Operational history VPB-24

vp-9 pby-1s fly on golden gate bridge in may 1937



vp-24 crew in front of pby-5a in june 1942



7 january 1930: vp-9s established @ nas hampton roads, virginia, command under scouting fleet.
1 october 1930: vp-9s redesignated vp-9b during reorganization scouting fleet battle force.
26 october 1931: vp-9b redesignated vp-9f during reorganization, time element under base force.
22 april 1935: squadron participated in exercises in alaska flying humboldt bay , sitka. uss gannet , uss wright provided tendersupport during cold weather operations. crews found extremely difficult start engines , moor aircraft in cold, rough seas.
1 october 1937: vp-9f redesignated vp-9 result of reorganization of patrol squadrons under patrol wings. vp-9 came under operational control of patwing-1, based @ nas san diego, california.
18 january 1938: vps 9 , 10 conducted record-breaking flight 18 pby-1 aircraft, flying nas san diego, naval station pearl harbor, hawaii. upon delivery of aircraft, crews returned san diego aboard ss matsonia.
17 march 1938: combined squadrons of patwing-1 (vps 7, 9, 11 , 12) , patwing-4 (vps 16, 17, 19) participated in fleet problem xix (phase ii), part of white force. squadrons conducted patrol sweeps @ distances of 600 miles (970 km) black force, attacking , damaging major elements of enemy forces. exercises marked navy’s first use of long-distance radio bearings aid aerial navigation.
25 june 1938: vp-9 , other squadrons of patwing-1 departed nas san diego nas kodiak, alaska, on three-month deployment.
13 august 1938: vp-9 hosted hollywood photographers during filming of movie navy. part of action being filmed squadron’s participation in fleet exercise xix.
11 january 1939: squadron flew rest of patwing-1 nas coco solo, panama canal zone, training exercises in caribbean area. patwing-1 returned san diego deployment on 10 may 1939.
1 august 1941: vp-12 redesignated vp-24 , relocated nas kaneohe bay, hawaii, under patwing-2.
1 october 1941: vp-24 transferred nas kaneohe nas ford island, hawaii.
7 december 1941: squadron’s 6 aircraft among few spared during attack on pearl harbor. planes conducting joint submarine exercises off coast of hawaii when attack came; crews subsequently given sectors radio conduct searches attacking japanese forces. having made no enemy contact, squadron returned nas ford island begin cleanup , restoration of devastated facilities.
31 may 1942: vp-24 directed send 1 pby-5a , 3 crews in detachment midway island. detachment involved in battle of midway, next day. group remained on midway until 17 july 1942, when returned nas pearl harbor.
21 september 1942: three-plane detachment sent luganville seaplane base, espiritu santo, tender support uss curtiss.
1 october 1942: vp-24 transferred assets , personnel nas kaneohe bay. 5 pby-5a aircraft traded vp-23 nonamphibian pby-5s before move, since amphibian version not needed in south pacific, vp-24 sent. of squadron’s coming operations based afloat, serviced seaplane tenders. many of flight crews preferred older pby-5, felt retractable gear of newer pby-5a added weight of aircraft, reducing power , range.
1 november 1942: 2 additional aircraft sent espiritu santo supplement original detachment, bringing 6 operational planes.
1 feb 1943: remainder of vp-24 began transfer detachments espiritu santo. transfers completed april.
30 march 1943: vp-24 conducted dumbo (air-sea rescue) missions forces taking part in new georgia campaign, concluding on 29 september 1943. first time entire squadron had assumed dumbo work primary duty. squadron rescued or evacuated 466 men during campaign.
29 september 1943: preparations made depart espiritu santo return nas kaneohe bay , eventual return united states.
7 december 1943: vp-24 given home leave while administrative details covering reforming of squadron , reassignment of personnel undertaken. training of new personnel , reforming of squadron began @ nas san diego on 1 january 1944. in mid-march of squadron aircraft given coats of flat black paint, droppable wing tanks attached, , improvements in radar , flight instruments made.
27 march 1944: vp-24 made second trans-pacific flight nas kaneohe bay. upon arrival combat patrols , training missions conducted concurrently.
9 may 1944: lieutenant (jg) wade hampton lost entire crew while on patrol. last reported message gave position 150 miles (240 km) midway.
11 june 1944: squadron arrived @ majuro airfield in marshalls chain. typical black cat night bombing missions conducted, along more mundane dumbo , patrol missions.
27 june 1944: lieutenant (jg) mancini attempted land in rough seas rescue downed fighter pilot 1 mile (1.6 km) japanese-held island. both engines broke off on impact , hull of aircraft split in two. entire crew managed life rafts, , joined fighter pilot in awaiting rescue. destroyer had overheard message aircraft , rushed scene in time rescue aircrews before washed ashore on island.
1 october 1944: vp-24 redesignated vpb-24 while based @ majuro. duties remained same during period.
10 october 1944: detachment of 3 aircraft , crews formed , sent eniwetok provide dumbo coverage air operations in area. on 19 october squadron broken down smaller one-and two-aircraft detachments sent apamama, makin, tarawa, roi, saipan , guam. through 1 december 1944, squadron rescued 25 aircrew without surface assistance.
28 october 1944: ensign troy c. beavers received call medevac crew member of lci had suspected case of acute appendicitis. beavers landed near ship , loaded patient aboard. during liftoff rogue wave struck starboard float, ripping off wing. crew , patient exited aircraft before sank , picked lci.
23 january 1945: vpb-24 detachments reformed 2 aircraft @ eniwetok, 4 @ kwajalein, 1 @ tarawa , 1 @ roi.
1 february 1945: various detachments of squadron reformed on majuro conduct missions in support of psychological warfare campaign against defending japanese forces on island of wotje. additional duties included continuing dumbo missions.
25 april 1945: vpb-24 relieved @ majuro atoll vh-5. elements of squadron proceeded nas kaneohe bay transport united states.
1 may 1945: personnel of squadron loaded aboard uss hollandia transport nas north island, san diego, california.
20 june 1945: vpb-24 disestablished @ nas north island.




^ cite error: named reference danas2-4 invoked never defined (see page).