VP-153

Patrol Squadron 153
Patrol Squadron 153
Active	15 April 1944 - 14 June 1946
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Navy
Type	squadron
Role	Maritime patrol
Engagements	World War II
Aircraft flown
Patrol	PV-1 ; PV-2

Last updated April 17, 2021

VP-153 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 153 (VB-153) on 15 April 1944, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 153 (VPB-153) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 153 (VP-153) on 15 May 1946 and disestablished on 14 June 1946.^[1]

Operational history

15 April 1944: VB-153 was established at NAS Clinton, Oklahoma, as a medium bombing squadron flying the PV-1 Ventura. Unlike other PV-1 squadrons, VB-153 was organized as a special squadron under the operational control of Training Task Force to carry a target seeking glider bomb known as Pelican. The device was equipped with beam-rider radar homing equipment developed by the Bureau of Ordnance Special Design Section in April 1942. Production of the missile was begun at Charleston, South Carolina., in September 1943. The missile was initially developed to be used against submarines and was designed around the casing of the standard 525-pound Depth charge. The disadvantage of the missile was that it could not be used against defended targets because the signal was lost beyond 800-foot (240 m). In order for the missile to locate its target the mother ship had to continue on a straight course while painting the target with its radar beams.
22 September 1944: After a number of unsuccessful test drops, the Pelican program was put on hold and VB-153 reverted to the normal PV-1 training syllabus. It had been determined that the PV-1 lacked sufficient range for carrying the device and associated gear.
4 November 1944 – March 1945: VPB-153 was transferred to its new home port at NAS Moffett Field, California, under the operational control of FAW-8. The squadron's specially modified PV-1s were left behind with the HEDRON, since the modifications for the Pelican had reduced the range significantly from the standard PV-1. The squadron continued its operational training in preparation for its upcoming transfer overseas. Rocket training was undertaken at NAAS Arcata, California and NAF Fallon, Nevada. On 28 February 1945, the squadron transitioned to the new PV-2 Harpoon. Shakedown was completed by the end of March.
24 March – April 1945: VPB-153 was transported by ship to Naval Base Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and NAS Kaneohe Bay, under the operational control of FAW-2. Advanced op erational training was begun in early April for all hands. On 20 April, a detachment of six aircraft and eight crews was sent to Midway Island to fly routine search sectors.
6 May 1945: The squadron grounded all its aircraft due to a report that certain problems with wing spars in the PV-2 had caused crashes. The squadron and HEDRON maintenance personnel carefully checked out all of the aircraft before flights continued.
6 June – 12 July 1945: VPB-153 received orders to proceed for duty at NAS Agana, Guam, coming under the operational control of FAW-18. The squadron became operational at that site on 15 June and commenced flying routine patrols on the 20th. Each five-sector patrol was flown daily over a distance of 500 miles (800 km). Searches at this stage of the war were largely negative. On 12 July, the squadron flew air cover for the crippled SS Boudinot.
October 1945: VPB-153 was relieved for return to the West Coast.
20 November 1945: VPB-153 was reformed at NAS Edenton, North Carolina, with nine PV-2 Harpoon aircraft under the operational control of FAW-5.
6 February – 20 March 1946: The home port for VPB-153 was officially changed from NAS Moffet Field to NAS Edenton. On 20 March 1946, word was received that the squadron was to be disestablished. The nine aircraft complement was transferred to the HEDRON, with two aircraft transferred in from the Headquarters Detachment of FAW-5 until the disestablishment of the squadron.
14 June 1946: VPB-153 was disestablished at NAS Edenton, N.C.^[1]

Aircraft assignments

The squadron was assigned the following aircraft, effective on the dates shown:^[1]

PV-1 - April 1944
PV-2 - February 1945

Home port assignments

The squadron was assigned to these home ports, effective on the dates shown:^[1]

NAS Clinton, Oklahoma - 15 April 1944
NAS Moffett Field, California - 4 November 1944
NAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii - 24 March 1945
NAS Moffett Field - October 1945
NAS Edenton, North Carolina - 6 February 1946

Related Research Articles

Patrol Squadron 24 (VP-24) was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron One Hundred Four (VB-104) on 10 April 1943, redesignated as Patrol Bombing Squadron One Hundred Four (VPB-104) on 1 October 1944, redesignated as Patrol Squadron One Hundred Four (VP-104) on 15 May 1946, redesignated Heavy Patrol Squadron (Landplane) Four (VP-HL-4) on 15 November 1946, redesignated Patrol Squadron Twenty Four (VP-24) on 1 September 1948, the third squadron to be assigned the VP-24 designation, redesignated Attack Mining Squadron Thirteen (VA-HM-13) on 1 July 1956, redesignated Patrol Squadron Twenty Four (VP-24) on 1 July 1959 and disestablished 30 April 1995.

