VPB-105 was aPatrol Bombing Squadron of theU.S. Navy. The squadron was established asPatrol Squadron 10 (VP-10) on 29 May 1924, redesignatedPatrol Squadron 2D-15 (VP-2D15)on 21 September 1927, redesignatedPatrol Squadron 2-S (VP-2S) on 1 July 1931, redesignatedPatrol Squadron 2-F (VP-2F) on 17 July 1933, redesignatedPatrol Squadron 2 (VP-2) on 1 October 1937, redesignatedPatrol Squadron 31 (VP-31) on 1 July 1939, redesignatedBombing Squadron 105 (VB-105) on 15 May 1943, redesignatedPatrol Bombing Squadron 105 (VPB-105) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 27 June 1945.[1]
29 May 1924: Station aircraft supporting the Naval Base atCoco Solo,Panama Canal Zone, were designated byCNO as VP-10. The squadron consisted of six flying boats (F-5Ls andH-16s). The new designation placed the squadron under the Naval Coast Defense Forces, Panama Canal Zone Region.
20 May 1925: VP-10 received newHS-2L flying boats to replace the World War I vintage F-5L and H-16s. The new equipment was tested in formation bombing on targets off the entrance toColón, Panama, achieving "excellent patterns."
29 September 1925: VP-10 tested new radio equipment in areas of theGulf of San Blas considered transmission dead spots.
1 Feb 1926: Two aircraft from VP-10 participated with Army aircraft in the Joint Army/NavyProblem No. I.
21 September 1927: VP-10 was redesignated VP-2D15, the D15 represented the 15th Naval District, Panama Canal Zone.
8 January 1928: TwoT3M-2s and one SC-2 of VP-2D15 were converted to land gear-capable aircraft to provide an escort for ColonelCharles Lindbergh from theGulf of Chiriquí, to the Canal Zone during his visit to the area.
13 May 1928: Two newO2U-1 seaplanes arrived aboard SSCristobal and were assembled on station. The aircraft were used to make several flights toHaiti to transport vaccine and medical supplies for the Public Health Service in connection with an outbreak of meningitis.
3 January 1931: VP-2D15 received the firstPM-1. Night flight training was conducted with the plane and squadron crew members praised the handling and ease of night landings in the new aircraft.
3 Apr 1931: Elements of VP-2D15 participated inFleet Problem XII with Carrier Division One, withVP-8S andVP-10S held off the coast ofGuantanamo Bay, Cuba. VP-2D15 aircraft operated from thenaval base, while VP-8S was supported byUSS Wright and VP-10S had support fromUSS Swann andUSS Whitney. The squadron's 700 miles (1,100 km) return flight to Coco Solo, took 8 hours and 5 minutes.
1 July 1931: VP-2D15 was redesignated VP-2S, with the S representing the Scouting Fleet.
13 September 1931: VP-2S completed transition to new PM-2s after receiving a consignment of 20 aircraft fromNAS Hampton Roads. The new seaplanes were flown to Coco Solo by squadron personnel, rather than shipping them and reassembling on station, saving the government approximately $250,000.
1 February 1932: VPs 2S and5S were transferred temporarily from the Panama Canal Zone Region to Base Force command, with headquarters atNAS San Diego, California.
1 April 1933: VP-2S was redesignated VP-2F, with the F representing the Base Force. A detachment of nine aircraft operated with USSWright, with the remainder of the squadron based at NAS San Diego.
7 April 1933: VPs 2F and 5F returned to the Panama Canal Zone and its former base at FAB Coco Solo.
21 April–28 May 1934: VPs 2F,3F,5F,7F and9F assembled at FAB Coco Solo to conduct a test flight of massed squadrons in support of fleet movements. Exercises extended through 28 May 1934, terminating at NAS San Diego.
1 January – 16 February 1935: VP-2F conducted exercises with VPs 3F and 5F in the Caribbean to evaluate support provided by tenders USSWright,USS Lapwing,USS Teal andUSS Gannet. Upon completion of the exercises on 16 February 1935 the squadron had covered approximately 4,000 miles (6,400 km) and crossed the Caribbean for the third time in one year.
1 October 1937: VP-2F was redesignated VP-2 when the fleet structure was reorganized and Patrol Wings were established. VPs 2, 3 and 5 at FAB Coco Solo came under the control of PatWing-3.
20 February 1939: VPs 2, 3 and 5 participated inFleet Problem XX, with PatWing-3 aircraft serving under Black Force. Exercises against ships and aircraft of White Force in the Caribbean pointed out the extreme vulnerability of patrol aircraft to attack while at land bases, as compared to relative safety in dispersion using tender support. Results also indicated unacceptable loss rates of the slow-moving patrol aircraft in operations against antiaircraft (AA) fire from ships.
14 April 1939: VPs 2, 3 and 5 conducted photographic mapping of 1,076 miles (1,732 km) of South American coastline fromNicaragua to the Colombian border. The aerial photography was greatly impeded by bad weather conditions.
9 March – 1 April 1940: VP-31 was assigned toNeutrality Patrols, operating in conjunction withVP-53 out ofNAS Key West, Florida. VP-31 returned to PatWing-3 operational control on 1 April 1940.
