VPNAVY - VP-19 History Summary Page

VP-19 History

Circa 1946
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Circa 1970...Patrol Squadron 19 was formed in 1946 as a reserve unit designated VP-902 at NAAS Livermore, California, and moved to NAS Oakland in December, 1946. In March, 1951, the Squadron was called to active duty as VP-871 and assigned P4Y-2 type aircraft. On its first deployment to Japan in October 1951. VP-871 conducted shipping survelliance and night interdiction in support of Marine night fighter squadrons in Korea. The Squadron's flying experience has run the gamut of patrol and ASW type aircraft. During the period of 1946 to 1955. VP-19 transitioned through P2V-2, P4Y-2, and P2V-5 type aircraft. In June, 1963, the Squadron commenced transitioning to the P-3A Orion. With the new aircraft came a change in surroundings, as the Squadron officially moved from NAS Alameda, California to NAS Moffett Field, California on 1 September 1963..." Contributed by Jan Hartman [23MAY2000]
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Finally in January 1946 I was transferred to VP-19 and assigned BUNO 84611 to return to FAW14 in NAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. This plane had been in the water unused for many months. It was fumigated for 24 hours to kill the bugs that had made it their home. Somehow it was made to fly, but barely. The fuel transfer pumps were pumping part of the fuel into the cabin. No smoking, no radio transmissions. We made Johnson Island and then NAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. They worked on the plane for 3 weeks, discovered control cable corrosion, severe engine problems and more. At the end of the 3rd week they towed the plane out into the ocean and sank it. You guys must have been thrilled to get rid of 84622..." Contributed by Bob Thomas navyp@novagate.com [30NOV98]
HISTORY: "...Patrol Squadron Nineteen was originally commissioned as VFP-907 in 1946 as a reserve unit. The squadron was activated during the Korean Conflict, and deployed to Japan in PB4Y-2s. During these hostilities the squadron earned the nick name "BIG RED", as a result of night flare dropping missions. In 1953 the squadron was redesignated VP-19, and transitioned to the P2V5 Neptune's. Ten years later the command again transitioned -- this time to the P3A Orion-- and moved from NAS Alameda, California to NAS Moffett Field, California. During a 1968 deployment to Japan, the command flew over 8000 hours in WESTPAC in support of Viet Nam operations and the USS Pueblo crisis. After returning home in August 1968, the command was awarded all major awards for a Pacific Fleet Patrol Squadron: Battle Efficiency "E", the Arnold J. Isbell Trophy for ASW excellence, and the CNO Maintenance Trophy. In May of 1975 the squadron command transitioned to the P3C Update I, the first VPRON to receive the most modern version of the superb aircraft. Promptly after transition VP-19 participated in Valiant Heritage the largest Pacific Fleet readiness exercise in a decade. From May of 1976 until February 1977, VP-19 conducted split deployment operations out of NAS Adak, Alaska. HIghlights of this deployment included highly successful AWS operations, 20 medical evacuations and numerous SAR missions. While at Moffett Field following the deployment, VP-19 again received the Battle "E" Award for the period 1 January 1976 to 30 June 1977. The squadron completed its first WESTPAC deployment in the P3C-Update I to Okanawa Japan. VP-19 was named the winner of the CNO Maintenance Award for January 1976 to December 1977. VP-19 has been awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for service during Operation "Frequent Wind" and four Meritorious Unit Commendations in the 1967 to 1977..." Contributed by Todd Brown AXCS USN Ret gslts@netscape.net [Updated E-Mail 28OCT98]

