VPB-15 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron 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 ...

. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 15 (VP-15) on 15 March 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 15 (VPB-15) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 23 November 1945.

Operational history

*15 March 1943: VP-15 was established at

NAS San Diego Naval Air Station North Island or NAS North Island , at the north end of the Coronado peninsula on San Diego Bay in San Diego, California, is part of the largest aerospace-industrial complex in the United States Navy – Naval Base Coronado (NB ...

, California, under the operational control of FAW-14. The squadron was equipped with the PB2Y-3 Coronado heavy seaplane. *15 May 1943: Upon completion of the squadron shakedown of personnel and equipment, VP-15 was transferred to

NAS Bermuda Naval Air Station Bermuda (Kindley Field) (usually described in Bermuda as United States Naval Air Station Bermuda, and not to be confused with the former Royal Naval Air Station Bermuda or the United States Naval Air Station Bermuda Annex, whi ...

under the operational control of FAW-5. Principal duties were to provide ASW, patrol searches and convoy coverage along the eastern seaboard. On 1 August 1943, administrative control shifted from FAW-5 to FAW-9. *21 April 1944: VP-15 was transferred to

NAS Coco Solo Nas (born 1973) is the stage name of American rapper Nasir Jones. Nas, NaS, or NAS may also refer to: Aviation * Nasair, a low-cost airline carrier and subsidiary based in Eritrea * National Air Services, an airline in Saudi Arabia ** Nas Air (S ...

Panama Canal Zone The Panama Canal Zone ( es, Zona del Canal de Panamá), also simply known as the Canal Zone, was an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the Isthmus of Panama, that existed from 1903 to 1979. It was located within the terr ...

, under the operational control of FAW-3. One detachment was deployed to

Corinto, Nicaragua Corinto is a town, with a population of 18,552 (2021 estimate), on the northwest Pacific coast of Nicaragua in the province of Chinandega. The municipality was founded in 1863. History Early years The town of Corinto was founded in 1849. It first ...

, and a second to the Galapagos Islands. *15 October 1944: VP-15 was transferred NAS San Diego, under the operational control of FAW-14. The squadron was reformed, training for all hands commenced, and refitting of all equipment was begun in preparation for transfer to the South Pacific. *1 December 1944: The squadron’s well-worn PB2Y-3 aircraft were replaced with 15 new PB2Y-5s fresh from the factory. *2 March 1945: VPB-15 began the transpac 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. All 15 aircraft arrived safely. After a brief period for settling in, the squadron began a period of intense training in preparation for combat. *12 April 1945: The squadron departed NAS Kaneohe Bay for

Tanapag Harbor Tanapag Harbor () is the primary harbor of Saipan, and is located on the western side of the island in the city of Tanapag. It is separated from the Philippine Sea by a barrier reef, located about 3 km (2 miles) off the shore. This reef forms ...

, Saipan, arriving on 15 April, where it commenced daily patrols and antishipping patrols immediately upon arrival. During this period the squadron came under the operational control of FAW-1. *4 May 1945: The Search and Reconnaissance Command was established at NAB Saipan under the operational control of FAW-18. VPB-15 was brought into this command shortly thereafter. *16 May 1945: A detachment of three aircraft was sent to

Kerama Retto The are a subtropical island group southwest of Okinawa Island in Japan. Geography Four islands are inhabited: Tokashiki Island, Zamami Island, Aka Island, and Geruma Island. The islands are administered as Tokashiki Village and Zamami Vill ...

. The remainder of the squadron at Saipan continued long-range patrols, and on 1 July 1945, extended them to

Marcus Island , also known as Marcus Island, is an isolated Japanese coral atoll in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, located some southeast of Tokyo and east of the closest Japanese island, South Iwo Jima of the Ogasawara Islands, and nearly on a straight line ...

. By the end of September 1945 the squadron was based ashore at NAB Saipan, awaiting orders to stand down. *23 November 1945: VPB-15 was disestablished at Saipan.

Aircraft assignments

The squadron was assigned the following aircraft, effective on the dates shown: * PB2Y-3 - March 1943 * PB2Y-5 - December 1944

Home port assignments

The squadron was assigned to these home ports, effective on the dates shown: *

, California - 15 March 1943 *

- 15 May 1943 *

, Panama Canal Zone - 21 April 1944 * NAS San Diego - 15 October 1944 *

, Hawaii - 2 March 1945 *

NAB Saipan Naval Base Saipan or Naval Advance Base Saipan or Naval Air Base Saipan was a United States Navy Naval base built during World War II to support Pacific Ocean theater of war and the many warships and troops fighting the war. The base was on th ...

- 12 April 1945

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vpb-15 Patrol squadrons of the United States Navy Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons

Operational history

Aircraft assignments

Home port assignments

See also

References