VH-3 Miscellaneous
BOOKs: Title: Eyes of the Fleet: Cloaked by jungle foliage, the unheralded seaplane tenders operated ahead of the Fleet, like the Navy's famed PT boats. As Halsey's South Pacific, MacArthur's Southwest Pacific, and Spruance's Central Pacific forces advanced toward Japan, these ships served as afloat-bases for patrol planes referred to as the "eyes of the fleet." The large fabric-clad PBY "Catalinas" and later PBM "Mariners" combed the seaways for Japanese forces and carried out bombing, depth charge, and torpedo attacks on enemy ships and submarines. Nighttime anti-shipping operations-"Black Cat" or "Nightmare" missions-were dangerous and daytime combat operations even more so, when encounters with more maneuverable and heavily-armed fighters necessitated hiding in clouds to survive. The Japanese were keen to destroy the scouts and their floating bases, and seaplane tenders often lived a furtive existence, particularly early in the war. Pilots, plane crews and shipboard personnel received scores of awards for valor, including the Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Silver and Bronze Star Medals. A few VP Squadrons mentioned include: VP-1, VP-11/VPB-11, VP-12, VP-13/VPB-13, VP-14, VP-16/VPB-16, VP-18/VPB-18, VPB-19, VPB-20, VP-21/VPB-21, VP-22, VP-23/VPB-23, VP-24, VPB-25, VPB-26, VPB-27, VPB-28, VP-32, VP-33/VPB-33, VP-34/VPB-34, VP-41, VP-42, VP-43, VP-44, VP-45, VP-51, VP-52, VP-53, VPB-54, VP-61, VP-62, VP-63/VPB-63, VP-71/VPB-71, VP-72, VP-73, VPB-74, VP-81, VP-82, VP-83, VP-84, VP-91, VP-92, VP-94, VP-101/VPB-101, VP-102/VPB-102, VPB-103, VPB-104, VPB-105, VPB-106, VB-106, VB-108, VPB-109, VPB-110, VPB-111, VPB-112, VPB-114, VP-115, VPB-116, VPB-117, VPB-118, VPB-123, VPB-130, VB/VPB-137, VPB-142, VB-143, VPB-146, VPB-151, VP-202/VPB-202, VP-204, VP-205, VPB-208, VP-216/VPB-216, VD-3, VH-1, VH-2, VH-3, VH-4, VH-6, VS-1D-11, VS-1D-13, VS-1D-14 and VT-3. A few Seaplane Tenders mentioned include: USS Absecon, USS Albemarle, USS Avocet, USS Ballard, USS Barataria, USS Barnegat, USS Belknap, USS Clemson, USS George E. Badger, USS Goldsborough, USS Osmond, USS Ingram, USS Bering Strait, USS Biscayne, USS Casco, USS Castle Rock, USS Chandeleur, USS Childs, USS Chincoteague, USS Cook Inlet, USS Coos Bay, USS Corson, USS Cumberland Sound, USS Currituck, USS Curtiss, USS Duxbury Bay, USS Floyds Bay, USS Gannet, USS Gardiners Bay, USS Gillis, USS Greene, USS Greenwich Bay, USS Half Moon, USS Hamlin, USS Heron, USS Hulbert, USS Humboldt, USS Kenneth Whiting, USS Langley, USS Lapwing, USS Mackinac, USS Matagorda, USS McFarland, USS Norton Sound, USS Onslow, USS Orca, USS Pelican, USS Pine Island, USS Pocomoke, USS Rehoboth, USS Rockaway, USS Salisbury Sound, USS San Carlos, USS San Pablo, USS Shelikof, USS St. George, USS Suisun, USS Swan, USS Tangier, USS Thornton, USS Thrush, USS Timbalier, USS Unimak, USS Valcour, USS William B. Preston, USS Williamson, USS Wright and USS Yakutat. The U.S. Navy's Seaplane Tenders and Patrol Aircraft in World War II is now available from Heritage Books: http://www.heritagebooks.com/. Contributed by CDR David D. Bruhn commanderbruhn@gmail.com [30APR2016]
