VP-23 Miscellaneous
BOOKs:  Title: "Two Turning, Two Burning" by Jim Stark stark3217@aol.com. This is a memoir mixing the deadly seriousness of flying military aircraft with gutsy humor of young aviators laughing in the face of such challenges. Look over the shoulder of a student Navy Pilot as he makes his first aircraft carrier landing. Read about the surreal experience of an imminent plane crash. Learn how an aircrew discovers it is under attack by Russian MiG-21s following the Cuban Crisis. And smile at the humorous incidents experienced by the author during this interesting period of his life. Squadrons Mention: VP-10, VP-11, VP-23, VP-26, and NAS Brunswick, Maine. The book is available either through Amazon.com or my publisher, as shown on the Web site, http://www.jimstarknavy.com (http://www.jimstarknavy.com) but I would be happy to sell it directly at the discounted price of $15.00 postage included. I can be contacted Jim Stark stark3217@aol.com. Contributed by Jim Stark stark3217@aol.com [16JUL2009]
 2008 CALENDAR "...P2V-7 Neptune Interior Photographs. The nose section (JAN, FEB, MAR and APR are from BUNO: 147951. It was in service with VP-7, VP-23, VP-24, VP-45, VP-56, and VP-66..." Contributed by Bob Self bob.self@comcast.net [29JUN2007]
P2V-7 Neptune Interior Photographs
Where did the P2V's go? For those of you who have often wondered it's in the Arizona desert, static displays on various military bases and a few in air museums around the country. Most have been recycled.
In early 2002, I learned there was a group of P2V's in Missoula, MT being used to fight forest fires. I made an appointment to visit Neptune Aviation and found an aircraft they decided not to convert to a water bomber. It sat in the Arizona desert for decades and had been flown to Missoula a few months prior to my visit.
What I found was Buno # 147695. When active in the Navy it was assigned to VP-31. Other than having had the removal of many cockpit instruments and radios, and the obvious deterioration, it had most of the electronic boxes intact. The after station hatch had been left open and some critter had been making a bed in one of the flight deck seats for a long time. In 2006, the interior pictures were retaken for technical reasons. Then, location was made of a restored nose section of a P2V-7 close by, done by the VP-2 Restoration group. That came from Buno # 147951 and served with VP-7, VP-23, VP-24, VP-45, VP-56, and VP-66. Pictures were taken of the Bow, MAD station, and Cockpit, both Pilot and Co-Pilot positions.
The pictures of these two efforts have just been published into a calendar. It can be previewed by logging onto http://www.thelightcatchers.com/. You can now see some authentic pictures that has been circulating in your thoughts for years. Here's your chance to re-live some experiences of when you were in your 20's and bulletproof. By selecting "Samples" at the top, you can then select "P2V-7 Neptune 2008 Calendar" and preview each calendar page by scrolling through pages 1-4 at the lower left of the screen. You can order the calendar on-line by clicking Order Books at the top and following instructions. If you do not want to order on-line, then email me with your name and phone number and I'll call you at a convenient time with additional ordering information.
Bob Self
bob.self@comcast.net
BOOKs:  Title: "Consolidated-Vultee PB4Y-2 Privateer: The Operational History of the U.S. Navy's World War II Patrol/Bomber Aircraft by Alan C. Carey."
Product Details:
ISBN: 0764321668
Format: Paperback, 176pp
Pub. Date: March 2005
Publisher: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd
The first comprehensive examination of the Consolidated-Vultee Aircraft Corporation's (Convair) PB4Y-2 Privateer, a 70,000-pound patrol bomber equipped with state-of-the-art electronics gear, armed with twelve .50-caliber machine guns, and the capability to deliver bombs, depth charges, and guided missiles. Beginning with the development and production of the aircraft, this book presents an in-depth examination of the patrol bomber's entire operational history from 1942 to the present. Containing nearly 300 color and b/w photographs and line art, the book covers the PB4Y-2's service with the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, French Aeronavale, Republic of China Air Force, various countries of Latin America, and finally as a slurry bomber for aerial fire fighting companies.
