A BIT OF HISTORY: "XXMID43--By mid-1943 the tide of war in the Pacific had shifted against Japan. America's superior production capacity and its ability to mobilize its fighting forces were the prime reasons for the dramatic reversal. Established 1 July 1943 at NAS Alameda under the command of Lieutenant Commander C. L. Tetley, Bombing Squadron One Forty-Four (VB-144) was part of naval aviation's growth from 7,058 heavier-than-air aircraft at the beginning of the year to 16,691 by the end of 1943. Active-duty aviation personnel grew from 42,793 to 148,024 officer and enlisted. The new squadron, unofficially known as the "Feathermerchants," began immediate preparation for deployment. Flying Lockheed PV-1 Ventura's, VB-144 completed its training in October, then embarked in USS Copahee (CVE-12) for transportation to NAS Kaneohe Bay, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Brief detachments to Midway and Johnston Islands were followed in December by the squadron's combat deployment to Tarawa. In March 1944, the squadron followed the U. S. Advance westward and flew patrols from Roi Island and Kwajelein until it was relieved in September by VB-133. Following its post-combat stand down, VB-144 re-formed at NAS Whidbey Island and was redesignated VPB-144 under Commander Bill Theis. It began making ready for its second combat deployment, this time with PV-2 Harpoons. On 4 April 1944, VPB-144 loaded aboard USS Kadashan Bay (CVE-76), staging through NAS Kaneohe Bay, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, before deploying to Eniwetok on 27 June. The final strike of the war for the Feathermerchants was flown against Wake Island 13 August 1945. After moving to Tinian, VPB-144 began demobilization while still deployed and effectively was a nonoperational squadron by the end of the year, when remaining personnel returned to the United States. VPB-144 was redisgnated VP-144 on 15 May 1946, VP-ML-4 on 15 November, and finally, VP-4 on 1 September 1948, the designation it carries today, now known as the "Skinny Dragons." Transitioning to Lockheed P2V-2 Neptunes in 1947, the squadron remained in the Pacific Fleet based at Naha, Okinawa (1956-1964) and at NAS Barber's Point while deploying throughout the Far East. VP-4 flew Market Time and Yankee Station missions during the Vietnam War. Flying Lockheed P-3C Orion's, VP-4, currently under Commander Patrick S. O'Brien, is scheduled to move to MCAF NAS Kaneohe Bay, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii by 1999...(Proceedings/April 1996 Lest We Forget-Bob Lawson)..." Contributed by George Winter pbycat@bellsouth.net

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...LOCKHEED PV VENTURA and HARPOON - by Jack McKillop..." http://www.microworks.net/pacific/aviation/pv_ventura.htm [23JUN2002]

A brief history of the squadrons that operated the PV-1 and PV-2 is listed below.

VB/VPB-144: VB-144 etablished at NAS Alameda, California, 01 July 1943 with PV-1s; redesignated VPB-144 1 October 1944. To NAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii in escort aircraft carrier USS Copahee (CVE-12) August 1943 and trained and flew operational patrols. To NAB Betio, Gilbert Islands, 9 January 1944 and flew combat patrols. To NAB Roi-Namur, Marshall Islands, 1 February 1944 and commenced bombing operations against Japanese bases in the Gilbert, Marshall and Eastern Caroline Islands. Leaving a detachment at NAB Roi-Namur, returned to NAB Betio 30 March and continued attacks on the Marshalls; a second detachment sent to NAB Roi-Namur in April 1944 and the entire squadron moved there on 1 September. To NAS Whidbey Island, Washington, via NAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii on 1 November 1944 and began re-equipping with PV-2s. To NAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii in the escort aircraft carrier USS Kadashan Bay (CVE-76), April 1945 and then to NAF Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands 27 June 1945. Flew patrols and photographed Japanese held islands until VJ Day.

"VP-144 History Summary Page"

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