 VP-72 Shipmates
AVERITT, Richard Gerald Sr. averitt13@msn.com "...In December 1943 I was the radioman aboard PBY #51 VP-72 named the Haples Harlot. We carried a torpedo under one wing ant two bombs under the other. We sank a ship at Kwajalein Atoll. We were latter shot down at an Island Jaluit. Question - were we the last PBY to carry a torpedo? Thanks..." [31DEC2003]
 "...I am very proud of my Dad (VP-72), Richard Gerald Averitt, Sr. He, along with all veterans have given us the freedom we cherish. Thank you all...Colleen Fisk oceanglow116@yahoo.com..." [17FEB2004]
 "...BLALOCK, RMC Carey M. Jr...My Father, Carey M. Blalock Jr., died in 1963 in a auto wreck, Bainbridge, Md. Dad was a Aircrew Radioman and flew with with VP-72 (1942) at MCBH Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. Dad also served with VD-4, VB-4 OTU-1 at NAS Hutchinson, Kansas for the PB4Y-1. Dad's combat A/C wings have the three stars. This is the bit and pieces on information I have and was trying to put it together for his grandchildren. Any help would be well appreciated..." Contributed by AMS1 Carey M Blalock, III Retired carey.blalock@yahoo.com [30MAR2012]
CALLAN, Francis timberflash@aol.com "...I was a Radio operator with VP-72 from l943-44. We took the grand tour of the Central Pacific. If any of my fellow Shipmates from VP-72 are out there I would like to hear from you. Thanks...Served with VP-108 Crew 16..." [BIO Updated 18MAY2000 | 05MAY2000]
CANTRELL, J. B. C/O His Son-in-Law Terry Anthony terviv@aol.com "...My Father-in-Law, J. B. Cantrell (80 years old), served with VP-72 as a PBY mechanic. Is there anyone out there that served with him? He has very fond memories of his PBY days and would enjoy talking over old times. Also, if there's a better way to contact those who served with him please let me know. Thank you..." [25DEC2002]
DOUGHERTY, John J. JDVP43@aol.com "...I flew PBYs in the Aleutians and the Pacific in VP-43 and VP-72 1942-1945. Any old Pals out there drop me an E Mail..." [03MAR2002]
GIBSON, Harry "Hoot" huffnpuf@together.net "...I served in VP-72 from September 1941 to May 1943. I'm looking to hear from Shipmates and fellow aircrew members..." [28DEC2000]
GREEN, LT Randall http://tatooine.fortunecity.com/jabba/356/co.html "...LT Green came aboard Prairie Schooner Squadron in July, 1997, as Medical Officer. In the last 3 years he has developed one of the most advanced and capable Medical Departments in the Region, if not the entire sea cadet corps. With the change over to Harry S Truman Squadron, he held the same position until November of 1999, at which time he was promoted to Executive Officer. In August, 1999, Mr. Green assumed the duties as Acting Commanding Officer, dedicated to help train some of the Sailor's of tomorrow. LT Green has devoted lots of time in the improvement of HST. He is looking forward to many memories that are about to be made with the Harry S Truman Squadron. LT Green was an Aviation Machinist Mate, Second Class, (AC) in the Naval Air Reserves at the Old NAS Olathe, Kansas. (Currently known as New Century Air Center) He entered Naval Aviation service in March, 1969, at NAS Olathe, Kansas. After completion of boot camp and ADR "A" school in Millington, Tn, he went on to be a GCPC and FCPC on many aircraft of the time, in the Navy. His 3 year (TAR) active duty time was spent with NAS South Weymouth, Massachusetts, FASU/NSA DaNang, Republic of Vietnam and NAS Jacksonville, Florida with VP-72 and VP-92. His cloud time was spent mostly as Flight Crew Plane Captain on S2-F and the P2V-7 Neptune, and P-3A Orion, ASW aircraft of the era and are still in use today. Upon release from active duty, he remained in a drilling status at Naval Air Reserve Center Olathe, until June 1975 and was Honorably Discharged. BULL is a Nationally Registered Paramedic in civilian life and owns his own Medical Consulting, Staffing and Education Business. He continues to do medical training for the armed forces and would like to help all of the cadets of this Squadron to experience the many opportunities that the Naval Sea Cadet Corps has to offer..." [05JUL2003]
HETTRICK, AO3 Elmer L. elmerhettrick@cox.net "...I served with VP-72 from 1940 to 1943. Our Plane Captain was Rocky Toll..." [22FEB2009]
HUNT, CAPTAIN Dave Retired dhunt@mi-connection.com "...I served with VP-5 from 1967 to 1969, VP-7F-1 at NAS Jacksonville, Florida from 1970 to 1973, VP-72 from 1974 to 1983, Naval Reserve Center at Wichita, KS from 1984 to 1991 and retired September 21, 1991 at NAS Jacksonville, Florida..." [16MAR2011]
LITTLE, Namon K. "Sport" geneboy@msn.com "...I was in VP-72 in 1941-1942 as a flightcrew radioman & radar. If you are interested in info on VP-72 (personnel) contact me at e-mail address. We still maintain an active organization..." [20MAY98]