BOOKs: TITLE: Florida Roots, Navy Wings LCDR Samuel A. Davis, Lona D. Spencer. Paperback: 236 pages - Publisher: Longleaf Press (June 1, 1996) - ISBN: 0965227006. >Florida Roots, Navy Wings was written by Lt. CDR. Samuel A. Davis, pilot of the "Willie 7" A member of the VH-3. This crew not only completed a rescue that was canceled by command as to dangerous, they were also selected to do a JATO take off for Pres. Truman which has been documented and photographed. The canceled rescue was about a group of downed crew members who would be to heavy for the plane to safely take off in very rough seas. The pilot, Sam Davis took a vote among his crew, do it or not,,,they voted to do it. Just when they thought they would not make it, Ray Lutz remembered a theory and formula that could make it happen. They landed, saved the men and made it back to shore. Later the government tried to give Sam, the pilot, a medal of honor for this, but he would not accept it if his entire crew was not included in the honor. They were not included and he did not accept the medal. The crew of the Willie 7 continued to meet each year until 1998 or 1999, when health and age forced some of the members to stay home. The JATO take off was spectacular. (The book, Florida Roots and Navy Wings, is available at LongLeaf Press, Inc., 5008 N. 9th. St., Tampa, FL. 33603-2302 - (813) 234-8432 - Heafpress@aol.com) [04APR2005]
BOOKs: Title: The Fighting Flying Boat: A History of the Martin PBM Mariner by Richard Alden Hoffman dickdot@san.rr.com.
Squadrons, Tenders, etc. include: VP-13, VP-16, VP-17, VP-19, VP-20, VP-21, VP-22, VP-25, VP-26, VP-27, VP-28, VP-32, VP-55, VP-56, VP-73, VP-74, VP-98, VP-100, VP-104, VP-111, VP-117, VP-119, VP-120, VP-201, VP-202, VP-203, VP-204, VP-205, VP-207, VP-208, VP-209, VP-210, VP-211, VP-212, VP-213, VP-216, VH-1, VH-3, VH-4, FAW-3, FAW-5, FAW-9, FAW-11, FAW-12, FAW-16, USS Albemarle (AV-5), USS Pocomoke (AV-9), USS Casco (AVP-12), USS Chincoteague (AVP-24), USS Pocomoke (AV-9), and USS Chandeleur (AV-10).
The Fighting Flying Boat mentions each and every PBM squadron in both WW2 and Korea as well as details of the RAF, RAAF, Dutch, Argentine and Uruguayan service. Also USCG and commercial activities in US, Colombia and Portugal. Also includes every PBM casualty by name, details of every PBM vs Uboat engagement and every PBM vs Japanese fighter and Korean era vs MIG engagements. [22OCT2004]
BOOKs: TITLE: "The Forgotten Heroes - The Story of Rescue Squadron VH-3 in World War II by Don Sweet SweetUsn@aol.com...WEBSITE: http://hometown.aol.com/sweetusn/index.html [23FEB2001]
"...Book contains background history leading up to the formation of Dumbo squadrons such as VH-3. The contribution of the survivors of Patrol Wing Ten in the development of a squadron dedicated to saving the lives of military pilots, etc. Cost: $25.00 pluse $5.00 S&H. Please contact D. H. Sweet SweetUsn@aol.com, P.O. Box 103, Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ 07423..." [06SEP2001]
BOOKs: TITLE: "Seaplanes at War: A Treasury of Words and Pictures" A history of Combat Aircrews in Navy Patrol Bombing Squadrons in the pacific during WWII by Don Sweet SweetUsn@aol.com...WEBSITE: http://hometown.aol.com/sweetusn/index.html [30APR99]
"VH-3 Summary Page"
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