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

ShipmateVPB-2 OTU ShipmatesShipmate

BONVILLE, William J. "Bill" shipmate pix...circa 1945 bonville@q.com "...I served with VPB-2, VP-1, FAW-3, VPB-4 and FAW-4. We flew the PB2Y Coronado Aircraft..." WebSite: http://uci.net/~bonville/ [E-Mail Updated 25MAR2012 | E-Mail/URL Updated 26FEB2004 | 08FEB98]

BOWMAN, LT(jg) Robert Earl Shipmate Pix Circa 1943 c/o His Daughter Carolyn Jo Snow snow0011@msn.com "...My father LT(jg) Robert Earl Bowman was with VP-26 and VP-207, and VPB-2 OTU-3. He flew the PBM5's in China, Bermuda, and he said that he flew out after the 5 planes that were lost in the Berrmda triangle. One seaplane didn't return. It blew up. He said that on a training mission he had a navigator report, "I'm sorry sir, but I don't know our location." Dad said that he told him that he wasn't lost. He said that you could always tune in to a Florida radio station and fly towards the strong signal if nothing else! In the Pacific he was with the 7th. He said he flew the NW corner of the Pacific. He can tell alot of interesting stories. He said that he even flew over Japan about a month after they dropped the atom bombs. My dad is 75 now and one heck of a "great guy"..." WebSite: http://www.navypbm5bowman.homestead.com/pbm5.html [URL Updated 07MAR2001 | 20FEB2001]

BUSKIRK, Carl "Buzz" Von Jr. [Deceased] c/o His Daughter Nancy Berg naner@silverlink.net or his Son Richard Von Buskirk RNelsonn@cs.com "...My father, Carl Nelson Von Buskirk, Jr., served in the USN during WWII with VP-83 and VH-4. My brother has his log book and we decided to do a little research. Dad never really spoke about his time in the Navy...My father, like most men of his generation, spoke little of his personal involvement in that tumultuous time. My three brothers, my sister and I have all, at one time or another, asked my father about those years that so shaped his the lives of his generation. Other than talking about some of the sights he had seen or places he had been, like Brazil and Hawaii, he had very little to say. He made it clear that it was a time of duty and once done, it was time to move on. I know, having my father live me for the last few years of his life, that he served with pride, with honor, and was moved by the various memories that the conflict branded on his heart and soul. He would never speak of battles fought or talk about the fear and horrors common to those men of that era. I don't know of personal loss or tragedy or other elements of the self sacrifice necessary in those days. It was personal to him; those were memories that belonged to him and his generation. My father passed away in 1994. Several years later I found some personal things of his, including a brown, cloth covered "Aviators Flight Log Book" with several notations inside and, scrawled in his hand on the front, the letters, in descending order, "VP-83, VPB-83, VB-107, VPB-107, VPB-2(?), VPB-98, VPB-100, and VH-4." I gather these are various squadrons that he belonged to. Over the years some of these letters have faded, as this book is approaching 60 years old. There are several entries in the book, beginning in March of 1942 and ending February 1946. Brevity best describes the remarks column, but the entries give the flavor of locations, duties, and even lengths of patrols, ranging from .2 hours on Jan 18, 1945 ( "Crashed in ocean off Okinawa, Picked up by Flag Plane) to rump numbing flights lasting 16.5 hours ( May 15-16, 1946, PBM-5 lt. Cmdr Sterling, Kaneohe to San Francisco). It is facinating reading. My father saw quite a bit of the world at war and it's aftermath, including flying over Hiroshima, (Nov 4, 1945 PBM-5) and Nagasaki (Nov 23, 1945 same plane)..." [BIO Updated 23JAN2001 | 21JAN2001]

Memorial Picture Shipmate Pix "...CASAZZA, PO1 Edward J...My father, Edward J. Casazza, passed away February 22, 2014. Following high school, Dad enlisted in the U.S. Navy June 1942 at Boston, Mass, attended "A" and "B" School and served with VPB-2 OTU#3 at NAS Banana River, Florida, HEadquarters SquaDRON (HEDRON) 5-2 at NAAS Harvey Point, North Carolina, VPB-215 where he crewed aboard the PBM and NAS Jacksonville, Florida. Dad received the World War II Victory Medal, American Area Ribbon and Good Conduct Awards. Dad was discharged December 1945..." Contributed by Tim Casazza casazza@ll.mit.edu [03MAR2017]