PAULSON, Cash MPaulson@nettally.com "...I was a member of VP-72 Second Tour Fleet AirWing 14 Aug 1943 to Aug 1944. We were mostly in the Central Pacific, under Cmdr. Jack Lawrence and Lt. Ed Hollister. Next Came VPB-120 Fleet AirWing 6 March 1945 to Dec. 1945, NAS Whidbey Island, Washington and the Aleutians. Under Cmdr. Reynolds. My son found this site so I can be reached through his email. Would like to hear from old airdales. Will send photos at a later time..." [E-Mail Updated 29JAN99 | 08MAR98]
"...PELLETIER, Normand Roger...I wanted to let you know that my father PO1 AAM1/C Normand Roger Pelletier passed away this Tuesday, June 8, 1999 of cardiac arrest at his home in Wilmington, NC. He has contributed to your pages many facts concerning the crash of my uncles plane near Iceland during WW2. My father spent much of his early years of service with VP-56, VP-212, VP-201 and patrol bombing squadron VPB-21, and VPB-2. He was very fond of your website and took me to it many times late at night when I would visit with him at his home. My thanks to you for your website as it is a memorial to all who have served in the VPNAVY. My thanks to the Navy and Marine color guard who were also supplied for his beautiful funeral. If you have any additional stories about my father and uncle, Lionel Pelletier, please pass them on. We are composing a scrapbook of facts and stories for both of these gentlemen. Please feel free to write me an email...Roger Lionel Pelletierpelle11@ibm.net..." [12JUN99]
RENTSCH, Alvin William c/o His Grandson Tim Steiner timsteiner@alltel.net "...Served with VP-72 from September 1942 - May 1943..." [28SEP2002]
ROE, Lloyd E. phw@webtv.net "...a href="vp43.html">VP-43 1942-1943, VP-72 1943-1944, and NAS Jacksonville, Florida Squadron 18B..." [19FEB99]
 "...Captain Scarborough had some 2,000 pilot hours in PBYs before, during, and after World War . He enlisted in the Navy in 1935 and was selected for enlisted night training in 1938. Upon graduation the following year, he was a pilot and third class petty officer. He reported to Patrol Squadron 14 (VP-14) at Norfolk, flying the last P2Y-2s in squadron service. VP-14, by then redesignated VP-52, received its first PBY-5s in March 1941 and spent the remainder of the year in Neutrality Patrol operations ranging from Puerto Rico to Newfoundland and Iceland. The squadron was redesignated VP-72 in 1941, and the next year Captain Scarborough was selected for a temporary commission as lieutenant (junior grade). During the war, he operated PBYs from New Caledonia during the Coral Sea Battle, from Hawaii and Midway during the Midway Battle, and in the Southwest Pacific during the Solomons campaign. He had a subsequent combat tour in the Lockheed/Vega Ventura (PV-1). After the war, he was selected for a regular commission and served on active duty until retiring in 1964. He retired from Grumman Aerospace Corporation in 1977 and is now at work on a book about the PBY/Catalina...."
SCARBOROUGH, CAPT Wm. E. "Bill" https://naval-air.org/flightlog/moreinfo.asp?UID=1596 "...Date of Birth: 5/16/1916 Date In: 10/9/1935 - Date Out: 5/31/1964 - City, State: Atlantic Beach, FL - School Attended: Long Island Univ. - Aircraft Flown: PBY Catalina, PV Ventura, F7F Tigercat, AJ Savage, P2V Neptune - Ship or Unit: VP-722/PBY - VC-5/AJ - VP-10/P2V - Pilot Desg.: Patrol Plane CDR - Theaters, Campaigns, etc.: Coral Sea & Midway - Associations/Service Organizations: Golden Eagles - Silver Eagles - U.S. Naval Institute - Tailhook Assn - AAHS - Highest personal decoration or award: Dist. Flying Cross Significant Achievements: 6,300 accident free pilot hrs, single & multi-engine recip' & jet land and seaplanes. Carqual in SNJ & AJ. CO VP-10. First ex-NAP sel- lected for Captain, USN (1958). In Memoriam? No..." [24NOV2005]
 "...SMITH, AO1 Roy Leon "Turrets"...Dad passed away this year. He often spoke of his time with VP-72 (walking between the props, etc.) and VP-197. I would like to hear from any of his former Shipmates..." [06JUL2010]
"...SCOTT, Albert E. Jr...My dad, Albert E. Scott, Jr., passed away 1/87. Dad flew PBYs with VP-72, Oct. '43 to July '44. I have about 120 photos from those days (also his flight log). He returned to NAS Hutchinson, Kansas to train on PB4Y-2s, then was stationed with VPB-111 on Palawan Island for the last 2 months of the war. I would like to see photos of this period. Thanks...Timothy S. Scott timsipson@comcast.net..." [28JAN2009]
WERT, Charles Marlin mwert@tricountyi.net "...I served as gunner/mechanic on PBY Catalinas with VP-52 and VP-72 from 1940-1946 (first in North Atlantic and then 18 months in the South Pacific). Will be 80 in September and welcome word from any veteran who remembers me..." [05JUN2003]
"VP-72 Summary Page"
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