VP-HL-5

Heavy Patrol Squadron (Landplane) 5
Heavy Patrol Squadron (Landplane) 5
Active	15 June 1943 - 27 May 1947
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Navy
Type	squadron
Role	Maritime patrol
Engagements	World War II
Aircraft flown
Patrol	PV-1 ; PB4Y-1 ; PB4Y-2

Last updated February 07, 2022

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.^[1]

Operational history

15 Jun–26 Jul 1943: VB-143 was established at Naval Air Station DeLand, Florida, as a medium bombing squadron flying the PV-1 Ventura. While at DeLand, the squadron came under the operational control of FAW-12. On 26 July, the squadron was relocated to Naval Auxiliary Air Field Boca Chica, Florida, for operational, shakedown and ASW training.
16 August 1943: VB-143 was given orders to depart Boca Chica for duty at NAF Recife, Brazil, under the operational control of FAW-16. The squadron was fully operational within a month and was able to claim that throughout the duration of its stay at Recife no ships were sunk in any of the convoys protected by the squadron.
28 January 1944: The squadron was relocated from NAF Recife to Ipitanaga Field, Brazil, located approximately 30 miles (48 km) from Bahia. At this station the squadron was involved in cooperative efforts with ZP-42 (an LTA squadron), VP-204 and VP-211 (both PBM-3S Mariner squadrons). VB-143 was given the dawn and dusk sweeps, convoy coverage and any night missions that were required.
10 May 1944: VB-142 was ordered to Hato Field, Curaçao, for work with VS-37 in patrolling the immediate area surrounding the islands. Operational control over the squadron was exercised by FAW-11. No contacts were made during this period, and no vessels or convoys were attacked.
24 June – October 1944: The squadron was relieved for return to Naval Auxiliary Air Station Boca Chica, under the operational control of FAW-12. On 5 July 1944, the squadron was detached from FAW-12 to become a squadron in training under the operational control of FAW-5 at NAAS Boca Chica. The squadron began an intensive course on rocket firing and updated Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) techniques, expecting orders to duty as a PV squadron. On 24 October 1944 the squadron was informed that it was to become a patrol bombing squadron flying the PB4Y-1 Liberator.
5 November 1944 – Mar 1945: The squadron commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Edmonds David and six crews were flown to Naval Auxiliary Air Station Chincoteague, Virginia, for a conversion training course on the PB4Y-1. The remainder of the squadron was required to maintain 12 Ventura crews in readiness at NAAS Boca Chica, until relieved by another squadron. The last crews in training at NAAS Chincoteague returned to Boca Chica in mid-March 1945, having completed the first part of their training in PB4Y-1 aircraft. They rejoined the squadron as it continued its training program in the use of radar bombing equipment.
28 April 1945: The commanding officer and nine crews with six aircraft departed NAAS Boca Chica for NAS New York, New York, leaving nine crews and six aircraft at Boca Chica still in radar bombing training. On 19 May, the Boca Chica section completed training and reported for duty at NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island. Both squadron sections came under the command of FAW-9 during this tour of duty, completing 26 ASW and convoy patrol missions through 22 May.
13 June 1945: The squadron's 12 PB4Y-1 Liberators were turned over to HEDRON-9.
20 June – July 1945: VPB-143 reported for duty under training at NAAS Camp Kearney, California, under the operational control of FAW-14. Twelve new PB4Y-2 Privateer aircraft were assigned to the squadron. Training on bombing, radar attack, gunnery, fighter affiliation and long-range search problems continued through the end of July.
9 August 1945: The advance echelon of ground staff and six spare crews departed by ship for NAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. The 12 remaining crews flew the squadron's 12 PB4Y-2 Privateers from NAAS Camp Kearney, Calif., to NAS Kaneohe Bay on 21 August, arriving on the 22nd. The combat training syllabus in gunnery, radar bombing and search was begun immediately.
September 1945 – May 1947: Although training continued through the end of September 1945, the Surrender of Japan left the squadron with no further mission to perform. NAS Kaneohe Bay became the squadron's home port and it remained there with a reduced aircraft complement of 9 PB4Y-2 Privateers until its disestablishment on 27 May 1947.^[1]

Aircraft assignments

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

PV-1 - June 1943
PB4Y-1 - November 1944
PB4Y-2 - June 1945

Home port assignments

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

Naval Air Station DeLand, Florida - 15 June 1943
Naval Auxiliary Air Field Boca Chica, Florida - 26 July 1943
NAF Recife, Brazil - 16 August 1943
Ipitanaga Field, Brazil - 28 January 1944
Hato Field, Curaçao - 10 May 1944
Naval Auxiliary Air Station Boca Chica - 24 June 1944
Naval Air Station New York, New York - 28 April 1945
Naval Air Station Quonset Point, Rhode Island - 19 May 1945
NAAS Camp Kearney, California - 20 Jun 1945
Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii - 21 August 1945

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.