Memorial Picture Shipmate Pix "...CASTAÑO, AMM2 James W...My Dad passed away peacefully on May 27, 2019. Dad served with VPB-2(OTU)-1 and VPB-152. Dad was a Tampa native. He had a paper route that covered West Tampa. James attended Jefferson High School and while attending he worked as a bell hop at the Floridan Hotel. James left high school to enlist in the U.S. Navy and served in WWII and continued his service in the Navy for another 12 years. He earned the honor as All Navy Boxing and Basketball. He was able to box Joe Louis in an exhibition match. He later, transitioned into the USAF and retired as a SMSgt after serving in Vietnam. He was awarded the Air Metal in WWII and Bronze Star Vietnam. Following his service in the military, James was able to finish his education by receiving a GED and a bachelor’s from the University of Tampa James is preceded in death by his wife, Sue Castano; son, Mark; sisters, Lillian, Patricia, Catherine and Margaret; brothers, Joseph and William. He is survived by children; Margaret (David) Miller, James (Paula) Castano; Mary (Jeff) Recker; sister, Evelyn Rodriguez; twelve grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews and cousins. Visitation will be held on Friday, May 31st from 9am to 10am at Christ the King, 821 S. Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa FL 33609 with a funeral service to begin at 10am. Interment will take place at 1:30pm at Myrtle Hill Memorial Park. See: Dignity Memorial -= James Walter CASTANO..." Contributed by James Castano james.castano@ic.fbi.gov [29MAY2019]

CASTAÑO, AMM2 James W. c/o His Son James Castano james.castano@ic.fbi.gov "...My Dad served with VPB-2(OTU)-1 at NAS Beaufort, South Carolina for flight training aboard the PV-1 and designated Combat Aircrewman and VPB-152 (09AUG44-14JUN46) at NAS Clinton, OK (09AUG44-22NOV44) then NAS Alameda, California (22NOV44-16FEB45) and finally MCBH Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii until VPB-152's Disestablishment on 14JUN46. Dad was awarded the Air Medal on 31OCT45 for a series of meritorious acts while participating in aerial flight during the period of 01MAY45-31AUG45. He was authorized to wear the Combat Aircrew Insignia with 3 Stars on 01NOV45. He was also authorized to wear on 01NOV45 to wear the American Campaign Medal and American Campaign Ribbon. Dad would love to hear from former Shipmates..." [07FEB2017]

CHAFFEE, ATC(CA) Jack E. Retired jechahi@hawaii.rr.com "...I served with VPB-2(OTU) NAS Hutchinson, Kansas in 1945, VP-6 NAS Whidbey Island, Washington and NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii - First Navy Patron in the Korean War (we were due to relieve VP-28 on Guam January 7th, 1950 - arrived on the 25th and serviced our aircraft and headed for Johnson AFB, Japan - Navy didn't have an NAS for land based aircraft until NAS Atsugi, Japan later opened and I was on the first aircraft that landed wheels up there! Asked for shore duty after a long and tough tour and got a set of orders to VP-892 in NAS Alameda, California. (Up to this day, when I read the history I thought it was from NAS Glenview, Illinois) arrived with my wife and two kids on 12/21/51 and left again for NS Sangley Point, Philippines on January 2nd, 1952 for another tour in Korea. Fortunately, made chief out there, and remember our two losses well, I believe within about 18 hours of each other. My crew was swinging off the hook in Buckner Bay being serviced by USS Pine Island (AV-12). Finally got my shore duty at NAS Point Mugu, California and at the end of 1955 returned to VP-28 at NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii, then to VU-1 (59?) and onto VR-21. Retired in Hawaii in 1964. Would love to hear from any of my old Shipmates and just learned this week that http://www.patron28.org is on the web due to the outstanding effort of Bob Self AT3 and we're having a Reunion in September. Look it up on the website and contact himself to muster in and finish filling out the roster, if you were in VP-28 any time from '53 to '64. ALOHA..." [E-Mail Updated 11DEC2002 | E-Mail Updated 18JUN2002 | 29APR2001]