USN squadrons covered in the book include: VP-23, VP-24, VP-25, VP-26, VP-28, VP-772, VP-801, VP-871, VP-881, VPB-102, VPB-104, VPB-106, VPB-107, VPB-108, VPB-109, VPB-111, VPB-114, VPB-116, VPB-117, VPB-118, VPB-119, VPB-120, VPB-121, VPB-122, VPB-123, VPB-124, VPB-143, VPB-197, VPB-200, VPW-1 and VPW-2. [20JAN2005]
ORIGINAL REQUEST FOR INFORMATION: "...I'm interested in obtaining post WW-II photos of PB4Ys including those that served with France, China, and other countries. A few squadrons that flew PB4Y include: VD-2, VP-9, VP-17, VP-22, VP-23, VP-24, VP-28, VP-42, VP-120, VP-122, VP-143, VP-197, VP-200, VP-772, VP-871, VPW-1, VPW-2, VPW-3, VPM-1, VJ-1, VJ-61, VW-1, VW-2, VC-11, to mention a few! As you know, the PB4Y-2 continues to serve after 56 years of service. I am thinking of doing a pictorial history of the PB4Y-1 and 2 (1946-Present). Anyone interested contributing photos and stories will be credited in the book. I will pay for the cost of copying. Sincerely, Alan C. Carey acarey@austin.rr.com..." [06JUN2000]
BOOKs: Title: "On Hell's Perimeters" By Don Klotz - The "Black Cats of the Navy" flew Hell's perimeters. Silhouetted against billowing white clouds and brightest blue skies, they soared in and out of some of the bloodiest and most costly battles in the Pacific. Here, for the first time, the PBY Catalina pilots and air crewmen of U.S. Navy Patrol Squadron 23 tell their epic World War II story. Don Klotz, a former radioman-gunner in the squadron, is publisher of the "Black Cat Log" newsletter. [17OCT2004]
 AIRCRAFT ON DISPLAY: "...The Mid Atlantic Air Museum acquired two P2V's through the Federal Surplus Property program during the fall of 1983. BU NO 145915 filled the following assignments during its time with the US Navy: VP 21 and VP-23, NAS Brunswick, Maine, VP-92 NAS South Weymouth, Massachusetts, VP-94 NAS New Orleans, Louisiana, and VP-67 NAS Memphis, Tennessee. It served actively during the Cuban missile crisis in 1962, with VP-23..." Contributed by Fred Pierce fpierce@avialantic.com of Mid-Atlantic Aviation on the Web - http://avdigest.com/maam/p2_1.htm
BOOKs: Title: "C-C-Cold War Syndrome: Or Remember, It's Break Ground and Fly Into the Wind" by SPAULDING, CAPTAIN Gerry Retired gerkar@adelphia.net. The book is a collection of 43 humorous non-fiction short stories including some about VP-17 and VP-23. [05DEC2001]
 "...I'm happy to report that the second edition of Cold War Syndrome, my book of short stories (including half a dozen VP-17 stories and a couple from VP-23), has just been republished in e-book, soft cover and hard cover formats. Also, my first novel, Decree, will be republished in all three formats in early 2003, with its sequel, Takeout, due to be published approximately nine months later. Eight of the short stories from Cold War Syndrome are posted along with a bunch of other stuff on my web site at http://users.adelphia.net/~ghspaulding/. Two of the eight stories, "Waddlethromp" and "Zero-g," are about VP-17. While the web site is unabashedly promotional in nature, it is not a commercial site, as nothing is sold from it. Its real purpose is to post things I hope friends will enjoy reading. It also takes the place of a Christmas letter. Hope you are all well and have a great new year...SPAULDING, CAPTAIN Gerry Retired ..." [29DEC2002]
BOOKs: Title: "PBY: The Catalina Flying Boat" by Creed, Roscoe. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1986. 351 pp. This definitive study, first published in 1985, pulls together in a single volume all of the aircraft's fascinating facts. The author carefully analyzes the PBY's dual use in the war as a plane of mercy and as a bomber, and he chronicles the flying boat's contributions in peacetime. Squadrons mentioned include: VP-2, VP-5, VP-6, VP-7, VP-9, VP-10, VP-11, VP-12, VP-14, VP-21, VP-22, VP-23, VP-24, VP-31, VP-32, VP-33, VP-34, VP-41, VP-42, VP-43, VP-44, VP-45, VP-51, VP-52, VP-54, VP-61, VP-62, VP-63, VP-71, VP-72, VP-73, VP-74, VP-81, VP-83, VP-84, VP-101, VP-102, FAW-3, FAW-4, FAW-5, FAW-7, FAW-9, FAW-15, FAW-16, FAW-17, CPW-1, CPW-2, CPW-3, CPW-4, CPW-5, CPW-7, CPW-8, and CPW-10. [29MAR2001]
BOOKs: Title: "B-24 Liberator in Action Aircraft 80" by Larry Davis [VP-23 PB4Y-2 picture, etc.]
