VP-5 Squadron Shipmates
http://www.vpnavy.org
VPNAVY Address

ShipmateVP-931 ShipmatesShipmate

ANDERSON, AD2 Chuck E. Retired MSGT USAF chuckernestanderson@yahoo.com "...I was stationed (xfered from NAS Willow Grove, Pennsylvania) at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington in the 1950s & assigned to VP-931. About 25 of us regular Navy xfered in to help fill out their ranks. We were sent to NAS Kodiak, Alaska in Dec of 1951 & worked & flew out of there with P2V2s & P2V3W aircraft until July of 1952. I remember the Bob Hope show & the Mecca bar in town. Our squadron was flown back to NAS Whidbey Island, Washington in the Navys two Constitution transport aircraft. I can remember the climb up the hill to the EM club & also how everyone wore big rubber slipover boots & knee length hooded parkas..." [30DEC98]


BEESLEY, Howard L. (Beez) hbeesley@bellsouth.net"...Great to see so many old Shipmates again. Please add me to your lists. VP Background All P2's 1951 - 1953 VP-57/VP-931 Whidbey Isl Wash. 1953-1956 ATU-601/612 Hutchinson, Kansas 1956-1959 Grosse Ile Mich. (VP-Training) 1959-1961 VP-4 Okinawa 1961-1963 NAS Alameda, California (VP Training) 1966 VP-30 Jax 1966-1968 VP-42 Whidbey All great tours with wonderful people!!!!!..."

BLACK, LCDR Lloyd W. Jr. https://naval-air.org/flightlog/moreinfo.asp?UID=1475 "...LCDR Lloyd W. Black, Jr., USNR - NFL Number: 1475 - Date of Birth: 4/22/1917 - Date In: 9/15/1941 - Date Out: 1/1/1956 - City, State: Southampton, NJ - School Attended: Temple University - Aircraft Flown: PBY1,2, PBY5A, P2V1,2, PBY4Y2, P2V3,3W - Ship or Unit: VP-41, VP-43 and VP-931 - Pilot Desg.: Patrol Plane Cdr - Theaters, Campaigns, etc.: WWII Aleutians/Kor - Associations/Service Organizations: Nav Av Fdn Life Mbr - Assn of Nav Aviation - Ret Officers Assn - Highest personal decoration or award: Commendation Ribbon - Patrol Plane Cdr - PBY5-5A, PV-1-2, PB4YY2 and P2V3-3W. Operations and Exec Ofc VP-931. 2,990+ flight hours. Public School Teacher with numerous athletic coach/positions. In Memoriam? No..." [26NOV2005]

BROWER, Don casdon@earthlink.net "I was in VP 931 from Sept.1951 until March of 1953. I am interested in hearing from anyone who was in this squadron. I was the radar operator on Lt.Commander Jim Todd's crew, the best damn crew in the squadron. We were stationed at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington and had duty at NAS Kodiak in 1952 where our crew,along with others, flew patrols over Siberia." [E-Mail Updated 19FEB2001 | 00XXX97]


CONIGLIO, Carl J. carlconiglio@gmail.com "...I served with VP-931 and VP-57 (1950-1954)..." [16FEB2021]


DOBING, ADCS Frank Retired frank2700@gmail.com "...I served with VP-931, VP-57, VP-8, VP-30, VP-5, VT-29 and then I retired. I went on to a second very rewarding career as an Aviation Safety Inspector with the FAA (Flight Standards Division) and retired January 2001. There is quite a large number of VP retirees in this area of south central Texas..." [E-Mail Updated 18JAN2009 | Updated E-Mail/BIO 13MAR2001 | 18AUG98]


FIEGE, Henry C hcf@wwt.net "...Greetings from Henry C. Fiege AL-2, 1st radioman crew-9. I was with VP-931 and VP-57 1952-54. NAS Atsugi, Japan, Naha Okinawa. Discharged at Pier 91, Seattle Nov.54. Great bunch of guys. Many fond memories..." [E-Mail Updated 26JUN2001 | 01APR99]

FURNISH, Thomas Richard tfurnish@insightbb.com "...I served with VP-57 and VP-931 from November 1951 to May 1954. I worked in the Metal Smith's Shop. Deployed to NAS Kodiak, Alaska (1952) and NAS Atsugi, Japan (1953). I would enjoy hearing from former Shipmates..." [27DEC2006]


GEMBERLING, Major George Retired gember@syix.com "...I served with VP-931 (1957-1960) at NAS Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, USS Independence (CVA-62) and USS boxer (LPH-4). I left the Navy and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force (1973-1991) retiring as Chief, Anesthesia Services. (Strategic Air Command)..." [09APR2018]

