VPB-203 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron Two Hundred Three (VP-203) on 1 October 1942, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron Two Hundred Three (VPB-203) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 30 June 1945.[1]
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1 October 1942: VP-203 was established at NAS Norfolk, Virginia, as a medium seaplane patrol squadron flying the PBM-3C Mariner. While in training the squadron came under the operational control of PatWing-5. The squadron complement was 15 aircraft, three of which were spares.
10 December 1942–February 1943: A six-aircraft detachment of the squadron flew to NS San Juan, Puerto Rico, for a period of shakedown and Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) training, coming under the operational control of FAW-11. The remainder of the squadron joined the detachment at intervals over the next two weeks. The squadron's first operational loss occurred on 31 December 1942 when Lieutenant (jg) E. M. Vogel crashed on takeoff in San Juan Bay, killing three of the crew. When aviation gasoline supplies ran short at San Juan, six aircraft were sent to Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for training on 31 January 1943. In February the squadron was transferred back to NAS Norfolk. All of the aircraft arrived at Norfolk by 1 March, ready for return to operational status.
1 March–June 1943: VP-203 commenced regular operational duties under the operational control of FAW-5, escorting convoys and conducting ASW patrols. The first attack on a U-boat took place on 10 June 1943, but with negative results due to a defective bomb-release mechanism.
17 June 1943: The squadron's PBM-3Cs underwent conversion to the “S” or “stripped” model. Turrets, armor plate and other extraneous gear were removed to make room for extra fuel and to lighten the aircraft to enable a greater range on patrols.
18 July 1943: Lieutenant Commander Morris D. Burns relieved Lieutenant Commander James R. Reedy as the squadron's commanding officer. Commander Reedy and approximately half of the squadron pilots and plane crews detached to form a new PB4Y-1 Liberator squadron, VB-110. Four crews from VP-209 and five from VP-211 were transferred to VP-203 to bring it back up to full strength
1–25 September 1943: Attacks were made on U-boats on 1 and 4 September. Both obtained negative results. On 25 September, the squadron moved to a new home port at NAS Floyd Bennett Field, New York, placing the squadron under the operational control of FAW-9. Its principal duties remained the same as before, ASW and convoy escort.
4 October 1943: VP-203 received orders to deploy to NAF Aratu, Bahia, Brazil, to relieve VP-74. The squadron was then placed under the operational control of FAW-16. The squadron's aircraft continued to arrive at Aratu through 23 November, a detachment of five aircraft was formed and sent to NAF Natal, Brazil, for advanced base operations. This group conducted sweeps out to 600 miles (970 km) from shore.
5 January 1944: While on patrol Lieutenant S. V. Brown sighted a suspicious-looking merchant vessel. Subsequent investigation proved that the ship was actually the German blockade runner MV Burgenland. USS Omaha and USS Jouett were dispatched to the scene and sank the ship after a running gun battle.
16 January 1944: VP-203 relocated its administrative headquarters to NAF Galeão, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with one detachment. One squadron detachment remained at NAF Natal and another at NAF Aratu, Brazil. The Aratu detachment rejoined the squadron at Galeão on 23 January.
4 Apr 1944: A U-boat was spotted on the surface at night using the wing-mounted Leigh light. The aircraft made a strafing run, forcing the submarine to crash dive, but with negative results.
21 April 1944: Lieutenant (jg) W. N. Britton and his crew spotted 20 British sailors adrift in a small life raft, survivors of a torpedoed merchantman. Ironically, none of the 20 sailors in the raft had been harmed during their ordeal until Britton's crew dropped supplies of food and water directly on the raft, knocking one man unconscious. The victims were safely picked up a short time later.
16 May 1944: The Natal detachment relocated to Aratu, then on to Florianoplis, Brazil, for advanced base operations. Tender support was provided by USS Matagorda. These operations were discontinued on 30 July, and they rejoined the Aratu detachment. On 14 August the remainder of the squadron, including the headquarters group, joined the detachment at Aratu. One detachment remained at Galeão until 5 November.