BOOKs: Title: "Flying Cats: The Catalina Aircraft in World War II" by Andrew Hendrie [Squadrons mentioned include VP-6, VP-11, VP-13, VP-14, VP-22, VP-23, VP-24, VP-33, VP-34, VP-41, VP-42, VP-43, VP-44, VP-51, VP-52, VP-53, VP-62, VP-63, VP-71, VP-72, VP-73, VP-74, VP-83, VP-84, VP-91, VP-92, VP-94, VP-101, VP-102, FAW-4, FAW-5, FAW-7, and FAW-17, etc.]
BOOKs: Title: "Air War Pacific Chronology: America's Air War Against Japan in East Asia and the Pacific, 1941-1945: Chronology" (Mentions VP-23, VP-54, VP-71, VP-72, VP-101, VD-1, VD-3, etc.) [13FEB99]
BOOKs:  Title: "The Wind Chasers." The history of the Atlantic Fleet Hurricane Hunters. It includes VPW-3, VPM-3, VPHL-3, VP-23, VX-4, VJ-2 & VW-4. I am the offiial historian of the Hurricane Hunters. For further information please contact H. J. "Walt" Walter hwalter2@earthlink.net. [10MAR99]
BOOKs: Title: "Black Cats and Dumbos: WWII Fighting PBYs" by Mel Crocker (Chapter 14)
BOOKs: Title: "Decree" The lead character is a former P-3 pilot. Authored by former P-3 Pilot Captain Gerry Spaulding, Retired who served with VP-17 and VP-23. [17JAN2000]
 MOVIE: "...Just wanted to pass on to the viewers that at the time I was station at Opa Lock, Fla. with VP-23 there was a motion picture produced depicting our primary mission at that time and that was tracking hurricanes. The title of the movie for you oldie but goodie buffs was Slattery's Hurricane and it starred Richard Widmark, Linda Darnell and Veronica Lake. Anyone wish to comment on that let me know, because I was there. I'm thinking late 1948 to early 1949 Check it out and as always have a safe flight...Bill Callegari bilnavair@msn.com..." [09APR2001]
MOVIE: "00XXX00--APPROACHING AND IN THE EYE OF A HURRICANE...Control Number: NWDNM(m)-428-NPC-13406...General Material: Motion picture films...Description Unit: Item...Record Group: 428...Series Designator: NPC...Item Designator: 13406...Title: APPROACHING AND IN THE EYE OF A HURRICANE...Format: unedited...Scope & Content: 1) Winds in this hurricane were from 90 to 100 knots. These scenes cannot be accurately described. They show very rough water, dense cloud formations, foggy conditions, clouds and water combined. Film is suitable to show foggy weather or substitute as a small storm. There are no spectacular scenes on roll...QUALITY: FAIR...Subject Ref.: SQUADRONS, VP-23; HURRICANES, general; ROUGH SEAS; WEATHER, fogs; STORMS, general; AEROLOGY, clouds...Use Restrictions: Other. Department of the Navy, Naval Photographic Center...Contact: Motion Picture, Sound, and Video Branch (NWDNM), National Archives at College Park, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001 PHONE: (301) 713-7060 FAX: (301) 713-6904..." NARA ARCHIVAL INFORMATION LOCATOR (NAIL) http://www.archives.gov/index.html
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