combat training syllabus begun hands in preparation squadron’s first combat tour.
27 january 1944: detachment of 6 aircraft sent midway island augment vp-13. on 30 january 1944, detachment participated in first combat mission against japanese positions @ wake island. purpose of long range bombing attacks neutralize threat posed forces engaged in gilbert , marshall islands campaign. 5 of these 2,400 miles (3,900 km) round trip missions completed between 30 january , 9 february.
3 february 1944: second detachment of 6 aircraft formed , deployed nas kaneohe bay marshall islands ferrying freight, mail, passengers, , running patrols nab ebeye , nab eniwetok, marshall islands. on 14 february, aircraft piloted lieutenant cannon hit submerged coral head @ ebeye , sank in shallow water. no casualties incurred in accident. detachment completed assignment in approximately 6 weeks.
14 april 1944: increase in squadron missions , dispersed nature of assignments, need additional crews became apparent. in april 6 more crews assigned vp-102, bringing total 24.
21 june 1944: detachment deployed nab kwajalein atoll. nab ebeye detachment continued, , 6 new crews remained @ nas kaneohe bay additional combat training.
4 july 1944: nab kwajalein detachment redeployed eniwetok, , joined nab ebeye detachment, bringing squadron again. on 21 august 1944, crews took turns conducting nuisance bombing attacks on japanese positions on island of ponape. squadron conducted 21 of these missions end of august.
30 august 1944: entire squadron transferred saipan in marianas islands chain, tender support provided uss kenneth whiting, under operational control of faw-1. squadron remained on tender until 16 november, when personnel moved ashore. duties during period consisted of routine patrols, test flights , special flights conveying passengers, mail , equipment between forward areas , rear echelon. after approximately 4 months @ location squadron given orders return nas san diego, departing on first homeward leg of journey on 1 december 1944.
9 december 1944 – november 1945: last vpb-4 aircraft arrived @ nas san diego, coming under operational control of faw-14. post-deployment leave given hands through end of month. in january 1945, squadron began reform new personnel , equipment, pb2y-5/5h. during period new mission assigned, of training replacement crews in operation of pb2y-5/5h , 3r aircraft. trans-pacific flights conducted in may july 1945 bring replacement crews , aircraft nas kaneohe bay deployment in westpac. surrender of japan in september 1945, wholesale disestablishment of squadrons began. vpb-4 disestablished @ nas san diego on 1 november 1945.




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