Circa 1945
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Patrol Squadron NINETEEN (VPB-19) - War Diary December 1945..." Official U. S. Navy Documention [16OCT2013]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Patrol Squadron NINETEEN (VPB-19) - War Diary September 1945..." Official U. S. Navy Documention [16OCT2013]
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Patrol Squadron NINETEEN (VPB-19) - War Diary August 1945..." Official U. S. Navy Documention [16OCT2013]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Patrol Squadron NINETEEN (VPB-19) - War Diary July 1945..." Official U. S. Navy Documention [16OCT2013]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Patrol Squadron NINETEEN (VPB-19) - War Diary May 1945..." Official U. S. Navy Documention [16OCT2013]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Patrol Squadron NINETEEN (VPB-19) - War Diary April 1945..." Official U. S. Navy Documention [16OCT2013]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Patrol Squadron NINETEEN (VPB-19) - War Diary 18-31MAR45..." Official U. S. Navy Documention [16OCT2013]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Patrol Squadron NINETEEN (VPB-19) - War Diary 01FEB45 - 17MAR45..." Official U. S. Navy Documention [16OCT2013]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Patrol Squadron NINETEEN (VPB-19) - War Diary January 1945..." Official U. S. Navy Documention [16OCT2013]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Patrol Squadron NINETEEN (VPB-19) - U. S. Action with Enemy on 01MAR45..." Official U. S. Navy Documention [16OCT2013]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...VP-19 Circa 1945 - Letter Home from ACMM(AA) Peter Sinko..." WebSite: EBay http://cgi.ebay.com/ Vintage-Army-Air-Force-WWII-Photos-Military-GIs-1945_W0QQitemZ6591057469QQcategoryZ4727QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem [01JAN2006]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...USS Gardiners Bay (AVP-39) departed Seattle 1 March 1945 for shake down out of San Diego until 20 April. She then proceeded via Pearl Harbor to Eniwetok in the Marshalls to tend planes of VPB-19 in a 10-day training period, thence via Saipan and Guam in the Marianas to Kerama Retto, Okinawa, where she arrived 7 June 1945 with provisions and cargo for Fleet Air Wing..." http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/dafs/AVP/avp39.html [11FEB2004]
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Gardiners Bay (Seaplane Tender AVP-39) departed Seattle 1 March 1945..." http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/auxil/avp39.htm [01DEC2000]

Waiting for permission to post entire article.

Circa 1944-1945
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Patrol Squadron NINETEEN (VPB-19) - History 01FEB44 through 31MAY45..." Official U. S. Navy Documention [16OCT2013]

Circa 1944
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Patrol Squadron NINETEEN (VPB-19) - U. S. Action with Enemy on 19DEC44..." Official U. S. Navy Documention [16OCT2013]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Patrol Squadron NINETEEN (VPB-19) - War Diary November 1944..." Official U. S. Navy Documention [16OCT2013]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Patrol Squadron NINETEEN (VPB-19) - War Diary November 1944..." Official U. S. Navy Documention [16OCT2013]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Patrol Squadron NINETEEN (VPB-19) - War Diary October 1944..." Official U. S. Navy Documention [16OCT2013]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...FAW-8 - VPB-19 War Diary - February 1944..." Official U. S. Navy Records (National Archives and Records Administration) via Fold3 http://www.fold3.com/ [28OCT2012]

A BIT OF HISTORY: FAW-2 VP Aircraft and Location "...FAW-2, VPB-4, VPB-13, VPB-19, VPB-25, VPB-26, VPB-28, VPB-71, VPB-100, VPB-111 and VPB-115 - FAW-2/A12-1 01 NOVEMBER to 30 NOVEMBER 1944..." Official U. S. Navy Records (National Archives and Records Administration) via Fold3 http://www.fold3.com/ [16OCT2012]
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Location of U. S. Naval Aircraft - Dated 11 Jan 1944..." WebSite: Naval Historical Center http://www.history.navy.mil/ [29SEP2006]
VP SQUADRONS MENTIONED