DALAMBAKIS, Angelo adalambakis@yahoo.com "...Served from 1943 to 1946 with VPB-71, VPB-1, VPB-2, VPB-100, and VPB-91. Served in the Phillipines, MCAS/NAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, and NAS Whidbey Island, Washington. Retired Dentist living in Dayton, Ohio and Pompano Beach FL. Love to hear from old squadron buddies! I can be reached at Deerfield Beach (Ft Lauderdale) on (954)425-8411..." [BIO Updated 03NOV2002 | 03NOV98]

FOSTER, S1C Douglas dfoster@apex.net "...In the summer (July through September) of 1945 I served with VPB-2 OTU-3 for training with a crew flying out of NAS Banana River, Florida. Our crew consisted of three (3) officers and 9 enlisted men. At the time I was S1c(AMM) and was the Flight Engineer of the Crew. Our Patrol Plane Commander was a G. D. Mulford who was a LT at the start of July but was promoted to LCDR about August 17, 1945. LCDR Mulford's home town was Woodbury, NJ. I was 19 years old during the summer of 1945. It is my thinking that CDR Mulford was 5 to 10 years older. He had already flown in a squadron in the South Pacific. Since the war ended in August of 1945, our squadron was disestablished and we were dispersed to various places. I am now 77 years old, and I am trying to locate some of my old crew to exchange memories. Probably some of them are no longer living. I can come up with the last names of several other members of the crew, but not all, and the location of none. Names that I can remember are: The other two pilots were, I think, a SANDERS and a SHEFFIELD one was an Ensign, the other a LT(jg) Joseph Modica, AMM Plane Captain, ? Holstein, ARM, Thomas Woo, ARM, ? Weeks, ? Sandall, and ? Wenchell..." [14FEB2004]

Memorial Picture "...FULLER, ATC Richard Sears...My Dad enlisted on December 19th, 1941 at Natick Massachusetts (right after WWII started on December 7th, 1941), graduated Boot Camp (02/1942), Radio School (03/1942) at NAAS Corry Field, Pensacola, Florida, Chief of Naval Air Intermediate Flight Training Command (07/1943) flying (crew) aboard the DC-2 and DC-3, Training Squadron Special Projects School for Air (05/1944), FAW-6 (07/1944) Radio Maintenance School, N.A.F.G.S So. Field NAS North Island, San Diego, California, Aviation Free Gunnery Unit in San Diego (Aug 1944), F.A.W.C Radar School (09/1944) and S.P.S.A San Clemente Island, CA. Dad noted in his logbook "My only sea duty was done aboard a 4 stocker and yard oiler to and from San Clemente Island . Transportation only!" Dad then attened NAS Minneapolis, Minnesota (11/1944) Line Maintenance School, VB-4 OTU-4 (02/1945) at NAS Pensacola, Florida and NAS Whiting Field, Milton, Florida (Instructor), FAW-6 (07/1945) and VPB-212 (10/1945) at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington flying the PBM. On October 1946 through 1950 Dad began flying the Aleutian Islands patrols in PB5Y-2 out of NAS Kodiak, Alaska, Dutch Harbor, NAF Amchitka, Alaska to NAS Attu, Alaska and Tanaga. Dad then served with VP-27 until its disestablishment (01/1950) and reported to VP-6 at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington and NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island (04/1950-1952) assigned to VIP Transport Unit flying as Radio/Radar Operator on the R4D(DC-3). VIP's Dad flew with during his tour at the Naval War College: Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King (CNO from 1942-1945), General Shepherd (Commandant USMC),Admiral Kirk (Ex Ambassador to Russia), General Bill Donavon,Senator Margaret G. Smith (ME), Vice Air Marshall Huddleston (RAF),Vice Admiral Connelly (President of Naval War College), Vice Admiral Johnson (Joint American/Mexican Defense Board), Rear Admiral Read (NC4), Rear Admiral White, Rear Admiral Murrey (CNAT), Rear Admiral Wellman (COMDESRON THREE) and Rear Admiral SS Murray (COMSUB FLEET). Dad noted in his logbook, "Start my second two thousand hours". VP-46 (10/1952-02/1955) from NAS North Island, San Diego, California to NAS Pearl Harbor, Hawaii as far out as Kwajalein and the Phillipines. Dad then attended AT "A" School (02/1955) at NAS Memphis, Tennessee, VP-9 (03/1956) at NAS Alameda, California, NAS Memphis, Tennessee (07/1957) (Instructor) an back to NAS Whidbey Island, Washington. 04 October 1961 at 10:04 AM, dad retired as ATC Naval Aircrewman NAS Whidbey Island, Washington, having flown 4450 total hours. Dad flew aboard R2D-1, R50-2, R50-6, R4D-4, SNB-2, PB4Y-1, PBM-5, PB4Y-2, P2V-2, R4D-5, R4D-6, PBM-5, P5M-1 and the P2V-7..." Contributed by AWOC Jason M. LACEY jasonlacey74@hotmail.com [18NOV2013]

