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VP-54 / VPB-54 War Diary             
Part Five                                             

1. Patrol Squadron FIFTY-Four was re-formed on 6 February, 1944. Lt. Comdr.
Kenneth J. Sanger, USN, assumed command in accordance with Bureau of Naval Personnel dispatch dated 2 February, 1944. The squadron is attached to and operating under Fleet Air Wing FOURTEEN.

2. Fifty officers and fifty-two enlisted men reported aboard during the month of February.

3. Six PBY-5A airplanes were assigned to the squadron during the month.

4. Operations in February were limited to the instruction of personnel, and routine training flights by the commanding officer. Pilots were assigned temporary duty under instruction at the Operational Training Unit of Headquarters Squadron of Fleet Air Wing FOURTEEN. Navigators were given instructions in Radar, Celestial Navigation and Recognition of Ships and Aircraft.

5. No ammunition was issued or expended.

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1. During the period covered by this diary Patrol Squadron FIFTY-FOUR has been attached to and operating under Fleet Air Wing FOURTEEN.

2. The squadron personnel as of March 31, 1944 include fifty-two officers and one hundred eleven enlisted men.

3. Two PBY-5A airplanes were assigned to the squadron during the month, giving the squadron a total of eight planes assigned as of 31 March, 1944.

4. Operations in March were limited to the instruction of personnel Training flights were carded out by the commanding officer, the executive officer, two pilots qualified as patrol plane commander, and three pilots being trained for qualification as patrol plane commander by the commanding officer. The squadron completed six hundred and fourteen hours of the Fleet Air, West Coast Training Syllabus for Patrol Squadron.

5. The Commanding Officer assisted in the location of the crew of a TBM which made a forced landing at sea on 13 March, 1944, and circled the liferaft containing the crewmembers until rescue craft reached the scene.

6. No ammunition was issued or expended.

1. During the period covered by this diary Patrol Squadron FIFTY-FOUR has been attached to and operating under Fleet Air Wing FOURTEEN.

2. The squadron personnel as of April 30, 1944, included fifty-nine officers and one hundred thirteen enlisted men.

3. Seven PBY-5A airplanes were assigned to the squadron during the month, giving the squadron a total of fifteen planes assigned as of 30 April, 1944.

4. Operations in April were limited to the instruction of personnel Eighteen crews were formed and 6 pilots were qualified as patrol plane commanders, making a total of eight PPC's in the squadron at the end of the month. Four hundred sixteen flights, totaling one thousand five hundred nineteen hours, were flown by the squadron during the month.

5. The following ammunition was expended from April 1, 1944 to April 30, 1944, during training exercises:
                        3800 rounds of 50 caliber.
                        1200 rounds of 30 caliber.
                        17 Depth Charges.

6. 102 Torpedoes (*with exercise heads attached ) were dropped. One torpedo was lost.

7. By secret dispatch number 271923 from ComFAir, West Coast to ComPatron 54, the commanding officer was directed to transfer the squadron outside continental limits during the third week in May, 1944.

1. At the beginning of the period covered by this diary Patrol Squadron FIFTY-FOUR was attached to and operating under Fleet Air Wing FOURTEEN.

2. From May 1, 1944 to May 15, 1944 squadron operations were limited to the instruction of personnel and the training of combat crews. The training syllabus for PBY Patrol Squadrons established by ComFAir, West Coast was completed 100 percent by all eighteen crews.

3. The following ammunitions was expended from May 1, 1944 to May 15, 1944 during training exercises:
                           2400 rounds of 50 caliber.
                           1400 rounds of 30 caliber.

4. Three torpedoes (with exercise heads attached) were dropped during the same period.

5. Between May 16, 1944 and May 20, 1944 the squadron was engaged in making preparations for transfer beyond the continental limits of the United States, in accordance with secret dispatch number 271923 April from ComFAir, West Coast to ComPatron 54.

6. May 20, 1944. The first Patrol Squadron FIFTY-FOUR TransPac flight, consisting of three planes, departed NAS, San Diego for NAS, Kaneohe.

May 21, 1944. The first flight of three planes arrived NAS, Kaneohe and the second flight of three planes left San Diego.