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VP-25 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 115 (VB-115) on 1 October 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 115 (VPB-115) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 115 (VP-115) on 15 May 1946, redesignated Heavy Patrol Squadron (Landplane) 13 (VP-HL-13) on 15 November 1946, redesignated Patrol Squadron 25 (VP-25) on 1 September 1948 and disestablished on 1 January 1950. It was the third squadron to be designated VP-25, the first VP-25 was redesignated VP-23 on 1 August 1941 and the second VP-25 was disestablished on 28 June 1946.

VP-123 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 140 (VB-140) on 21 April 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 140 (VPB-140) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 123 (VPB-123) on 20 November 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 123 (VP-123) on 15 May 1946 and disestablished on 1 October 1946.

VP-131 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 131 (VB-131) on 8 March 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 131 (VPB-131) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 131 (VP-131) on 15 May 1946 and disestablished on 11 June 1946.

VP-133 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 133 (VB-133) on 22 March 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 133 (VPB-133) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 133 (VP-133) on 15 May 1946 and disestablished on 17 June 1946.

VP-142 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 142 (VB-142) on 1 June 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 142 (VPB-142) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 142 (VP-142) on 15 May 1946 and disestablished on 14 June 1946.

VP-148 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 148 (VB-148) on 16 August 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 148 (VPB-148) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 148 (VP-148) on 15 May 1946 and disestablished on 14 June 1946.

VP-152 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 152 (VB-152) on 1 April 1944, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 152 (VPB-152) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 152 (VP-152) on 15 May 1946 and disestablished on 14 June 1946.

VP-HL-3 was a Heavy Patrol Squadron (Landplane) of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 138 (VB-138) on 15 March 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 138 (VPB-138) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 124 (VPB-124) on 15 December 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 124 (VP-124) on 15 May 1946, redesignated Heavy Patrol Squadron (Landplane) 3 (VP-HL-3) on 15 November 1946 and disestablished on 22 May 1947.

VP-HL-5 was a Heavy Patrol Squadron (Landplane) of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 143 (VB-143) on 15 June 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 143 (VPB-143) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 143 (VP-143) on 15 May 1946, redesignated Heavy Patrol Squadron (Landplane) 5 (VP-HL-5) on 15 November 1946 and disestablished on 27 May 1947.

VPB-129 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 129 (VB-129) on 22 February 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 129 (VPB-129) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 4 June 1945.

VPB-139 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 139 (VB-139) on 1 April 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 139 (VPB-139) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 13 September 1945.

VPB-147 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 147 (VB-147) on 14 August 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 147 (VPB-147) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 2 July 1945.

VPB-149 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 149 (VB-149) on 16 September 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron Squadron 149 (VPB-149) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 6 September 1945.

VPB-150 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 150 (VB-150) on 15 September 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 150 (VPB-150) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 20 July 1945.

VPB-151 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 151 (VB-151) on 3 January 1944, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 151 (VPB-151) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 30 June 1945.

VPB-198 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 198 (VB-198) on 12 September 1944, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 198 (VPB-198) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 1 April 1946.

VPB-200 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron Two Hundred (VB-200) on 1 April 1944, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron Two Hundred (VPB-200) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 24 October 1945.

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons .

1 2 3 4 Roberts, Michael D. (2000). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 2, Chapter 3 Patrol Squadron (VP) Histories (VP-142 to VP-153). Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. pp. 387–8. Retrieved 18 June 2016.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)

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[DANAS2-3-1] 1 2 3 4 Roberts, Michael D. (2000). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 2, Chapter 3 Patrol Squadron (VP) Histories (VP-142 to VP-153). Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. pp. 387–8. Retrieved 18 June 2016.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)

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