VP-22 was a long-lived Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy, nicknamed the Dragons from 1944 to 1950, and the Blue Geese from 1951 to 1994. It was established as Bombing Squadron VB-102 on 15 February 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron VPB-102 on 1 October 1944, redesignated VP-102 on 15 May 1946, redesignated Heavy Patrol Squadron (Landplane) VP-HL-2 on 15 November 1946, redesignated VP-22 on 1 September 1948 and disestablished on 31 March 1994. It was the third squadron to be designated VP-22, the first VP-22 was disestablished, merged with VP-101 on 18 April 1942 and the second VP-22 was redesignated VPB-22 on 1 October 1944.

VP-21 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Established as Bombing Squadron 111 (VB-111) on 30 July 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 111 (VPB-111) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 111 (VP-111) on 15 May 1946, redesignated Heavy Patrol Squadron (Landplane) 11 (VP-HL-11) on 15 November 1946, redesignated Patrol Squadron 21 (VP-21) on 1 September 1948 and disestablished on 21 November 1969. It was the fifth squadron to be designated VP-21, the first VP-21 was redesignated VP-45 on 1 July 1939, the second VP-21 was redesignated VP-1 on 30 July 1940, the third VP-21 was disestablished on 18 April 1942 and the fourth VP-21 was redesignated VPB-21 on 1 October 1944.

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-27 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 83 (VP-83) on 15 September 1941, redesignated Bombing Squadron 107 (VB-107) on 15 May 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 107 (VPB-107) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 107 (VP-107) on 15 May 1946, redesignated Heavy Patrol Squadron (Landplane) 7 (VP-HL-7) on 15 November 1946, redesignated Patrol Squadron 27 (VP-27) on 1 September 1948 and disestablished on 11 January 1950.

VP-28 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 108 (VB-108) on 1 July 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 108 (VPB-108) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 108 (VP-108) on 15 May 1946, redesignated Heavy Patrol Squadron (Landplane) 8 (VP-HL-8) on 15 November 1946, redesignated Patrol Squadron 28 (VP-28) on 1 September 1948 and disestablished on 1 October 1969. It was the second squadron to be designated VP-28, the first VP-28 had that designation in 1944 and 1946.

VP-29 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 14-F (VP-14F) on 1 November 1935, redesignated Patrol Squadron 14 (VP-14) on 4 September 1937, redesignated Patrol Squadron 52 (VP-52) on 1 July 1939, redesignated Patrol Squadron 72 (VP-72) on 1 July 1941, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 122 (VPB-122) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 122 (VP-122) on 15 May 1946, redesignated Heavy Patrol Squadron (Landplane) 12 (VP-HL-12) on 15 November 1946, redesignated Patrol Squadron 29 (VP-29) on 1 September 1948 and disestablished on 18 January 1950.

VP-106 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 106 (VB-106) on 1 June 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 106 (VPB-106) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 106 (VP-106) on 15 May 1946 and disestablished on 5 October 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-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.

VPB-4 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 102 (VP-102) on 1 March 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 4 (VPB-4) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 1 November 1945.

VPB-113 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 113 (VB-113) on 18 August 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 113 (VPB-113) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 28 May 1945.

VP-HL-1 was a Heavy Patrol Squadron (Landplane) of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 116 (VB-116) on 1 December 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 116 (VPB-116) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 116 (VP-116) on 15 May 1946, redesignated Heavy Patrol Squadron (Landplane) 1 (VP-HL-1) on 15 November 1946 and disestablished on 22 May 1947.

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.

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-132 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 132 (VB-132) on 15 March 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 132 (VPB-132) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 30 May 1945.

VPB-134 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 134 (VB-134) on 29 March 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 134 (VPB-134) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 25 April 1945.

VPB-145 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 145 (VB-145) on 15 July 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 145 (VPB-145) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 18 June 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.

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 5 Heavy Patrol Squadrons (Landplane) (VP-HL) Histories. Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. pp. 629–30. Retrieved 21 June 2016.

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[DANAS2-5-1] 1 2 3 4 Roberts, Michael D. (2000). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 2, Chapter 5 Heavy Patrol Squadrons (Landplane) (VP-HL) Histories. Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. pp. 629–30. Retrieved 21 June 2016.

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