VPB-151 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 151 (VB-151) on 3 January 1944, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 151 (VPB-151) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 30 June 1945.
Operational history
*3 January 1944: VB-151 was established at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington, under the operational control of FAW-6, as a medium bombing squadron flying the PV-1 Ventura. Training and shakedown was conducted at NAS Whidbey Island through mid-April 1944.
*15 April – July 1944: The squadron flew to NAS Alameda, California, to begin preparations for its transportation to
Naval Base Pearl Harbor
A navy, naval force, or maritime force is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral, or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions. It include ...
, Hawaii. The squadron departed from San Francisco, California, aboard on 30 April, arriving at Pearl Harbor on 6 May. The equipment and aircraft were unloaded and flown to
NAS Kaneohe Bay
Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay or MCAS Kaneohe Bay is a United States Marine Corps (USMC) airfield located within the Marine Corps Base Hawaii complex, formerly known as Marine Corps Air Facility (MCAF) Kaneohe Bay or Naval Air Station (NAS) ...
, Hawaii, on the 7th. Training at NAS Kaneohe Bay continued through the end of July.
*5 August 1944: VB-151 was transferred to NAB Hawkins Field,
Tarawa
Tarawa is an atoll and the capital of the Republic of Kiribati,Kiribati ''
Nauru
Nauru ( or ; na, Naoero), officially the Republic of Nauru ( na, Repubrikin Naoero) and formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island country and microstate in Oceania, in the Central Pacific. Its nearest neighbour is Banaba Island in Ki ...
and
Jaluit Atoll
Jaluit Atoll ( Marshallese: , , or , ) is a large coral atoll of 91 islands in the Pacific Ocean and forms a legislative district of the Ralik Chain of the Marshall Islands. Its total land area is , and it encloses a lagoon with an area of . Most ...
.
*29 August – 18 November 1944: VB-151 was relocated to NAB North Field, Tinian, Marianas Islands. Daily search sectors of , and were flown. Frequent attacks were conducted against the Yap,
Woleai
Woleai, also known as Oleai, is a coral atoll of twenty-two islands in the western Caroline Islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district in the Yap State in the Federated States of Micronesia and is located approximately west-n ...
Pagan
Paganism (from classical Latin ''pāgānus'' "rural", "rustic", later "civilian") is a term first used in the fourth century by early Christians for people in the Roman Empire who practiced polytheism, or ethnic religions other than Judaism. ...
islands. One flight crew was shot down over Woleai by anti-aircraft (AA) fire; all hands were lost. On 18 November, the squadron was relocated to
West Field
Helm Field also called Lemoore Auxiliary Army Airfield A-7 is a former US Army Airfield use for training during World War II. Helm Field was location in the town of Coalinga, California, 70 miles south of Fresno. Helm Field had two 3,000 foot runw ...
, Tinian.
*1 January – 18 February 1945: The squadron was engaged in air cover for Cruiser Division 5 en route to attack
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima (, also ), known in Japan as , is one of the Japanese Volcano Islands and lies south of the Bonin Islands. Together with other islands, they form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The highest point of Iwo Jima is Mount Suribachi at high.
...
. From 13 to 18 February 1945, VPB-151 engaged in advance air screen tasking against enemy ships, submarines and aircraft for the Fifth Fleet, preparatory to the attack on the Japanese home islands and Iwo Jima.
*13–19 March 1945: Six squadron aircraft were sent to Iwo Jima to provide anti- picket boat sweeps in advance of
TF 58
The Fast Carrier Task Force (TF 38 when assigned to Third Fleet, TF 58 when assigned to Fifth Fleet), was the main striking force of the United States Navy in the Pacific War from January 1944 through the end of the war in August 1945. The tas ...
.
*4–30 June 1945: VPB-151 was relieved by VPB-142 for return to NAS Kaneohe Bay and the continental U.S. After arrival at Kaneohe, the squadron turned over its aircraft to the HEDRON and boarded bound for NAS San Diego, California. Upon arrival on the 21st, all hands were ordered to prepare for disestablishment. On 30 June 1945 VPB-151 was disestablished at NAS San Diego.
Aircraft assignments
The squadron was assigned the following aircraft, effective on the dates shown:
* PV-1 - January 1944
Home port assignments
The squadron was assigned to these home ports, effective on the dates shown:
* NAS Whidbey Island, Washington - 3 January 1944
* NAS Alameda, California - 15 April 1944
*
NAS Kaneohe Bay
Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay or MCAS Kaneohe Bay is a United States Marine Corps (USMC) airfield located within the Marine Corps Base Hawaii complex, formerly known as Marine Corps Air Facility (MCAF) Kaneohe Bay or Naval Air Station (NAS) ...
, Hawaii - 7 May 1944
* NAS San Diego, California - 21 June 1945
See also
*
Maritime patrol aircraft
A maritime patrol aircraft (MPA), also known as a patrol aircraft, maritime reconnaissance aircraft, or by the older American term patrol bomber, is a fixed-wing aircraft designed to operate for long durations over water in maritime patrol roles ...
*
List of inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons
There are hundreds of US Navy aircraft squadrons which are not currently active dating back to before World War II (the U.S. Navy operated aircraft prior to World War I, but it did not organize them in squadrons until after that war). To be mo ...
List of squadrons in the Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons
The tables below cover every one of the 280 squadrons listed in the U.S. Navy's two-volume ''Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons'' (''DANAS''). Volume 1 covers every squadron in the Attack (VA) and Strike Fighter (VFA) communities fro ...
*
History of the United States Navy
The history of the United States Navy divides into two major periods: the "Old Navy", a small but respected force of sailing ships that was notable for innovation in the use of ironclads during the American Civil War, and the "New Navy" the ...