VPB-150

Patrol Bombing Squadron 150
Patrol Bombing Squadron 150
Active	15 September 1943 - 20 July 1945
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Navy
Type	squadron
Role	Maritime patrol
Nickname(s)	Devilfish P-Viators
Engagements	World War II
Aircraft flown
Patrol	PV-1 ; PV-2

Last updated April 17, 2021

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.^[1]

Operational history

15 September 1943 – March 1944: VB-150 was established at NAS Alameda, California, under the operational control of FAW-8, as a medium bombing squadron flying the PV-1 Ventura. On 1 December 1943, the squadron was relocated to NAAS Vernalis, California, where further training was conducted through 6 March 1944. On that date, the squadron was transferred back to NAS Alameda to prepare for transport to Naval Base Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
18 March 1944: Squadron personnel, equipment, supplies and aircraft were loaded aboard USS Nehenta Bay for transport to Hawaii. After arrival at NAS Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, on 23 March the squadron came under the operational control of FAW2. By the 25th, the squadron and all of its assets had been relocated to NAS Kaneohe Bay and combat training commenced. During this period squadron aircraft were fitted with HVAR rocket-launching rails and chin packs containing 50-caliber machine guns.
10 July – August 1944: VB-150 was transferred to NAB Betio, Tarawa Atoll, under the operational control of FAW-1. On the 25th the squadron made its first operational attacks on Japanese radar and anti-aircraft (AA) installations on the island of Nauru. Further strikes were made on Jaluit and Mille atolls through the end of August, with only one aircrew casualty and no aircraft losses.
28 August – November 1944: VB-150 was relocated to NAS North Field, Tinian. Operations continued from this site until 18 November when the squadron was moved to nearby West Field, Tinian, to make room for the growing numbers of Army B-29 Superfortresses engaged in the bombing campaign against the Japanese home islands. Duties at Tinian consisted primarily of reconnaissance flights to Woleai Island, Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) patrols and radar survey flights. On occasion, one aircraft would be detached for duty under Commander Air Defense Command at Kagman Field, Saipan. Attacks were frequently made on enemy bases on Pagan Island to prevent enemy attacks on the B-29 bases on Saipan and Tinian.
26 December 1944: A solitary Japanese bomber dropped bombs at night on the CASU maintenance area on Tinian. The resulting explosions and fires destroyed a PB4Y-1 of another squadron, one of squadron's Venturas and damaged two other aircraft. This was the first operational loss experienced by the squadron.
5 March 1945: VPB-150 was detached for return to NAS Kaneohe Bay, and the continental U.S. The squadron flew to NAS Kaneohe Bay, arriving on 10 March, and turned over its aircraft to the HEDRON. On the 16th squadron personnel boarded USS Nassau for departure to San Francisco, California.
5 May 1945: The squadron began reforming at NAS Moffett Field, California, under the operational control of FAW-8, and familiarization training on the new PV-2 Harpoon was begun. Although 12 Harpoons had been assigned, maintenance problems resulted in no more than two aircraft available for training.
19-20 July 1945: Orders were received for a standdown and disestablishment. The squadron was formally disestablished at NAS Moffett Field on 20 July 1945.^[1]

Aircraft assignments

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

PV-1 - November 1943
PV-2 - July 1945

Home port assignments

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

NAS Alameda, California - 15 September 1943
NAAS Vernalis, California - 1 December 1943
NAS Alameda - 6 March 1944
NAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii - 25 March 1944
NAS Moffett Field, California - 5 May 1945

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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.

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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-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-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-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.

VPB-117 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 117 (VB-117) on 1 February 1944, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 117 (VPB-117) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 15 November 1945.

VPB-118 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 118 (VB-118) on 1 July 1944, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 118 (VPB-118) on 1 October 1944, and disestablished on 11 December 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.

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-137 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 137 (VB-137) on 17 February 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 137 (VPB-137) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 20 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-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.

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 4 Patrol Bombing Squadron (VPB) Histories (VPB-145 to VPB-203). Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. pp. 578–80. Retrieved 22 June 2016.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)

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[DANAS2-4-1] 1 2 3 4 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. 578–80. Retrieved 22 June 2016.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)

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