May 22, 1944. The second Patrol Squadron FIFTY-FOUR TransPac flight arrived NAS Kaneohe and the third flight departed San Diego. The flight leader of flight three was forced to turn back after thirty minutes of flight due to a break in the hydraulic line. The remaining two planes in the flight continued according to plan.

May 23, 1944. The two planes remaining in flight three arrived NAS Kaneohe. Flight four and the flight leader of flight three departed NAS San Diego in two two-plane flights.

May 24, 1944. The three planes in flight four and the flight leader of flight three arrived NAS Kaneohe.

Squadron personnel being transferred outside the continental limits of the United States by ship departed NAS San Diego aboard the USS BRETON.

Flight five with the commanding officer as flight leader, departed NAS San Diego for NAS Kaneohe.

May 25, 1944. The Commanding Officer, leading flight five arrived NAS Kaneohe. This completed the transfer of all planes and pilots from Fleet Air Wing FOURTEEN, NAS San Diego to Fleet Air Wing TWO, NAS Kaneohe Bay, T. H.

May 25-May 31,1944. Patrol Squadron FIFTY-FOUR was attached to and operating under Fleet Air Wing TWO.

May 28, 1944. Nine crews and six planes departed NAS Kaneohe for Midway island to conduct routine patrols from that base.

May 29, 1944. The balance of the squadron commenced routine patrols from Kaneohe Bay.

May 30, 1944. The remaining squadron personnel arrived at Pearl Harbor aboard the USS BRETON and were immediately transferred to NAS Kaneohe.

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1. During the month of June this Squadron was based at Naval Air Station, Kaneohe, T.H., and at Midway Islands. The Squadron operated under Fleet Air Wing TWO.

2. Operations based on Naval Air Station, Kaneohe, consisted of routine patrols, weekly flights carrying supplies to French Frigate Shoals, radar training flights around the Hawaiian Islands, and the instruction of squadron personnel by the Anti-submarine Warfare Training Unit attached to Fleet Air Wing TWO. All ordnancemen and air bombers attached to the squadron attended the Fleet Air Wing Gunnery School.

3. Operations at Midway Islands included routine patrol searches, under the direction of the Commandant, Naval Air Station Midway, to a distance of five hundred miles. Some training exercises were carried out with friendly submarines and personnel were given ground instructions in recognition, communications, sleeve firing and the use of small arms. Patrols at Midway were carried out by three planes per day, flying at 1000 feet and covering a total daily sector of 39 degrees.

4. The results of the patrols based on both Naval Air Station, Kaneohe,
T. H. and Naval Air Station, Midway were negative.

5. On June 16, 1944, Lieut.(jg) M. H. Brown, USNR, successfully effected a landing in a rough sea, bearing 049 degrees True, 110 miles from Midway, to rescue an F4U pilot, Second Lieutenant W.E. Garrett, USMCR, of VMF 313. The landing and takeoff were accomplished without serious damage to the plane. Lieut.(jg) Brown was on duty as PPC of the ready rescue plane on that day. He was airborne at 1421 LZT, seven (7) minutes after being notified of the crash. He was ordered to conduct a box search on bearing of 040 degrees True, seventy-five miles from Midway. After ten minutes he was ordered to search at 100 miles out on the same bearing. Lieut.(jg) Brown then executed a close box search on a basis of one mile visibility. The life raft was spotted at 1655. Lt.(jg) Brown circled the raft until joined by two additional search planes from the VP-54 Midway detachment whom he vectored to the spot by radar when they were unable to home on his IFF. He then made an open sea landing at 1735 and took off with the rescued pilot at 1800. The landing and takeoff were accomplished with great skill and courage, and without serious damage to the plane.

Lieut.(jg) Brown was recommended for the Air Medal by the Commander, Marine Air Group TWENTY-THREE, and members of the crew for letters of commendation.

6. 211 Flights were flown by the squadron during the month. 703.7 hours were flown on patrols and 425.9 hours were flown in training exercises and in transportation to and from Midway.