HAHN, Daryl E. xwxman@cox.net Charles M. Haddad chaddad@fdic.gov "...I was assigned to VB/VPB-200 from April 1944 to December 1944 then with VB/VPB-151 till June 1945. We saw action in the Carolines, Mariannas and Iwo Jima..."

Memorial Picture "...HAUCK, ADR1 John William Jr...My Grandfather, John William Hauck, Jr., a Combat Air Crewman passed away. According to his records he not only served with the United States Air Force but also with the United States Navy (both Active and Reserve). His records indicate he served with VPB-18, VPB-98, VU-6, VPB-2 Operational Training Unit (OTU)-3 and FAW-2. He also served aboard numerous Naval Air Stations including NAS Banana River, Florida, NAS Corpus Christi, Texas, NAS Jacksonville, Florida, NAS Lake City, Florida (Aircrew Training), NAS Norfolk, Virginia . He received numerous awards while serving with VPB-18 as a Plane Captain including the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, Air Medal (April 3-17, 1945), Gold Star in lieu of the Second Air Medal (April 21-27, 1945), Gold Star in lieu of the Third Air Medal (May 2-20, 1945), Distinguised Flying Cross (April 5 through July 4, 1945), Asiatic Pacific Ribbon (April 1 through July 31, 1945), Good Conduct and American Theatre Okinawa. I would like to hear from any of his former Shipmates..." Contributed by William O'Daniel Jr. williamodaniel@insightbb.com [10OCT2008]

HOLLOSI, AVMM1 Peter Jr - submitted by his son Peter M. Hollosi PHollosi@AOL.com "...My Dad was in WW 2, AvM/M 1stC Peter Hollosi, Jr. He served aboard the U.S.S. Lexington and the U.S.S. Wright. He was assigned to VP-14 NAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii (was there 7 Dec. 1941), VP-12 (Black Cats), and VPB-2 NAS Banana River, Florida. I would sincerly appreciate any info on missions, R & R, etc. I never got tired of his war stories..." [04APR98]

KNAPP, Lawrence Jr. c/o His Daughter Winonah Sacks wsacks61@hotmail.com "...I would really appreciate any information I can get that will help me "flesh out" my Father's time in the Navy during WWII. My Dad, Lawrence Knapp Jr., was a pilot of PBMs in the Pacific in 1944 and 1945. His log book has stamps in it that say VPB-2 OTU#3 NAS Banana River, Florida. Signed by B Q. (?)Moynahan. Later in the log book there are stamps saying VPB-98. These are signed by R. W. Leeman, Commander,USN. Also, I have a voucher for per diem dated September 4, 1945 that named VPB-20. I can't understand all the changes in numbers but I would love to hear from anyone who had anything to do with any of these squadrons or who has ever heard of my father. Thank you..." [07APR2003]

MASZTAK, "Ziggie" c/o His Son Don Masztak marine@buckeye-express.com "...I am a former U. S. Marine. I just came across some of my Father's paperwork. I'm wondering if anyone who reads this, might have been in contact with him? I know it will be tough, as he would have been 86 this year. He was with VH-2 Saipan and Tinian in 1945. He was a Waist Gunner/nose gunner. Seaman 1 C: Zykfryt "Ziggie" Masztak. There is a Certificate from the NAS Banana River, Florida Combat Air Crew. VPB-2-OTU#3. Combat Air Crew-56-B. 27 day of March 1945. There is a list of Crew Members, 13 in all, headed by First Pilot Lt. B. Barrett. Anyone having any info, input, whatever - please contact me at the e-mail address given. Thanks for your time. God Bless! Semper Fi! An Ole Marine Flame Tanker...Also served with VPB-100..." [BIO Updated 29AUG2001 | 23AUG2001]

