BOOKs: "The Flying Boats of Bermuda" I am just coming to the end of writing a book recording the marine aviation of Bermuda: 1909 to 1987, and including the whole story of US Naval operations (1941 to 1964) from, initially, Darrel's Island and, later, the Naval Annex on the former Morgan's and Tucker's Islands. I have a really good amount of material on the USN marine aviation activities in Bermuda during the war years (VPs and the VSs) - attacks on submarines, air sea rescue missions, aircraft losses, operating procedures, etc - but so very little in the way of photographs. If any of your colleagues could help in any way, you can imagine just how grateful I would be (and, of course, will meet any costs). If the photographs were not specifically NAS Bermuda associated, anything would be a lot better than the virtual blank I have at the moment! VP Squadrons includ: VP-15 Coronado aircraft. May 1943 to May 1944; VP-51 Catalina aircraft. October to December 41; VP-52 Catalina aircraft. June 1942 to May 1943; VP-63 Catalina aircraft. Known to have been at Bermuda in March 1943; VP-74 Mariner aircraft. March to August 1942; VP-105 Catalina aircraft. "Sometime during 1943; VP-201 Mariner aircraft. May 1943 to June 1944; VP-207 Mariner aircraft. June 1944 to June 1945; and VP-215 Mariner aircraft. April 1944 to April 1945. Please contact Colin Pom CPomeroy@aol.com for further information.[29DEC98]

"...The main chapters are: "The Early Years", "Darrell's Island - The Civil Story", "Darrell's Island - The RAF Story", "HMS Malabar - The Fleet Air Arm Base", "The United States Navy Operating Base", "The Final Years" and "Today in Bermuda". (VP-15,VP-45, VP-49, VP-51, VP-52, VP-63, VP-74, VP-105, VP-201, VP-207, VP-215, VS-32, and VS-35 all get referred to). There are 12 detailed annexes, including the only list that I have ever come across of Bermuda-Associated Flying Boat and Seaplane Losses. Perhaps of the most (but not only) interest to the VP Community will be the USNOB Chapter. It covers the years from 1940 to 1964 - the Second World War and the Cold War and Cuban Missile Crisis and includes the early days out on Darrell's Island before the NOB was completed. Incidentally, the first ever flight above Bermuda (1919) was flown by an ensign in the USN!..." Please contact Colin Pom CPomeroy@aol.com for further information. [30MAR2000]

"...It has now been published! "The Flying Boats of Bermuda" tells the story of marine aviation in Bermuda from 1919 to 1987 - at war and in peace; military and civil; American, British and other nationalities - and runs to 254 pages with over 200 photographs, diagrams and charts (the vast majority of which have never been published before), and is complemented by a host of annexes on such topics as Bermuda-associated aircraft losses, communications and navigation, destination airports, the loss of "Cavalier", aircraft types and much more. The section on the USN at Darrell's Island and then at The Annex goes into great detail, with references to VP-15, VP-51, VP-52, VP-63, VP-74, VP-105, VP-201, VP-207, VP-215, VS-32, and VS-35 - plus, of course the post war squadrons VP-45 and VP-49. Reviewers have been very generous with their comments on the book. Full details of where to obtain the book ($27.50) from the author, Sqn Ldr Colin Pomeroy, RAF (Retd) at CPomeroy@aol.com..." [21JUN2002]

"VP-45 Summary Page"

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