VH-1 (Rescue Squadron 1) was one of six dedicated (VH) Rescue Squadrons of the

U.S. Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage o ...

during WWII. A more comprehensive write-up on the VH squadrons can be found in the history of Rescue Squadron 3 (VH-3), which was the US Navy's most active VH squadron. VH-1 made 19 direct rescues via open sea landings. It also assisted in the rescue of (at least) another 119 air crewman by locating them and directing surface vessels to effect the rescue. VH-1 was established on 1 February 1944 and disestablished in April 1946. The squadron employed the

Consolidated PB2Y Coronado The PB2Y Coronado is a large flying boat patrol bomber designed by Consolidated Aircraft, and used by the US Navy during World War II in bombing, antisubmarine, and transport roles. Obsolete by the end of the war, Coronados were quickly taken ...

and the

Martin PBM Mariner The Martin PBM Mariner was an American patrol bomber flying boat of World War II and the early Cold War era. It was designed to complement the Consolidated PBY Catalina and PB2Y Coronado in service. A total of 1,366 PBMs were built, with the fir ...

during its operations.

Operational history

* 1 February 1944: VH-1 was established at

NAS Alameda Naval Air Station Alameda (NAS Alameda) was a United States Navy Naval Air Station in Alameda, California, on San Francisco Bay. NAS Alameda had two runways: 13–31 measuring and 07-25 measuring . Two helicopter pads and a control tower were ...

, California.. * 1 June 1944: VH-1 commences rescue operations based out of Saipan. * 22 June 1944: Lt Sharp is awarded the

Air Medal The Air Medal (AM) is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces. It was created in 1942 and is awarded for single acts of heroism or meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. Criteria The Air Medal was establish ...

for the open sea landing and rescue of two downed airmen. * 16 September 1944: VH-1 temporarily relocates operations to

Palau Palau,, officially the Republic of Palau and historically ''Belau'', ''Palaos'' or ''Pelew'', is an island country and microstate in the western Pacific. The nation has approximately 340 islands and connects the western chain of the ...

. * mid-October 1944: VH-1 temporarily relocates operations to the

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

for the

Invasion of Leyte An invasion is a military offensive in which large numbers of combatants of one geopolitical entity aggressively enter territory owned by another such entity, generally with the objective of either: conquering; liberating or re-establishing con ...

. * November 1944: VH-1 locates 6 survivors from downed B-29's and guides surface vessels to make the rescues. * December 1944: VH-1 assists in the rescue of 30 aircrew from 2 B-29s and a

B-24 The Consolidated B-24 Liberator is an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and some initial production aircraft were laid down as export models des ...

by Destroyers. * January 1945: VH-1 assists in the rescue by surface vessels of 39 surviving aircrew from 3 B-29's, 1

P-38 The Lockheed P-38 Lightning is an American single-seat, twin piston-engined fighter aircraft that was used during World War II. Developed for the United States Army Air Corps by the Lockheed Corporation, the P-38 incorporated a distinctive twi ...

, and 2 PBM's. 27 of these survivors come from 2 PBMs of sister rescue squadron VH-3 which had crash landed after suffering engine failure. * 10 February 1945: Lt Evans of VH-1 rescues the lone survivor of a

that exploded mid-air after being hit by

Flak Anti-aircraft warfare, counter-air or air defence forces is the battlespace response to aerial warfare, defined by NATO as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action".AAP-6 It includes surface based ...

, and he is awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. * March 1945: Lt Hutchinson of VH-1 rescues 9 survivors of a downed B-29. VH-1 spots another 9 downed airmen and directs surface vessels to their rescue. * 27 April 1945: Lt Cmdr R.R. Barrett takes over command of VH-1. He had previously been the executive officer of VH-3 and had made 8 rescues with VH-3 in April 1945 before being reassigned to VH-1. * June 1945: VH-1 spots 7 survivors in a life raft and directs USS Sea Fox (SS-402) to the rescue site. * July 1945: VH-1 spots 28 survivors from 4 downed B-29s and directs surface vessels to effect the rescues. * 1 August 1945: VH-1 relocates to Okinawa Island to relieve Rescue Squadron VH-3, which has been there since April. In the final week of the war, VH-1 makes 7 rescues of downed aviators. * 12 August 1945: Lt (jg) McClure of VH-1 lands under fire from shore batteries one mile off of western Kyushu to pick up a badly burned pilot from the

318th Fighter Group The 318th Fighter Group was a World War II United States Army Air Forces combat organization. It served primarily in the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II. History The 318th Fighter Group was activated in October 1942 when the remainders of ...

as an enemy boat approached to make capture. McClure is awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for this rescue. * 24 December 1945: VH-1 relocates operations to

Shanghai Shanghai (; , , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ) is one of the four direct-administered municipalities of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The city is located on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the Huangpu River flowin ...

. * April 1946: VH-1 was disestablished.

References

{{United States Navy Aircraft Squadrons Rescue squadrons of the United States Navy

Operational history

See also

References