1 May 1940: A three-plane detachment from VP-31 was sent to NAS Key West; three aircraft were sent toNAS San Juan, Puerto Rico; and a four-plane detachment remained at Coco Solo.
8 July 1941: VP-31 pilots flew all of the squadron aircraft to NAS San Diego, for refitting with the newerPBY-5.
26 May 1942: Lieutenant Edward G. Binning, operating from NAS St. Lucia, located a submarine on the surface at 23:57 and dropped threedepth charges on it in two diving attacks. The submarine appeared to settle slowly in the water in a sinking condition.USS Tarbell was called to the scene and was also of the opinion that the submarine had been sunk. This attack deserved special notice because it was the first night attack carried out successfully in that area. Lieutenant Binning was subsequently awarded theNavy Cross for this action. Postwar examination of German Navy records, however, did not record any loss of aU-boat on that date.
15 August 1942: VP-31 operated out of NAS San Juan and changed administrative control from PatWing-3, Panama Canal Zone, to PatWing-11.
1 October 1942: A VP-31 detachment was sent toNAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island, to serve with theNarraganset Air Patrol off the northeastern United States. The remainder of the squadron arrived atNAS Elizabeth City, North Carolina, for training in operation of the new PBY-5A.
1 January 1943: A VP-31 detachment was sent toNAS Argentia, Newfoundland, serving under FAW-7's operational control.
1 April 1943: VP-31 detachments rejoin the squadron atNAS Norfolk, Virginia, for refitting and familiarization training on the newPB4Y-1 Liberator land-based long-range bombers.
15 May 1943: VP-31 was redesignated VB-105 in preparation for its transition from patrol flying boats (VP) to land-based bombers (VB). Fifty percent of the squadron's assets, flight crews and ground support staff were supplemented byVP-52. During the four months of training detachments were sent toKindley Field, Bermuda, for operational long-range training flights.
1 August 1943: VB-105 aircraft were ferried by squadron aircrews toRAF St. Eval, Cornwall, England. The squadron, while nominally under the control of FAW-7, came under the operational control of 19 Group,RAF Coastal Command.
24 September 1943: The 19th USAAF squadron departedRAF Dunkeswell, England, to join the8th Air Force, followed by the 22nd USAAF on 28 September. Three Navy patrol squadrons (VBs103,110 and 105) took over the ASW role previously assigned to the USAAF in England. The USAAF ASW squadrons were phased out and their equipment, similar to that on VB-105 aircraft, was turned over to the Navy. The USAAF flew its last ASW mission from Dunkeswell on 31 October 1943 and the 4th USAAF squadron departed on 6 November.
12 October 1943: VB-105 relocated to RAF Dunkeswell. Within a few months of the squadron's arrival, control of a portion of the airbase was turned over to the Navy and designated NAF Dunkeswell. Principal duties of the squadron were convoy escort and ASW patrols.
10 November 1943: VB-105 was a participant in one of the longest surface battles of aircraft against a U-boat in World War II. At 08:00, a VB-105 aircraft piloted by Lieutenant L. E. Harmon, was alerted by an RAF aircraft of a radar contact near the coast of Spain. Harmon located the surfacedU-966 and made two strafing attacks. Heavy AA fire damaged his aircraft and forced him to break off the attack. An RAF fighter then dove to attack the submarine. Harmon made a third strafing attack but had to break off afterwards due to a fuel shortage. Lieutenant K. L. Wright, of VB-103, locatedU-966 nearFerrol at 10:40 and delivered a strafing and depth charge attack. Intense AA fire drove him off and he had to depart the target due to lack of fuel. Lieutenant W. W. Parish and crew then arrived on the scene. A depth charge attack was conducted in cooperation with a rocket-firing RAF Liberator at 12:30. The submarine was abandoned by its crew after running aground at Oritiguiera, Spain, with eight of its crew of 49 killed in action. The German crewmen were quickly picked up by nearby Spanish fishing vessels and interned by the Spanish government.
26 February 1944: One of the squadron aircraft was attacked by GermanJu 88s and shot down, with the loss of all hands. A Ju 88C-6 Werk No. 750941 from 3/ZG1 piloted by Lieutenant H. Baldeweg was also shot down, with the loss of its crew.
1 June 1944: VB-105 participated in operations in support of theInvasion of Normandy, maintaining 15 aircraft in an operational status for the duration of the landings.
10 August 1944: A squadron aircraft encountered a heavily armed GermanDo 217. In the ensuing combat, the German aircraft was heavily damaged and turned for home.
30 August 1944: A squadron aircraft attacked a German U-boat in coastal waters offBrest. Sufficient evidence of the submarine's destruction was present to justify a claim of sunk by the squadron, however postwar German records indicate no U-boat losses on this date.
17 May 1945: Operational missions were reduced and sight-seeing tours for VIPs were conducted over the captured territories ranging from Normandy to Holland.
4 June 1945: VPB-105 was en route from England to continental United States to prepare for its disestablishment.
27 June 1945: VPB-105 was disestablished at NAS Norfolk.
United States Navy
