VP-24

Patrol Squadron 24

VP-24
Active April 10, 1943 - April 30, 1995
Country United States
Branch United States Navy
Type Anti-submarine warfare
Part of Inactive
Nickname(s) "Batmen"
"The Buccaneers"
"Screaming 104"
Engagements Pacific
Decorations PUC 15 August 1943-19 March 1944, 6 Nov 1944-7 June 1945
Disbanded 1945 (renamed, disbanded as VP-24 in 1995)
Aircraft flown
Bomber Consolidated PBY Catalina
Electronic
warfare		 P2V Neptune
P-3C Orion

VP-24, Patrol Squadron 24 was a United States Navy "Black Cat" squadron that flew the PBY-5A (patrol bomber) Consolidated PBY Catalina in the Pacific Theater of Operations of WWII (redesignated as VP-12). VP-24 served in Korean War flying Lockheed P-2 Neptune patrol planes. Later, VP-24 flew P-3 Orion aircraft (1960's?). Other redesignations included the highly decorated VB-104 and VPB-104 during and VP-104 just after the war and VA-HM-13, returning to VP-24 before it was disestablished on April 30, 1995 as part of the post Cold War drawdown of forces.[1]

History

The first VP-24 was created when it was redesignated from VP-8 on July 1, 1939. Among many other designation changes flying a variety of aircraft, VP-24 was redesignated VB-, VPB- and then VP-104 for most of WWII, returning to VP-24 from 1948-1956 and from 1959-1995.[2]

World War II

VP-24 flying PBYs was redesignated as the VB-104 squadron April 10, 1943[3] at Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii flying the four-engine PB4Y-1 Liberator with personnel from the VP-71 Squadron[4] who had been flying a similar mission in the two-engine amphibious PBY Catalina. Flight operations began immediately and (redesignated as VPB-104 from October 1, 1944 until after the war) were eventually conducted from bases including Midway, Canton, Johnston Atoll, Guadalcanal, Munda, Morotai, Tacloban, and Clark Field. During the war, the improved PB4Y-2 aircraft were introduced. VB/VPB-104 was the only patrol squadron in WWII to receive two Presidential Unit Citations.[5] Later redesignated VP-104, VP-HL-4, and VA(HM)-13, the squadron was finally redesignated back to VP-24 in 1959 and remained so until 1995.[6]

A VP-24 P-3C in the 1970s.

1950s & 1960s

Squadron Wing assignments from 1950 included:

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.history.navy.mil/avh-vol2/chap3-5.pdf U.S. Navy Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 2, page 152 (VP-24, PDF page 20)
  2. ↑ http://www.history.navy.mil/avh-vol2/Append7.pdf U.S. Navy Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 2, Appendix 7, page 771
  3. ↑ http://www.history.navy.mil/avh-vol2/Append7.pdf U.S. Navy Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 2, Appendix 7, page 771 (3rd VP-24)
  4. ↑ http://www.history.navy.mil/avh-vol2/chap3-5.pdf U.S. Navy Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 2, page 152 (Third VP-24, PDF page 20)
  5. ↑ http://www.history.navy.mil/avh-vol2/chap3-5.pdf U.S. Navy Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 2, page 154 (Third VP-24, PDF page 22)
  6. ↑ http://www.history.navy.mil/avh-vol2/Append7.pdf U.S. Navy Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 2, Appendix 7, page 771 (3rd VP-24)
Bibliography

External links

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