VD-1, VD-2, VD-3 and VD-4

VJ-1, VJ-2, VJ-3, VJ-4, VJ-5, VJ-7, VJ-8, VJ-9, VJ-10, VJ-11, VJ-12, VJ-13, VJ-14, VJ-15, and VJ-16

VP-6 Coast Guard

VP-11, VP-12, VP-13, VP-14, VP-15, VP-16, VP-17, VP-18 and VP-19

VP-20, VP-23 and VP-24

VP-32, VP-33 and VP-34

VP-43, VP-44 and VP-45

VP-52 and VP-54

VP-61 and VP-62

VP-71, VP-72, VP-73 and VP-74

VP-81 and VP-84

VP-91, VP-92 and VP-94

VP-101, VP-102, VP-103, VP-104, VP-105, VP-106, VP-107, VP-108 and VP-109

VP-110, VP-111, VP-112, VP-113, VP-115, VP-116 and VP-117

VP-126, VP-127, VP-128 and VP-129

VP-130, VP-131, VP-132, VP-133, VP-134, VP-135, VP-136, VP-137, VP-138 and VP-139

VP-140, VP-141, VP-142, VP-143, VP-144, VP-145, VP-146, VP-147, VP-148 and VP-149

VP-150 and VP-151

VP-201, VP-203, VP-204, VP-205, VP-208 and VP-209

VP-210, VP-211, VP-212, VP-213, VP-214, VP-215 and VP-216

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...00XXX54--In 1944, I went to the Pacific in a PBM Squadron (PBM-3D) (VP - 19). The most effort during that tour was our open sea operation during the landing at Iwo Jima. We patrolled toward Japan plotting their line of picket boats who reported B-29 runs toward Tokyo. All "take-offs" were JATO assisted. We had everything but normal seaplane conditions...Glenn Sliger for the "Silver Eagles Association" prior to his death in February, 1996." http://www.pagesz.net:80/~jbdavis/war_stories_2.txt

Circa 1942
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...I have a photo of his crew taken at NAS Alameda, California in 1943 that includes my father and Lt.(jg) A.L. Macauley, Ens. N.H. McDade, as well as others identified only by last names: Baxter, Jenson, Sunquist, Mullens, Scribner, Clark, Widener, and Mizenko; will try to post this photo. I also have my father's Aviators Flight Log Book listing nearly 150 flights from March 1944 to July 1945, mostly in the PBM-3D. Patrols appear to be mostly from Eniwetok and Saipan and include missions over then-Japanese held Wake and Ponape islands, and in March 1945 over Chichi Jima and to within 100 miles of the Japanese coast. VPB-19 won a Unit Citation for operating from an open roadstead off Iwo Jima in March 1945, and the first use of JATO in a combat area. We also have an address from the Captain of USS Hamlin (AV-15) dated 18 Feb 45 (the day before the landings at Iwo). The Hamlin, in conjuction with Seaplane Tenders USS Chincoteague (AVP-24) and USS Williamson (Picture), was to establish a seadrome, which would then be occupied by planes of VPB-19 and VH-2 flown up from Saipan. The Captain said "We are fortunate in having assigned to us for this operation an excellent squadron, VPB-19. They have a fine reputation and are raring to go."..." Contributed by Katy Allison texas64@netscape.net from her Fathers Log AMM Robert S. (Bob) Allison[19NOV98]
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Patrol Aviation in the Pacific in WW II - Part 2 - By Capt. Albert L. Raithel, Jr., USN (Ret.)...This Squadron Mentioned...Naval Historical Center ADOBE Download File: http://www.history.navy.mil/download/ww2-20.pdf [25MAY2003]

Patrol Aviation in the Pacific in WW II - Part 2 2049KB

Circa 1941-1944
A BIT OF HISTORY: "...History of FAW-8 - History from 08JUL41-31DEC44 Submitted April 12th, 1945. Squadron's Assigned: VP-16, VP-18, VP-19, VP-20, VP-21, VP-22, VP-25, VP-26, VP-27, VP-28, VP-43, VP-61, VP-62, VP-63, VP-72, VP-81, VP-82, VP-83, VP-84, VP-92, VP-118, VP-123, VP-133, VP-137, VP-140, VP-142, VP-144, VP-148, VP-150, VP-153, VP-198, VP-205, VP-208 and VP-216..." Official U. S. Navy Records (National Archives and Records Administration) via Fold3 http://www.fold3.com/ [01DEC2012]

"VP-19 History Summary Page"