VP-41 was aPatrol Squadron of theU.S. Navy. The squadron was established asPatrol Squadron 21 (VP-21) on 1 March 1944, redesignatedPatrol Bombing Squadron 21 (VPB-21) on 1 October 1944, redesignatedPatrol Squadron 21 (VP-21) on 15 May 1946, redesignatedMedium Patrol Squadron (Seaplane) 11 (VP-MS-11) on 15 November 1946, redesignatedPatrol Squadron 41 (VP-41) on 1 September 1948 and disestablished on 23 April 1949.[1]
1 March 1944: VP-21 was established atNAS Norfolk, Virginia, as a seaplane squadron flying thePBM-3D Mariner. The next day, the squadron began relocating toNAS Harvey Point, North Carolina, where all of the ground and flight training was given. During this period, the squadron came under the operational control of FAW-5.
9 May 1944: VP-21 was relocated toNAS Key West, Florida, for advanced training inAnti-submarine warfare (ASW). The training was completed on 16 June 1944, and the squadron began to fly its aircraft cross-country toNAS Alameda, California, in preparation for its trans-Pacific flight to the South Pacific.
22 June 1944: The squadron aircraft began the trans-Pacific flight toNAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, from NAS Alameda. Upon arrival, the squadron came under the operational control of FAW-2. The last element of three aircraft was aboard at NAS Kaneohe Bay by the 26th. Operational patrols and advanced combat training began immediately.
19 August 1944: VP-21 deployed toParry Island Seaplane Base, Eniwetok, relievingVP-1. The squadron continued under the operational control of FAW-2, conducting patrols, searches, and the occasional bomb run over Japanese-heldPonape Island.
17 October 1944: VPB-21 was relocated toKossol Passage,Palau. The squadron conducted daily searches, with tender support provided byUSS Chandeleur andUSS Mackinac. FAW-1 assumed operational control.
24 December 1944: The squadron was relocated toUlithi Atoll to relieveVPB-17. Duties consisted of daytime anti-shipping patrols and hunter-killer missions. Tender support was provided by USSChandeleur.
21 January 1945: During the night of the 21st Lieutenant(jg) Richard L. Simms and crew sank a JapaneseKaiten midget submarine attempting to attack shipping in Ulithi lagoon. The Kaiten had been released by the submarine carrierI-36. Simms and his crew dropped fourDepth charges on the Kaiten, sinking it with the loss of its two-man crew.
29 January 1945: VPB-21 was relocated toTanapag Harbor, Saipan, aboard USSChandeleur, under the operational control of the5th Fleet (TG 50.5.2). The squadron was assigned routine patrols in the vicinity of the island group. On 17 March the squadron was able to move ashore to the naval air base barracks, remaining until the 27th.
28 March 1945: The squadron was relocated toKerama Retto to support theBattle of Okinawa. Tender support continued to be provided by USSChandeleur. While stationed at this location, on 7 April 1945, one of the squadron aircraft spotted theJapanese battleship Yamato and her escorts steaming toward Okinawa. The aircrew was able to alert elements of the 5th Fleet and reinforcements soon arrived, resulting in the sinking ofYamato and several other Japanese vessels in the battle group. By the beginning of May, the squadron was advancing its patrols as far as theRyukyu Islands, strafing and bombing targets of opportunity on land or sea. These were gradually extended to include the Japanese home islands, theEast China Sea, the southern coast of Korea, and the China coast from north ofFormosa to north ofShanghai. From 1 June 1945, the patrols were conducted to the south and east of Okinawa, the East China andYellow Sea and theSea of Japan.Dumbo (air-sea rescue) and weather flights were added to the squadron’s mission list.
15 July 1945: VPB-21 was relocated toChimu-Wan, Okinawa. Daytime search and reconnaissance patrols were conducted through 6 August 1945, when the squadron was moved again to Eniwetok.
2 September – 18 November 1945: After a few weeks spent relocating and a brief period of stand down for rest and relaxation, the squadron commenced routine patrols from Eniwetok, remaining at that location until 11 September 1945, when it was relocated to Ominato, China. By 18 November 1945, VPB-21 had been relocated from Ominato to Hong Kong.
26 Jan 1946: The squadron moved its headquarters to the formerImperial Japanese Navy Air Base atSasebo, Japan. Detachments were maintained at Hong Kong and Okinawa.
9 July – 3 October 1946: VPB-21 was relocated toQingdao, China. Detachments were maintained at Hong Kong and Shanghai. On 3 October 1946, the Shanghai detachment was relocated toYokosuka, Japan.
23 November 1947: The squadron was relocated to a new home port at NAS San Diego.
6 September 1948 – 26 March 1949: VP-41 deployed from its home port of NAS San Diego, to Qingdao, China, to relieveVP-MS-3. Ground personnel and supplies departed aboardUSS Pine Island, and by 27 September all nine PBM-5 aircraft arrived at Qingdao. On the 29th a detachment of three aircraft was sent to Yokosuka, Japan. On 1 November 1948, five VP-41 aircraft flew toBuckner Bay, Okinawa, Japan, for ASW exercises, supported byUSS Suisun. The exercise concluded due to a tropical storm front on the 9th. On 21 November 1948, the explosion of aChinese Nationalist Army ammunition dump next to the seaplane ramp damaged two squadron aircraft. On 21 December 1948, a PBM-5 sank during a rough water landing off Qingdao; there were no casualties to the crew. The squadron returned to NAS San Diego on 26 March 1949.
23 April 1949: VP-41 was disestablished at NAS San Diego.[1]
United States Navy