Memorial Picture Shipmate PixCirca 1945 "...MIKITA, ARM2 Ted E. "Theo"...My father, ARM2 Theo E. Mikita, passed away May 26th, 2004. Dad served with VPB-2 OTU 3 as a radio operator aboard the PBM-3 out of in out of NAS Banana River, Florida until reassigned to VPB-2 OTU 4 prior to shipping out (August 1944) to train on new PBM-5 at the Radar School in NAS Corpus Christi, Texas. Attached to crew 72C, PPC LT(jg) Harold J. McKibben. After NAS Corpus Christi, Texas flew to NAF Salton Sea, then to NAS Alameda, California VPB-99 for crew ASW and Navigation training. Next the crew traveled to MCBH Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii and attached to VPB-100 for advanced training covering sleeve gunnery, ASW sonobuoy, and radar bombing. They were finishing this up when the atomic bombs were dropped in Japan. They made preparations for shipping out to the war zone, and reached Kerama Retto, Okinawa to join VPB-208 and the USS Hamlin (AV-15) on August 21. Crewmates were copilot Ensign Koch, S2 Lawrence "Smokey'' J. Verstraete, AOM3 Douglas H Watts, Sidney Lee Hawkins, AOM3 Donald Roy Battenschlag, Joseph L Mugnolo, and Arthur B Street. By then offensive operations had ceased for the most part while negotiations for the surrender of Japan were being carried out. On August 24, 1945 they tracked and bombed a Japanese trawler in the Chusan Archipelego. Flew in squadron formation over Tokyo bay as part of surrender ceremonies on September 2, then participated in occupation duties in Tokyo. The crew spent the squadron’s final days in theatre providing VIP, courier and passenger service between major water accessible cities in Japan including Tokyo, Nagoya, Hiroshima, and Sasebo. When the squadron transferred out in November Ted was reassigned to a new crew in VPB-26. VPB-26 was based initially out of Tokyo, and was serviced by the USS Hamlin (AV-15) (Yokosuka) and USS Bering Strait (AVP-34) (Sasebo) until the end of January when it relieved VPB-25 in Shanghai for service between Shanghai (USS Duxbury Bay (AVP-38)) and Tsing Tao. He flew with PPC’s LT(jg) Eymann, LT(jg) Roussey, LT Bedford and LCDR Demarest. Anyone with interest in or ties to VPB-208 and VPB-26 during this period are invited to email me..." Contributed by MIKITA, Ted E. ted@lwranch.com [17NOV2012]

NOYES, Fred fanoyes@juno.com "...I served as an AOM in training as a combat air crew tail gunner at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas and NAS Banana River, Florida in 1945 assigned to VPB-2 OTU-4. I have a photograph that may be of particular interest to the survivors of those of the TBM Avenger crews (Flight 19) and PBM-5 #trainer #49, which were lost in the Bermuda Triangle incident on December 5, 1945. I was a member of a flight crew that flew that plane (#49) from NAS Banana River, Florida to NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and return on November November 17-19 and happened to have taken a photo of that plane on the tarmac at NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Shortly after the December 5 tragedy I made the floowing notation on the back of that photo " PBM-5 which blew up in air. One we flew to Cuba." If any one has an interest I will provide a copy of that photo. Earlier this year I wrote a newspaper article about the Bermuda Triangle which included that photo. That newspaper could be made available to anyone who has an interest..." [07JUN2002]

Memorial Picture "...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 Pelletier pelle11@ibm.net [12JUN1999]

PENDRAK, CDR Joseph F. https://naval-air.org/flightlog/moreinfo.asp?UID=3108 "...CDR Joseph f. Pendrak, USN - NFL Number: 3108 - Date of Birth: 12/1/1919 - Date In: 6/16/1941 - Date Out: 12/1/1979 - City, State: Port Charlotte, FL - School Attended: Mass. State - Aircraft Flown: PBM-5, PB4Y-2, P2V6M, JRB-4, SNC-2 - Ship or Unit: VPB-215, OTU-4 and VPB-839 - Pilot Desg.: Patrol Plane Cdr. - Theaters, Campaigns, etc.: Caribbean, Europe - Associations/Service Organizations: NAMF Founding mbr. TROA Navy League Order Quiet Birdmen Nav. Council Aviation - Highest personal decoration or award: Letter Commendation - Significant Achievements: 3814.4 navy flight hrs. Commercial pilot. C.O. AAU-836/VPB-836 missile air wing of 83. Involved high school ROTC. Sales manager/asstnt. to Pres National Pharmaceutical Co - In Memoriam? No..." [03DEC2005]

