Operational history VPB-29

vp-21 pby-4s @ naval station sangley point c.1940



japanese b5n-1 on uss william b. preston in malalag bay, philippines 2 vp-101 pby-4s burning in bay, 8 december 1941



17 january 1923: pacific air detachment, navy yard pearl harbor, hawaii, formed hodgepodge of aircraft types. aircraft assigned new unit consisted of f-5l, dt , h-16 models. unit came under operational control of aircraft squadrons, battle fleet, based on reorganization of fleet on 17 june 1922. end of 1923 detachment flying 6 f-5ls.
29 may 1924: pacific air detachment assigned patrol squadron 14 (vp-14) designation chief of naval operations (cno). new designation placed under naval coast defense forces, hawaii region
1 may 1925: vp-14 participated in exercises against fleet @ oahu.
15 jul 1927: squadron flew 2 f-5ls molokai assist in salvage of airplane city of oakland. 2 civilian pilots, smith , bronte,flew aircraft west coast depending on radio direction bearings locating hawaii. receiver broke down forcing them use dead reckoning. pair flew on, locating molokai island made forced landing in treetops. both smith , emory unhurt. successful attempt @ crossing pacific had been beaten on 28–29 june 1927 2 army aviators, lester maitland , albert hegenberger, flew oakland, california, hawaii in army fokker c-2 monoplane named bird of paradise.
17 august 1927: vp-14 provided 3 f-5ls seven-to-eight hour patrols on pineapple derby flight route had destroyers located along route @ 15-minute intervals. pioneer successes of teams maitland , heggenberger , smith , bronte in crossing pacific inspired james dole sponsor pineapple derby race in august 1927. dole, head of hawaiian pineapple company, had offered prize of $25,000 first flyer in race cross pacific , reach honolulu, hawaii, continental u.s. pineapple derby attracted 8 entries, 4 aircraft left hawaii. lockheed vega named golden eagle, sponsored john randolph hearst, jr., , buhl biplane named miss doran never arrived , presumed lost @ sea. art goebel’s woolaroc travel air 5000 monoplane winner of race. goebel arrived overdue @ wheeler field on 17th, followed few hours later other plane complete race, aloha, breese monoplane piloted martin jensen , paul schluter. state of technology @ time proved unequal challenge. total number killed in pre-race crashes, losses en route hawaii , deaths in fruitless search missing planes amounted 9 men , 1 woman.
21 september 1927: vp-14 redesignated vp-1d14, d14 representing 14th naval district, pearl harbor. squadron stationed @ nas ford island, pearl harbor, hawaii, supported tender uss pelican.
7 march 1928: vp-1d14 participated in fleet problem viii submarine division 9 in preparation battle practice. flights included radio compass calibration flights in cooperation army aircraft.
31 may 1928: 2 australians, flight lieutenant charles ulm , squadron leader charles kingsford smith, departed oakland, california, in fokker trimotor attempting fly california australia. vp-1d14 provided air patrols in event went down @ sea. aircraft, however, made successful crossing , landed safely on 9 june @ brisbane after flight of 83 hours , 15 minutes.
15 august 1928: vp-1d14 participated in captain cook sesquicentennial celebration exercises army, in honor of cook’s discovery of hawaiian islands. squadron aircraft operated first time advanced bases @ nawiliwili, kauai , waimea, kauai. operations successful, many problems occurred liberty engines in h-16s. these aircraft scheduled replacement new t2d.
15 november 1928: vp-1d14 tested first t2d aircraft, replacement navy’s aging h-16s. trials conducted on air maneuverability, speed, , quick takeoff, rough water , high-altitude capabilities.
20 february 1929: vp-1d14 conducted first aerial surveys charts of hawaiian islands, basing detachments @ outlying islands secure necessary photographs. survey completed month later.
14 september 1930: vp-1d14, vp-4d14, , vj-6d14 departed pearl harbor hilo in company uss pelican tests of advanced base operations , extended operations patrol airplane tender, including servicing of new t2d , pd-1 aircraft while afloat.
1 july 1931: under reorganization of fleet, vp-1d14 transferred naval air station squadron assignment under commander minecraft, battle force, fleet air base pearl harbor.
15 april 1933: fab pearl harbor reorganized minecraft, battle force , placed under base force, along associated squadrons assigned base, including vp-1.
22 april 1933: vp-1f departed pearl harbor vps 4f , 6f extended training flight french frigate shoals. flight group of patrol squadrons 1 of longest conducted date.
13 january 1934: year 1934 marked beginning of annual patrol squadron exercises in hawaiian , midway island sectors. approximately half of ten patrol squadrons participated each year full complement of aircraft , support vessels.
22 april 1935: vp-1f participated in fleet problem xvi @ midway island, vps 4f, 6f, 7f, 8f, 9f, 10f , several support vessels.
28 may 1935: cno established administrative organizations designated patrol wings (patwing) each of 3 base force fleet air bases. fab san diego, california, supported patwing-1; fab coco solo, panama canal zone, supported patwing-3; , fab pearl harbor supported patwing-2, home base of vp-1f.
25 march 1938: aircraft of vps 1f, 4f, 6f, 8f, 10f , 18f participated in fleet problem xix (phase v) part of red force. exercise demonstrated extreme vulnerability of slow flying patrol bombers mounting attacks in face of strong anti-aircraft (aa) fire. majority of aircraft making runs judged shot down.
17 october 1938: vp-1 pilots took delivery of pby-4s @ nas san diego, additional aircraft being delivered through 18 january 1939.
1 july 1939: vp-1 redesignated patrol squadron 21 , assigned asiatic fleet, becoming nucleus newly formed patrol wing 10 @ cavite naval base, luzon, philippines.
7 december 1941: vp-101 placed on war alert upon receiving news of attack on pearl harbor , war patrols commenced.
14 december 1941: patwing-10 relocated devastated cavite naval base @ luzon, balikpapan in attempt keep ahead of advancing japanese forces.
