VPNAVY VP-5 Open House
http://www.vpnavy.org
VPNAVY Address

Note VP-105 NoticeNote

Note NOTICE: "...I was asked by a next of kin from one of our lost crews to ask you if you can help and if you may know any contacts that might help us we would be very greatful..." Contributed by David Sharland david@davidsharland.wanadoo.co.uk [18JUN2011]

Museum charity number 1052892 called Dunkeswell Memorial Museum at the only US Navy airbase in England and Europe in world war two. This base is very rear because of that. It was the home of VP-63, VP-103, VP-105, VP-110 and VP-114 attached to FAW-7 of the US Navy. As there is NO Memorials in Europe for the work the US Navy AntiSubmarine Squadrons done in World War Two. As there are many buildings that still exist today from WW2 left standing around NAF Dunkeswell, Devonshire, England. One of them is the administation complex. These buildings are VERY REAR as they were used only by the US Navy Fleet Air Wing 7 Group to help to defend the supply convoys to England from attacks by U-boats and surface vessels which were out in the Atlantic and the Bay of Biscay. The Museum is trying to raise £110,000 to buy the administration complex this will be a permanent Memorial building for the Dunkeswell Memorial Museum, for all who served at NAF Dunkeswell, Devonshire, England during WW2,including the 183 Officers and men who lost there lives in combat and for the 49 killed in non combat. One Officer that was based at NAF Dunkeswell, Devonshire, England was Joesph P. Kennedy Jr older brother of John F. Kennedy. Joesph was at the base until his death on the 12th August 1944.

The Museums tel phone number is 01404891943 and the website address is http://www.dunkeswellmemorialmuseum.org.uk/. If you know how we can get this help or if anyone can find it in there hearts to give a donation to this good cause with a letter of support and send it too the address on the web site address above

I hope to hear from your soon.

Yours David Sharland

UPDATE "...Heres to let all VPB-103, VPB-105, VPB-110, VPB-114, VPB-63, Headron-7, FAW-7 Crews and next of Kins know that NAF Dunkeswell, Devonshire, England Memorial Museum has sadly closed due to the owner of the building that we rented needed the building back. We are still runing as a Museum and Charity with displays, shows and talks. We are still trying to raise the funds to buy the Adminstration buildings the price has gone down to £55.000. We also have a new website and you can find it on http://dmm103105110.btck.co.uk and we are also on Facebook under Dunkeswell Memorial Museum. The Museum is also asking the following Groups of servicemen and women to have some more links with us them being NAS Cecil Field, Jacksonville, Florida (this were VPB-110 trained too) and VP-26 as VPB-114 is at the start of there timeline. I would like to hear from anyone to do with all the Groups that I have put in this massage so please contact me as soon as possible. David Sharland (Founder) david@davidsharland.wanadoo.co.uk..." [28AUG2012]

UPDATE "...I am trying to find any ex-servicemen that was based at NAF Dunkeswell, Devonshire, England with VPB-103, VPB-105 and VPB-110. The reason I am trying to find the ex-servicemen is to let them know that there is a Museum set up on the airfield as a Memorial to all those who served there and to ask if they could send photo's. The Museums name is Dunkeswell Memorial Museum. At the moment the Dunkeswell Memorial Museum is trying to obtain the old world war two ops buildings and control tower so all the artefacts we have collected can be displayed. David Sharland (Founder) david@davidsharland.wanadoo.co.uk..." [08JUL2009]


Note NOTICE: "...I just received some Navy film showing what appears to be VPB-116 #38800 showing the crew during a high altitude mission and upon landing at Tinian (Black and White with good to excellent quality). Another film, in color, shows VD-1 31996 Calamity Jane warming up and taking off (excellent quality). I would like to collect more film copies from any individuals that served with Navy/Marine PB4Y-1 Liberator and PB4Y-2 Privateer squadrons (VD-1, VD-3, VD-4, VD-5, VP-101, VP-102, VP-103, VP-104, VP-105, VP-106, VP-107, VP-108, VP-109, VP-110, VP-111, VP-112, VP-115, VP-116, VP-117, VP-118, VP-119, VP-120, VP-121, VP-122, VP-123, and VP-124). Thanks. Alan C. Carey acarey@austin.rr.com..." [27OCT2006]