20 July 1944: The squadron's second operational loss occurred when Lieutenant Livio DeBonis and his crew failed to return from a routine patrol. A merchant ship later confirmed that an aircraft crashed, with no survivors, at coordinates matching DeBonis’ patrol sector.
4 October 1944: Four VPB-203 crews were detached from the squadron and ordered to duty at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas. The losses were not replaced, decreasing the squadron aircraft complement from 15 to a total of 9.
21 November 1944: One of the squadron aircraft was lost en route from Natal to Aratu during an intense tropical thunderstorm. Aircraft wreckage, an oil slick and empty life rafts were found at sea, but no survivors.
5 January 1945: A detachment of aircraft was sent to NAF Aratu, with tender services provided by USS Rehoboth and later USS Matagorda. A second detachment was formed on the 21st at Bahia based on USS Rockaway and a third detachment was sent to Natal, Brazil.
29 May 1945: VPB-203 was relieved for return to NAS San Juan, where all of the squadron aircraft were turned over to HEDRON-11. Squadron personnel were transported aboard USS U. S. Grant to New Orleans, Louisiana, then by train to NAS Norfolk, where the squadron was disestablished on 30 June 1945.[1]
Aircraft assignmentsedit
The squadron was assigned the following aircraft, effective on the dates shown:[1]
^ abcdRoberts, Michael D. (2000). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 2, Chapter 4 Patrol Bombing Squadron (VPB) Histories (VPB-145 to VPB-203). Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. pp. 593–7. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
December 24, 2023
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VPB 203 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U S Navy The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron Two Hundred Three VP 203 on 1 October 1942 redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron Two Hundred Three VPB 203 on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 30 June 1945 1 Patrol Bombing Squadron 203VPB 203 PBM with USS Humboldt in April 1945Active1 October 1942 30 June 1945CountryUnited States of AmericaBranchUnited States NavyTypesquadronRoleMaritime patrolNickname s Midnite MarinersEngagementsWorld War IIAircraft flownPatrolPBM 3C S Contents 1 Operational history 2 Aircraft assignments 3 Home port assignments 4 See also 5 ReferencesOperational history editThis section is in list format but may read better as prose You can help by converting this section if appropriate Editing help is available September 2016 1 October 1942 VP 203 was established at NAS Norfolk Virginia as a medium seaplane patrol squadron flying the PBM 3C Mariner While in training the squadron came under the operational control of PatWing 5 The squadron complement was 15 aircraft three of which were spares 10 December 1942 February 1943 A six aircraft detachment of the squadron flew to NS San Juan Puerto Rico for a period of shakedown and Anti submarine warfare ASW training coming under the operational control of FAW 11 The remainder of the squadron joined the detachment at intervals over the next two weeks The squadron s first operational loss occurred on 31 December 1942 when Lieutenant jg E M Vogel crashed on takeoff in San Juan Bay killing three of the crew When aviation gasoline supplies ran short at San Juan six aircraft were sent to Naval Base Guantanamo Bay Cuba for training on 31 January 1943 In February the squadron was transferred back to NAS Norfolk All of the aircraft arrived at Norfolk by 1 March ready for return to operational status 1 March June 1943 VP 203 commenced regular operational duties under the operational control of FAW 5 escorting convoys and conducting ASW patrols The first attack on a U boat took place on 10 June 1943 but with negative results due to a defective bomb release mechanism 17 June 1943 The squadron s PBM 3Cs underwent conversion to the S or stripped model Turrets armor plate and other extraneous gear were removed to make room for extra fuel and to lighten the aircraft to enable a greater range on patrols 18 July 1943 Lieutenant Commander Morris D Burns relieved Lieutenant Commander James R Reedy as the squadron s commanding officer Commander Reedy and approximately half of the squadron pilots and plane crews detached to form a new PB4Y 1 Liberator squadron VB 110 Four crews from VP 209 and five from VP 211 were transferred to VP 203 to bring it back up to full strength 1 25 September 1943 Attacks were made on U boats on 1 and 4 September Both obtained negative results On 25 September