23 december 1941: vp-102 merged vp-101 combine squadrons’ dwindling assets in aircraft, crews , material. on 25th vp-101 relocated ambon island, netherlands east indies.
27 december 1941: 6 of squadron’s pby-4s led lieutenant burden r. hastings, conducted morning attack against jolo, in central philippines. enemy aircraft , aa fire broke formation before bombing run made. ensign elwin l. christman , crew followed through alone , made drop on enemy vessel @ 1,000 feet. catalina, heavily damaged aa fire, caught fire. 3 crewmen bailed out, others remained aircraft until christman made controlled water landing near shore. 3 crewmen died; others rescued. aviation machinist mate’s first class andrew k. waterman plane captain , waist gunner on aircraft. shot down 1 enemy aircraft while defending catalina during attack on shipping in harbor, in doing received mortal wounds. courageous actions under fire waterman posthumously awarded navy cross. radioman first class robertl. pettit stuck post after aircraft, flooded aviation gas perforated tanks, caught fire. devotion duty pettit posthumously awarded navy cross. ensign christman led surviving members of crew safety on shore of jolo island. lieutenant jack b. dawley , surviving members of crew, had been shot down after dropping bombs, joined christman’s group on jolo island. 2 officers led crews inland away japanese, reaching u.s. naval headquarters @ surabaya, java. aircraft chief machinist’s mate donald d. lurvey awarded navy cross assisting ensign cough, second pilot of dawley’s aircraft, life vest , guiding him shore. aviation machinist’s mate first class joseph bangust received navy cross posthumously action waist gunner in dawley’s aircraft, shooting down 1 enemy aircraft before being mortally wounded incoming fire. aviation machinist’s mate first class evren c. mclawhorn, plane captain, took on waist gun position after bangust mortally wounded. received 7 wounds during fight, survived , received navy cross heroism. courage under fire , leadership in guiding crews through enemy-occupied territory safety, ensign christman , lieutenant dawley awarded navy cross. lieutenant hastings, leader of gallant unsuccessful strike, later awarded navy cross guiding force target area in face of overwhelming odds. lieutenant hastings’ award made posthumously, , men aircrew captured japanese. interrogated captors , beheaded on parade ground of jolo garrison. fourth catalina shot down during strike manned lieutenant hazelton , crew. hazelton made sea landing , entire crew safely escaped sinking aircraft life rafts , picked 2 days later squadron aircraft.
16 january 1942: vp-101 ordered evacuate ambon due presence of approaching japanese naval task force. assets , personnel moved surabaya.
1 march 1942: vp-22’s assets merged vp-101, ordered evacuate surabaya , withdraw perth, australia, reform , refit devastated squadron.
7 march 1942: vps 102, 21 , 22 officially disestablished, remaining personnel , aircraft assets being combined bring full strength remaining squadron, vp-101.
26 april 1942: desperate attempt made rescue personnel otherwise doomed capture on besieged island of corregidor. 2 catalinas, formerly assigned vp-102, flew circuitous route philippines, arriving around midnight of 29th. on 30 nurses flown out night under cover of darkness.
1 may 1942: reformed vp-101 recommenced combat patrols off coast of australia, operating bases @ exmouth gulf, pelican point, geraldton , albany. tender support provided uss childs, uss heron , uss preston.
9 november 1942 – 29 june 1943: upon return perth, australia, vp-101 split 3 units—hedron, scoron , vp-101. combat patrols continued perth until vp-101 relocated brisbane, australia, on 29 june 1943, under operational control of faw-17.
1 july 1943: first element of vp-101 flew port moresby, papua, new guinea. aircraft in poor mechanical shape , decision made use them supply guerrilla fighters in vicinity of wewak. landings made on sepik river leading lake yibiri. flights continued through october 1943, discontinued due increased japanese opposition. guerrilla fighters rescued in december 1945 aircraft vp-11. second element of vp-101 moved eastern end of new guinea begin black cat operations seaplane tender uss san pablo, anchored in namoia bay. squadron’s catalinas fitted asv radar sets. highly touted norden bombsights proved worthless, being unable hit fast moving, dodging japanese ships height. instead, low-level bombing tactic worked out using 1 foot of altitude each pound of bomb weight. thus, 500-pound bomb released 500-foot (150 m) altitude leading target, resulting in gentle updraft bomb blast. technique necessary due lack of four-to-five second delay on bomb fuses.
1–28 december 1943: vp-101 squadron headquarters established @ palm island, australia, advance bases @ samarai , port moresby, new guinea. combat patrols , crew training conducted concurrently through 28th, when squadron returned perth. upon return, squadron again came under operational control of faw-10.
1 may 1944: vp-101 relocated samarai, new guinea. dumbo (air-sea rescue) missions conducted in area of green, treasury, manus , emirau islands, coming under operational control of faw-17.
1–16 july 1944: 5 squadron aircraft based @ manus, 5 @ green island, 2 @ emirau, , 1 @ treasury island. on 16th, detachments relocated admiralty islands , later solomon islands chain. operations consisted of dumbo rescue missions recover downed usaaf , navy airmen.
19 september 1944: vp-101 relieved vp-52 in solomons , relocated morotai, north of new guinea, aboard uss half moon. after settling in @ morotai, squadron commenced combat operations black cat squadron on 21 september.
october 1944:the squadron continued conduct black cat missions, antisubmarine patrols , night patrols around area of mindanao , tawi-tawi.
10 november 1944: squadron relieved vpb-20 return continental u.s., arriving @ nas alameda, california, on 30 november. squadron commenced reforming , training following return of personnel leave , arrival of new assignments.