REDDEN, AMM1C Jack K. j-nredden@comcast.net "...During 1943 I was stationed at NAS Jacksonville, Florida with VPB-2 OTU, training in PBY-5. Many pilots and crew members were trained in PBY-5 for further duties overseas. I flew as a Plane Captain and later as a Mechanic Instructor. Would like to hear from any Shipmates that were in OTO..." [28MAY2002 | 28JAN2001]

SCHROER, TDCM Franklin Retiredfschroer@juno.com "...I was stationed at NAS Jacksonville from June 1944 until just after the end of WWII. When I arrived there, I was assigned to one of the two PBY Operational Training Squadrons there, VPB-OTU1 and 2. They were later merged into one unit and it was VPB-OTU..." [15AUG2000]

Memorial Picture "...SIMMONS, Earl E...My uncle, Earl E. Simmons went through PBM aircrew school at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas in 1945. On 29 June 1945 he received his aircrew insignia. On 31 Jan. 1946, he completed flights beyond the 3 mile limit of the continental US. with VPB-2 OTU-4 in aircraft BUNO: 59303. Later would transfer to NAS Alameda, California, FAW-8 prior to discharge..." Contributed by Ken Simmons uffdaken@comcast.net [20JUN2023]

Memorial Picture "...WAITE, LT Gene R...My dad, LT Gene R. Waite, passed away July 21, 1997 at Capital Region Medical Center-Southwest, MO. Dad served with VPB-2 OTU at NAS Pensacola, Florida, VPB-98 at NAS North Island, San Diego, California, and NAS Olathe, Kansas (1942-1943). Any information about former Shipmates would be appreciated..." Contributed by Mike Waite mike.waite@ngaus.org [E-Mail/BIO Updated 22MAY2014 | 28JAN2009]

WERNER, ATCS George Retired gwerner@mediaone.net "...Served in VP-18 during 1962 thru 1966. Made deployments to NAS Argentia, Newfoundland, Canada, NS Rota, Spain, NAS Sigonella, Sicily, and NS Roosevelt Roads, PR. Flew as radio op. in our P2V-7s., and in the Avionics shop...I was an ARM3/c in VPB-2 1944-1945, flying PBM-3/C and PBM3/E seaplanes. Was an ARM2/c and an ARMAC2/c in VPB-208 in 1945-1947 flying PBM-3 and PBM-5 seaplanes. I flew with "Pappy" Burns, CWO3, as an ARM1/c, changed to AT1, in 1948-1950 and we ferried PBMs and PBY-5 and 5-a seaplanes from NAS Norfolk, Virginia to the west coast for overhaul with VR-31, in NAS Norfolk, Virginia. Rode the aircraft carriers with VA-35 for 4 years and then served with VP-18 during 1961-1963 with crew 13 as radioman, flying in our "hotshot" P2V-7 patrol planes, with "two Turnin", and "two Burnin" . We were the "E" squadron for years and the other squadrons in the wing - VP-5, VP-7, VP-16 had P2V-5 a/c. We thought we should get the first P3V a/c but the "Wing" didn't want 2 squadrons transitioning at the same time, so we kept the 7's. Don't know if they got the P3V before being decommissioned in 1968, since I left the squadron in Mar.1963 and retired as an ATCS. "VP sailors" are all a special breed of cat, and if you don't believe that, check all the wrecked bars around the world! Best wishes to all who had the privilige to fly with 2 or more "fans"..." [00XXX97]

WORTHY, James T. jworthy5025@bellsouth.net "...I attended Boot Camp at Bronson Field, Pensacola, Florida (1943) and VPB-2 OTU-4 (1943-1946) at NAAS Barin Field, Pensacola, Florida ("Bloody Barin"). VPB-2 OTU-4 was a training squadron. I worked on the flight line as a Plane Captain on the SNV (Consolidated Vultee Aircraft BT-13A) and SNJ (North American T-6 Texan), Parachute Loft (until WAVES came aboard and Operations (scheduling planes for flights of Cadets). I had a ball!..." [29JUL2011]

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