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HistoryVP-17 HistoryHistory

Circa 1938

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: VP-16, VP-17, and VP-19 made up Patrol Wing FOUR in 1938
Title: U.S. Navy Aircraft 1921-1941, U.S. Marine Corps Aircraft 1914-1959: Two Classics in One Volume [Squadron insignias, aircraft, and more!] by William T. Larkins [10SEP98]

Circa 1937 - 1939

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...VP-17 - A Chronology - via the provided to me by the Naval Historical Center..." Contributed by McLAUGHLIN, LT Bob banddmcl1964@msn.com [09JAN2007]

U. S. Naval Aviation first saw a "Patrol Squadron Seventeen" on 2 January 1937 when VP-17F was established at Fleet Air Base Seattle, Washington. LCDR Dolph C. Allen commanded the squadron which was under the administrative control of Patrol Wing 4, Base Force. The squadron's Martin PM-1 seaplanes were tended aboard USS Thrush (AVP-3). LCDR John Perry took over command on 30 September 1937. VP-17F was redesignated VP-17 on 1 October 1937 when all patrol squadrons were removed from the Base Force and administratively placed under Patrol Wings. VP-17 turned in it's PM-1s on 17 March 1938 for new Consolidated PBY-2 Catalinas. They deployed to the South Pacific until April 1938 aboard Thrush (AVP-3). USS Teal (AVP-5) provided tender support for the squadron's seaplanes while participating in Fleet Problem XIX (Phase II). In October of 1938, LCDR Stanhope C. Ring assumed command.

Great crew discomfort was experienced at high altitudes and in northern latitudes as PBY aircraft of the period lacked cabin heaters. On 1 November 1938 VP-17 was selected to test the new electrically heated flying suits. In the first trials, at 18,700 feet, the fuses were blown out by the suits. The general opinion was that the suits were too bulky and unreliable in the cramped quarters of the aircraft. Better heating and insulation was, therefore, installed by the manufacturer in following models of the PBY. Crew comfort was improved on long cold flights.

The squadron insignia depicted a lion seal as the central figure as most of the squadron's activities took place in Alaskan waters. Approved by the Bureau of Aeronautics on 16 November 1938 the circular insignia had no letters or numbers designating the squadron. The background color was white with a black seal balancing a black bomb on it's nose and a black circular outline.

On 1 July 1939 VP-17 was redesignated VP-42 who retained the black seal insignia.

Circa 1937

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...Naval Aeronautic Organization - Change In - Fiscal Year 1938 - Dated 24 Sep 1937..." WebSite: Naval Historical Center http://www.history.navy.mil/ [25SEP2006]

VP SQUADRONS MENTIONED

VP-1, VP-2, VP-3, VP-4, VP-5, VP-6, VP-7, VP-8 and VP-9

VP-10, VP-11, VP-12, VP-14, VP-15, VP-16, VP-17 and VP-19
History - Tap To Enlarge ThumbnailHistory - Tap To Enlarge ThumbnailHistory - Tap To Enlarge ThumbnailHistory - Tap To Enlarge ThumbnailHistory - Tap To Enlarge ThumbnailHistory - Tap To Enlarge Thumbnail

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...Naval Aeronautic Organization - Fiscal Year 1938 - Dated 7 May 1937..." WebSite: Naval Historical Center http://www.history.navy.mil/ [25SEP2006]

VP SQUADRONS MENTIONED

VP-1, VP-2, VP-3, VP-4, VP-5, VP-6, VP-7, VP-8 and VP-9

VP-10, VP-11, VP-12, VP-14, VP-15, VP-16, VP-17 and VP-19
History - Tap To Enlarge ThumbnailHistory - Tap To Enlarge ThumbnailHistory - Tap To Enlarge ThumbnailHistory - Tap To Enlarge ThumbnailHistory - Tap To Enlarge ThumbnailHistory - Tap To Enlarge ThumbnailHistory - Tap To Enlarge ThumbnailHistory - Tap To Enlarge ThumbnailHistory - Tap To Enlarge ThumbnailHistory - Tap To Enlarge ThumbnailHistory - Tap To Enlarge Thumbnail

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...Here is something I found in an old newpaper, The Alaska Weekly, dated Nov 19. 1937: "Two naval aviators were drown near Sitka, Alaska 6 days ago when their small rowboat oveturned. They were Clarence Leroy Jenkins of Seattle and William Howard King of Los Angeles, both radiomen second class attached to Patrol Squadron 17 which had been on duty in Sitka for the past several weeks. The pair left Seattle, Washington with their squadron about October 1st." The Naval Air Station in Sitka was brand new in 1937, and was manned by crews TDY out of Sand Point, Washington...Duane McEwen duanemc@aracnet.com..." [23AUG2001]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...VP-17 History Lineage..." Contributed by Bob McLaughlin (LT) banddmcl1964@msn.com [16MAY99]

02 JAN 37.....VP-17F established at Fleet Air Base, Seattle, WA / PM-1 seaplanes.
01 OCT 37.....VP-17F redesignated VP-17
17 MAR 38.....VP-17 transitions to PBY-2 Catalinas.
01 JUL 39.....VP-17 redesignated VP-42
03 JAN 44.....VP-17 re-established at NAS Norfolk, Virginia / PBM-3D Mariners (to SoPac).
01 OCT 44.....VP-17 redesignated VPB-17 at Saipan.
30 JAN 46.....VPB-17 disestablished at NAS North Island, San Diego, California
01 JUL 46.....VP-916 (reserve) established at NAS Los Alamitos, California / PBY-5A & PV2 Harpoon.
15 NOV 46.....VP-916 redesignated VP-ML-66
01 FEB 50.....VP-ML-66 redesignated VP-772 / PV2 Harpoon (tail letter "L").
01 SEP 50.....VP-772 reactivated to NAS Whidbey Island, Washington, WA / PB4Y-2 Privateers (BH).
04 FEB 53.....VP-772 redesignated VP-17
01 AUG 53.....VP-17 transitioned to P2V-6 Neptunes.
01 JUL 56.....VP-17 redesignated VAHM-10, transitioned to P2V-6M Neptunes.
01 APR 57.....VAHM-10 replaced -6Ms with P2V-5F Neptunes.
09 DEC 57.....VAHM-10 tail letters changed to "ZE".
01 JUL 59.....VAHM-10 redesignated back to VP-17
01 DEC 59.....VP-17 transitioned to P2V-7S Neptunes (SP-2H).
01 DEC 68.....VP-17 transitioned to P-3A Orions, moved to NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii
31 MAR 95.....VP-17 disestablished.
(RAMc/NavHistCtr)

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...LOCKHEED PV VENTURA and HARPOON - by Jack McKillop..." http://www.microworks.net/pacific/aviation/pv_ventura.htm [23JUN2002]

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