GRAY, Charles V. charles.gray43@gmail.com "...I served with VP-931 and (redesignated) VP-57 (1951-03/1953) at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington. While serving with VP-931 I flew with Crew-6 (PPC LT Bill Rittmann, Co-pilot LT Geo Baldwin, Navigator ENSIGN Springer, Plane Captain Vance, Ordnaceman Cooper, Radio Maguire, 2nd Mechanic Ringo and 2nd Radio Shira) and while serving with VP-57 I flew with Crew-1 (PPC CDR Coley). While serving with VP-931 and deployed to NAS Kodiak, Alaska we were the first squadron to overfly Soviet territory in performing surveillance operations during initial phase of Cold War (Korean War - 1951). Our flights included a few over Siberia and Kamchatka as well as the Arctic Circle. Most overflights were performed in the great P2V-3W aircraft. On one of my "go-silent no electronics" flights (P2V-2 BUNO: 39363) we became lost in bad weather and nearly overflew a MIG base. Another scary flight was over the Arctic Circle while performing countermeasure surveillance ops when both engines quit. I thought that I was going to be tossed out the nose turret. Our engine malfunction was due to carb ice and our pilot neglected to switch to "alternate" air when temp reached -70 F. Would like to hear from former Shipmates..." [E-Mail Updated 18AUG2013 | E-Mail Updated 29JUN2005 | 30MAY2000]

GREEN, Ralph E. regreensr@charter.com "...I served with VP-931 in 1951 with a deployment to NAS Kodiak, Alaska and VP-57 until 1955 with a deployment to NAF Naha, Okinawa, Japan. I flew with Crew 1 (JP Edwards crew)..." [27DEC2008]


HERON, AD1 Dave Retired ypopop@verizon.net "...I served with VP-931, VP-935, VP-932 and VP-936 from March 1962 to November 1970 and VP-64 from November 1970 (Establishement - Plank Owner) until I retired in 1984..." [E-Mail Updated 23APR2009 | 21APR2000]


JACKS, AT1 Ernest E. jacksernie@gmail.com "...I served with VP-931 (1951-1952) at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington with a deployment to NAS Kodiak, Alaska..." [16SEP2011]


Memorial Picture "...LIGHTCAP, Milton E. Shipmate Pix...My father, Milton E. LIGHTCAP, passed away on March 16, 2004. Dad flew crew (Radio) with VP-931. Dad married my mom and had 5 kids and 8 grand children, two of which are currently in the Air Force. He worked for ATT his whole life and retired from them after some 40+ years of service..." Contributed by Scott Lightcap firstoffscott@comcast.net [21OCT2012]

LOGAN, Ralph M. heralo@juno.com "...I served with VP-931 in November 1951. We deployed to NAS Kodiak, Alaska and NAS Atsugi, Japan. Our squadron was redesignated VP-57 and we then deployed to NAF Naha, Okinawa, Japan. I was assigned to flight crew #9 with LT Burke as Plane Captain. Hope to hear from members of either squadron..." [08NOV2003]

LUTES, Jim jelutes@ivic.net "...I was assigned to VP-931 at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington in 1951 in a crew as 2nd Radioman and did a tour at NAS Kodiak, Alaska. And when they changed to VP-57 we went to NAS Atsugi, Japan..." [12APR99]


MENHINICK, AE3 Bill (Nick) ilmwam@verizon.net "...I was an AE3 assigned to VP-931 October 1951 at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington. I went to NAS Kodiak, Alaska in December 1951 & was discharged Pier 91 May 1952. I remember climbing the hill to the NCO club, eating a lot of rabbit, working those cold rainy nights at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington, those really cold nights on the tarmac a NAS Kodiak, Alaska, those terrible cold wind coming across the water at the base of the Old Woman mountain, going into town with a twenty dollar bill and getting change in silver dollars, everytime the aircraft took off the engines when into automatic rough, and he noplace to land mountain peaks. Looking for John Fritz, SouixCity, Nebraska. I retired from the Federal Aviation Administration in 1992 having served 24 years as a Airworthiness/Avionics Aircraft Safety Inspector..." [E-Mail/BIO Updated 08MAY2007 | 22FEB2000]


Memorial Picture "...PRAGER, MCPO Leon...My father, Leon Prager, served with VP-931 and retired July 1973. Joined the day after Pearl Harbor and also fought in Vietnam and Korea. Dad past away April 2013 at 98..." Contributed by David Prager flyingsurfer1@gmail.com [25NOV2019]

PRIBIL, Frank pribjon@hotmail.com "...I served with VP-931 (09/1950-09/1952). I would like to hear from former Shipmates..." [09JUL2015]


