 VP-732 Shipmates
ALSCHBACH, Jack C/O Daughter sndtee@cox.net "...Served with VP-214...I joined VP-732 in Dec. 1959 and served until 1952 when I applied for transfer to HU-731 one of the first Reserve helicopter units and was designated the commanding officer. even though I did not have any training in helicopters. We operated without any rotary wing aircraft until the spring of 1953 and in July of that year I was sent to Pensacola for training. I was designated a qualified Navy Helicopter Pilot, NO-1718 upon graduation. I returned to NAS Grosse ILE, Michigan and served again as the CO until I left the squadron in May of 1954..." [E-Mail (C/O Daughter) Updated 27DEC2003 | E-Mail Updated 22APR2001 | E-Mail Updated 26FEB2001 | E-Mail Updated 17AUG2000 | 02MAY2000]
CHOUINARD, ADJ2 Roy V. royvc@uspba.com "...I was a ADJ2 and served with VP-731 AND VP-732. Both of these were Reserve squadrons stationed at NAS Grosse ILE, Michigan. We were called Station Keepers because we were on active duty and spent our time keeping the planes up and running, working with and training the reserves. This included weekend and two week tours. During my year and a half we went to NS Rota, Spain, NAS Norfolk, Virginia, NAS North Island, San Diego, California, covered some Cuba "problems," NAS Glenview, Illinois, and the bases in Boston and New Jersey. I served from 1958 through 1963. The rest of the time I spent at NAS Grosse ILE, Michigan and worked on AD-5 Skyraiders. Seems that all the ADR's were working on jet's and most of the ADJ's were working on Recips (3350). I am proud to have served as a station keeper as we had no P2 accidents and had no injury acident..." [07JUN2002]
MARTIN, David C. W8VB@aol.com "...Served in VP-5 from 1952-1954 as an AT3 to AT1. Stationed at NAS Jacksonville, Florida and deployed to Boca Chica and NAS Keflavik, Iceland. I flew Radar and Radio ECM. I was discharged from active duty in 1954 and served in VP-732 NAS Grosse ILE, Michigan till approximately 1964 or 1965. Have many good photos of NAS Jacksonville, Florida, NAS Keflavik, Iceland, and NAS Grosse ILE, Michigan. We were one of the first VP squadrons to move from Quonset huts to 3 story concrete barracks in 1953. While in NAS Keflavik, Iceland, in addition to patrol duty, we flew to Manchester England, Preswick Scotland, and a liberty week in Munich Germany. Coming back from Munich the whole crew, except three of us, were trashed from too much partying. As a result the Navigator flew as pilot. I Flew as copilot and the Plane Captain acted as Naviator. Consequently were got lost over Holland on our return trip. The rest of the crew remained sick till our return to NAS Keflavik, Iceland. I have lots of stories, names and photos of P2Vs over the Alps returning from Munich and in NAS Keflavik, Iceland. In our last months in NAS Keflavik, Iceland our barrack (designed to hold approx 300 Non Comm) had a rotating complent of 50 t0 100 live-in Icelandic girls most very lovely college students who found the free cigarettes, booze and food in the barracks a great attraction. Lot of free love prevailed. Most every room had three sailors and an Icelandic ROOMATE. The wind and was terrible for flying. Icelanders could roam on base which caused big problems with raids from the Icelanic police making the rounds of the barracks rounding up girls. Iceland men would sneak into P2Vs and steal any thing they could carry off since no fences. Wild times for a young AT2. Regards..." [26JUN2000]
McDOWELL, James R. jinapals57@yahoo.com "...I am going on 84 years of age and reminiscing about my Naval Experience. I thought about VP-732 / VP-731 where I served as a Naval Reservist. I experienced at a two week reservist experience some flight time and flew with Ed Kennedy in the BlackCats. What a experience. After almost two years of Reserve time I went Active Duty and served for a wee bit over 5 yrs. I attended "A" school at NAS Millington, Tennessee and extended training at NAS Norman, Oklahoma. I later had a Reunion with Ed Kennedy at the YANKEE AIRFORCE at Willow Grove, Pennsylvania Run airport. As well as a lot of great vets and people and their stories. I was assigned NAS Chincoteague, Virginia to serve with VP-24 at that time flying the PB4Y-2 Privateer's at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. VP-24 was known at "Batmen" and Squadron Emblem symbolized the Bat Girl and parachuted Sony Buoy. We experimented with guided bomb. Bomb was cradled into a wing and tail section carrier and dropped (one from each wing) and guided or would seek target - no physical control. The weapon was called the "BAT". NAS Patuxent River, Maryland duty was mostly training and adapting. I attended ABC School at NAS Norfolk, Virginia Fire Fighting Training, qualified for CAC duty (Combat Air Crew) and wore my wings proudly. At NAS Patuxent River, Maryland the Privateer was phased out and we were then operating with a much more advanced aircraft the P2V Neptune, great aircraft. Just prior to moving into the P2V aircraft we had a tour of duty on the International Ice Patrol flying north out of NAS Argentia, Newfoundland, Canada. VP-24 lost a couple aircraft in the Artic - sad time. Weather could be horrific at times and was. But the little White Chapel on the hill did help!..." [E-Mail/BIO Updated 19JUL2013 | 22DEC2000]
"VP-732 Summary Page"
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