Note NOTICE: "...Gentlemen: I represent the Stillwater Airport Memorial Museum of Stillwater, Oklahoma. For your information, our airfield was a storage and disposal site for 82 PB4Y-1's, (approximately a third of the total naval inventory of this particular type of aircraft), immediately after World War Two. Please be informed that for over the past eight years I have been writing a book about all of the 475 combat aircraft that were scrapped at Searcy Field. I am in the final stages of preparation of my book. Unfortunately, I'm lacking information and photographs concerning many of the Navy Liberators that were flown to Stillwater including: BUNO/SQUADRON: 31974 VF-4, 31986 VD-3, VMD-254, 32030 VB-103 VPB-105, 32041 VPB-105, 31991 VB-109, 32106 VD-1 VPB-197, VD-3, 32130 VB-109 VPB-121, 32133 VMD-254, 32152 VB-106 VPB-109, 32154 VB-106 VPB-109, 32156 VB-200 VPB-122, 32158 VD-3, 32232 VMD-254, 32311 VD-1, 32314 VD-1 VPB-122, 38970 VPB-103 VPB-114 VPB-117 , 46735 VPB-104 VPB-143, 65303 VB-112, VB-114, 65311 VPB-113, 65313 VPB-113, 65314 VPB-103 VPB-114, 65384 VPB-113, 65392 VPB-114, 65393 VPB-103 VPB-114, 65394 VPB-103 VPB-114, 90132 VPB-103 VPB-114, 90135 VPB-103 VPB-114, 90467 VPB-114, 90468 VPB-114, 90469 VPB-114, 90474 VPB-103 VPB-114. Any assistance you can give my organization will be greatly appreciated! Thank you. Sincerely, John L. Dienst, Curator (Emeritus), Stillwater Regional Airport Museum, 20365 Lorain Road B-7, Fairview Park, Ohio 44126...John L. Dienst Dienst@hotmail.com..." [Home Address updated 03MAR2004 | 13JAN2000]


Note NOTICE: "...I am a bat-biologist, (hence my bat-patch page at: http://Classes.sdstate.edu/Zoo221/Resources/Insignia.html) (hence my interest in the ASM-2 BAT), but know I have a new field site on the island of Antigua. On 2 September 1940 the U.S. and Britain signed the "Destroyers for Bases" agreement which provided the U.S. with access to bases in Antigua, the Bahamas, Bermuda, British Guinea, Jamaica, Newfoundland, St. Lucia and Trinidad in return for 50 American destroyers. NAF Antigua (British West Indies) was one of two NAFs established to support NAS San Juan, Puerto Rico. It was established on 1 February 1942. NAF Antigua was redesignated an NAAF on 20 January 1944 and then redesignated an NAF on 1 July 1946. It was disestablished on 15 July 1947. During the Cold War, t6he Naval Facility/Naval Support Facility was part of the Atlantic Fleet Oceanographic System and conducted undersea surveillance for many years until it was transformed into a training/support base in the mid 1980s and in the 90s I believe was transferred to the newly independent Government of Antigua. 12/1941 VPB-105 , 2/1942 Designated NAF Antiqua, 3/1942 VPB-92, 10/1942 VPB-34, 12/1942 VP-44, 9/1943 VPB-212, 1/1944 Designated NAAF Antiqua, 7/1946 re-Designated NAF Antiqua, and 6/1947 Disestablished. I would like to contact any VP Shipmates that might have served on Antigua during any time period and get their recollections of the small base and the island. ..." Contributed by Scott C. Pedersen, Ph.D. Scott_Pedersen@sdstate.edu [16JUN2000]


Note NOTICE: "...This is to inform veterans who flew from FAW7 that there is a new museum devoted to their memory. If you have copies of any photographs, or personal recollections, please send them to the museum curator at Dunkeswell Museum, Dunkeswell Airfield, Honiton, Devon, EX14 0RA, UK. I will pass any messages on and can be faxed on +44 1404 891717. The museum opening was preceeded by a dance in one of the WW2 hangars, with some 600 guests who dance to the music of the John Miller Big Band. The Kaye Sisters also performed and a great night was had by all - including four veterans who came all the way from America for the opening. Gerard O'Regan, of the FAW7 Research Group, address Blath na Greine, Ballinlough Road, Cork, Ireland, is trying to locate EARL INMAN (born in Paducah, KY) and is also hoping to hear from next of kin of the following: Lt Raymond N North (VPB-105) of Manly, Iowa Ens. Robert MacKrueger (VPB-110) of Detroit, Mich Arm 2 Paul Immel Jordan (VPB-110) of Ft. Wayne, In S2C Gerald Enfinger of Bennett, Al Lt Harold N Barton of Brooklyn, NY Lt Richard J Schuetz of Chicago, IL Ens Phillip Wm Bash of Evans City, PA Acmm Winston Clark Ketchem of Klamath Falls, Or Arm2c Eugene V Timberman of Terra Haute, In Arm3c Edwin H McLean of Buffalo, NY Aom2c Richard W Mellette of Thomasville, NC This is for a new book he is writing on FAW7. His telephone number is +353 21 291817 or email me. Paul Tucker pt@ariadne.prestel.co.uk..."


Note NOTICE: "...I am looking for anyone that may have served with a certain Cecil Ray Haycraft. He joined the Navy in 1930 and served through the late 1950's. He was an ACMM during WW2, and retired as a LCDR. He died in 1981. From what I've found, he served with VP-3 in NAS Coco Solo, Panama, Canal Zone in the late 30's. During WW2, he served with VP-73 as a plane captain, VB-105 as "Assistant Engineer", and HEDRON 5 in "Engineering". At the end of the War, through his retirement, he served with FAW-5, VP-51 and VP-92" at their Headquarters (not quite sure what that means, but that's what I've found.) I believe he participated transporting PBY's to the Soviet Union in 1944/45. If anyone may have served with him, or perhaps has them on a crew roster, a picture of him, knows about the lend-lease program to the Russians- I'm looking for any information you can give me! Appreciate the help!...LT Dave Schwind fco@laboon.navy.mil..." [14NOV2002]


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