RINGIS, Jerry garingis@msn.com "...I served with VP-931 and VP-57 (01/1951-1953)..." [30SEP2013]

ROSENTHAL, Eugene c/o His Son MMC(SW) Patrick Rosenthal, Retired porosenthal@sbcglobal.net "...My Father, LaVern Rosenthal, and my Uncle, Eugene Rosenthal, were both members of VP-931. Then became members of VP-57. If anyone remembers them, they would like to make contact. Please, contact me if anyone out there remembers either of them. Thank you..." [15DEC2003]

ROSENTHAL, LaVern c/o His Son MMC(SW) Patrick Rosenthal, Retired porosenthal@sbcglobal.net "...I enlisted January 1951. Went through ANP School, NAS Jacksonville, Florida. ATAL at Memphis and advanced electronics at NAS North Island, San Diego, California. Joined VP-931 in 1952 as 3rd Class ATAL. Had two tours with VP-57, NAS Atsugi, Japan and NAF Naha, Okinawa, Japan. I was 2nd radio in Crew 9 in NAS Atsugi, Japan. Ed Church was my 1st Radio. While serving with Crew 6, Charlie Miller was 1st Radio for a while, then I became 1st Radio for Crew 6. LT Keller was my pilot in Crew 6. LT Reife was my pilot in Crew 6. Rufus White was my 2nd Radio. My brother Gene joined VP-57 in November 1952. We flew 8 or 9 missions together out of NAS Atsugi, Japan and NAF Naha, Okinawa, Japan. At times we were in the air at the same time. Gene in Crew 1 and me in Crew 9. One of my best friends was Louis Boston, electrician. I flew radio for Touch and Goes for Beasley when he forgot to put the Landing Gear Down. We took off about a foot of our adme and still climbed back in the air safely. He took a lot of ribbing about that. I remember Beasley, Grenwalt, Jim Lutes and Ed Church. I left the Navy in December 1954. Don't have computer. My son, Machinist's Mate Chief Petty Officer (retired) is posting this for me. Anyone wishing to contact me, write LaVern Rosenthal, PO Box 152, Mount Olive, IL 62069..." [BIO Updated 25FEB2004 | 15DEC2003]

RUSKI, Joseph A. sgtstumpy931@aol.com "...I was an original member of VP-931 out of NAS Willow Grove, Pennsylvania September 1950. Activated to NAS Sand Point, Seattle, Washington and then NAS Whidbey Island, Washington. I worked AMSI in Airframes. I am probably one of the last members of VP-931 (hope not). Anyone out there please drop me a line. Chiefs Zweig, Weyhmuller, Manogue, all gone. Miss my old buddies...Since I submitted my note to the site, I received a message from Ham Manogue, denying that he had passed away. I verified this and beg you to correct my first message..." [E-Mail Updated 18MAR2011 | BIO Updated 12DEC2002 | E-Mail Updated 31JAN2000 | 10JUN98]


SCOTT, Robert Weatherbee c/o His Son Corky Scott Charles.K.Scott@Dartmouth.EDU "...Following is the Navy record of my father Robert Weatherbee Scott...10/43 to 12/44 flew with VB-115, Asst. Emergency Equipment Officer, PPIP. 2nd in command. Type of aircraft, PB4Y-1 (his records are a little jumbled...so it's a little hard to pick out where he was stationed, but I'll do some further research. I know he was at Effate, Guadalcanal, Port Moresby, Green Island and a few other places during this tour of duty. 1/45 to 1/45 NAS Hutchinson, Kansas for operational training, aircraft commander, type of aircraft, PB4Y-2 4/45 to 9/45 VPB-115, stationed on east coast and then deployed to PTO. War ended while stopping at Hawaii. Returned to states aboard aircraft carrier Saratoga. 7/46 to 9/50 Naval Reserve. Transitioned to P2V. 9/50 to 6/52 Flew with VP-931. Stationed at NAS Widbey Island with occasional posting to Aleution islands for patrol duty. Even though I was only three and four at that time, I can still remember seeing his squadron flying overhead once in a while..." Contributed by his son, Corky Scott Charles.K.Scott@Dartmouth.EDU


TANNER, CPO Harold Retired Shipmate Pix 1954 htanner@tampabay.rr.com. "...I served with VP-931 and VP-57 at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington in the 1950's. I also served at NAS Memphis, Tennessee and NAS Cecil Field, Jacksonville, Florida..." [E-Mail Updated 10MAY2007]


WISNER, Charles L. bwisnerb@tampabay.rr.com "...I served with VP-1 and VP-2 at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland from 1953 through 1957 and VP-931 at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington from 1950 through 1952. I really would enjoy corresponding with anyone that remembers me..." [E-Mail Updated 08AUG2001 | 22OCT2000]


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