the squadron moved to a new home port at NAS Floyd Bennett Field New York placing the squadron under the operational control of FAW 9 Its principal duties remained the same as before ASW and convoy escort 4 October 1943 VP 203 received orders to deploy to NAF Aratu Bahia Brazil to relieve VP 74 The squadron was then placed under the operational control of FAW 16 The squadron s aircraft continued to arrive at Aratu through 23 November a detachment of five aircraft was formed and sent to NAF Natal Brazil for advanced base operations This group conducted sweeps out to 600 miles 970 km from shore 5 January 1944 While on patrol Lieutenant S V Brown sighted a suspicious looking merchant vessel Subsequent investigation proved that the ship was actually the German blockade runner MV Burgenland USS Omaha and USS Jouett were dispatched to the scene and sank the ship after a running gun battle 16 January 1944 VP 203 relocated its administrative headquarters to NAF Galeao Rio de Janeiro Brazil with one detachment One squadron detachment remained at NAF Natal and another at NAF Aratu Brazil The Aratu detachment rejoined the squadron at Galeao on 23 January 4 Apr 1944 A U boat was spotted on the surface at night using the wing mounted Leigh light The aircraft made a strafing run forcing the submarine to crash dive but with negative results 21 April 1944 Lieutenant jg W N Britton and his crew spotted 20 British sailors adrift in a small life raft survivors of a torpedoed merchantman Ironically none of the 20 sailors in the raft had been harmed during their ordeal until Britton s crew dropped supplies of food and water directly on the raft knocking one man unconscious The victims were safely picked up a short time later 16 May 1944 The Natal detachment relocated to Aratu then on to Florianoplis Brazil for advanced base operations Tender support was provided by USS Matagorda These operations were discontinued on 30 July and they rejoined the Aratu detachment On 14 August the remainder of the squadron including the headquarters group joined the detachment at Aratu One detachment remained at Galeao until 5 November 20 July 1944 The squadron s second operational loss occurred when Lieutenant Livio DeBonis and his crew failed to return from a routine patrol A merchant ship later confirmed that an aircraft crashed with no survivors at coordinates matching DeBonis patrol sector 4 October 1944 Four VPB 203 crews were detached from the squadron and ordered to duty at NAS Corpus Christi Texas The losses were not replaced decreasing the squadron aircraft complement from 15 to a total of 9 21 November 1944 One of the squadron aircraft was lost en route from Natal to Aratu during an intense tropical thunderstorm Aircraft wreckage an oil slick and empty life rafts were found at sea but no survivors 5 January 1945 A detachment of aircraft was sent to NAF Aratu with tender services provided by USS Rehoboth and later USS Matagorda A second detachment was formed on the 21st at Bahia based on USS Rockaway and a third detachment was sent to Natal Brazil 29 May 1945 VPB 203 was relieved for return to NAS San Juan where all of the squadron aircraft were turned over to HEDRON 11 Squadron personnel were transported aboard USS U S Grant to New Orleans Louisiana then by train to NAS Norfolk where the squadron was disestablished on 30 June 1945 1 Aircraft assignments editThe squadron was assigned the following aircraft effective on the dates shown 1 PBM 3C October 1942 PBM 3S June 1943Home port assignments editThe squadron was assigned to these home ports effective on the dates shown 1 NAS Norfolk Virginia 1 October 1942 NS San Juan Puerto Rico December 1942 NAS Norfolk 1 March 1943 NAS Floyd Bennett Field New York 25 September 1943 NAF Aratu Brazil 4 October 1943 NAF Galeao Brazil 16 January 1944 NAF Aratu 14 August 1944 NS San Juan 29 May 1945 NAS Norfolk June 1945See also editMaritime patrol aircraft List of inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons List of squadrons in the Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons History of the United States NavyReferences editThis article incorporates text from the public domainDictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons a b c d Roberts Michael D 2000 Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons Volume 2 Chapter 4 Patrol Bombing Squadron VPB Histories VPB 145 to VPB 203 Washington D C Naval Historical Center Department of the Navy pp 593 7 Retrieved 4 September 2016 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title VPB 203 amp oldid 1166928127, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