7. No bombs, ammunition,, torpedoes, or depth charges were expended in action. The foliowing ammunition and bombs were expended during training exercises:
          9150 rounds .50 caliber.
          9525 rounds .30 caliber.
          4 1000 pound demolition bombs.
          4 500 pound demolition bombs.
          4 100 pound demolition bombs.

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1. July 1, 1944, this squadron was based at Naval Air Station, Kaneohe, T. H., and at Midway Islands. The squadron operated under Fleet Air Wing TWO. The detachment based at Midway was relieved on this day by a detachment from Patrol Squadron TWENTY-THREE.

2. July 2, 1944, the Midway detachment returned to Naval Air Station, Kaneohe, except for Lt.(jg) R.P. Pinckney, USNR, whose plane was grounded.

3. July 3, 1944 - July 8, 1944, the squadron was engaged in preparations for transfer to the South Pacific Area in accordance with secret dispatch 070132 July, from Commander, Fleet Air Wing TWO to ComPatron 54.

4. July 8, 1944, the squadron departed Kaneohe for Guadalcanal in three-plane sections, leaving Kaneohe every other day.

5. July 12, 1944, the Commanding Officer leading the first section of three planes, arrived at Espiritu Santo and reported to Commander, Fleet Air Wing ONE for duty.

6. July 13, 1944, The Commanding Officer leading the first section of three planes arrived at Carney Field, Guadalcanal to relieve Patrol Squadron EIGHTY-ONE, operating under the First Island Air Group, Royal New Zealand Air Force.

7. July 18, 1944, by secret dispatch 180330 July from First Island Air Group, Royal New Zealand Air Force to ComPatron 54, the squadron was directed to operate under the Commanding General, Fifth Island Air Command for patrol, escort, hunter-killer and air-sea rescue.

8. July 18, 1944, in accordance with secret mailgram 182303 from Commander, Fleet Air Wing ONE to ComPatron 12, three PBY-5 seaplanes were transferred to this squadron giving the squadron a total of fifteen PBY-5A amphibious planes and three PBY-5 seaplanes.

9. July 19, 1944, the squadron relieved Patrol Squadron Eighty-One and commenced patrol and escort missions under direction of Commanding General, fifth Island Air Command.

10. July 20, 1944, by secret dispatch 200343 July from Commander, Fleet Air Wing ONE to ComPatron 54, the squadron was ordered to proceed to Luganville Airfield, Espiritu Santo, on 31 July, 1944, to relieve Patrol Squadron TWELVE.

11. July 26, 1944, Lt.(jg) Pinckney, as directed by confidential dispatch 252153 July, from Commander, Fleet Air Wing ONE to Naval Air Transport Service, Funa Futi, arrived at Luganville Airfield to await the arrival of the squadron, and reported to Commander, Fleet Air Wing ONE, thus completing the transfer of all planes and personnel of the squadron from the jurisdiction of Fleet Air Wing TWO, to Fleet Air Wing ONE.

12. July 27, 1944, in accordance with secret dispatch 221100 from First Island Air Group, Royal New Zealand Air Force to Commander Aircraft, South Pacific and restricted dispatch 221507 July from Commander Aircraft, South Pacific to First Island Air Group, Royal New Zealand Air Force, the squadron ceased operating under the Fifth Island Air Command.

13. July 31, 1944, in accordance with secret dispatch 200343 July from Commander, Fleet Air Wing ONE to ComPatron 54, the first section of six planes proceeded from Carney Field, Guadalcanal, to Luganville Airfield, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides.

14. During the month of July, three officers and two men reported to the squadron bringing the total personnel to sixty-three officers and one hundred fifteen enlisted men.

15. No ammunition was expended.

16. The squadron flew one hundred eighty flights totaling 939.5 hours.

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1. During the month of August, 1944, aircraft from Patrol Squadron FIFTY-FOUR operated from or passed through; Bougainville, Guadalcanal, Espiritu Santo, Funa Futi, Tarawa, Kwajalein Atoll, Eniwetok, Saipan, Guam, and Tinian.

2. August 1, 1944, The squadron was based at Luganville Airfield, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides. The squadron operated under the administrative control of Commander, Fleet Air Wing ONE and under the tactical command of Commanding General Second Marine Air Wing.

3. Seven PBY-5A aircraft which were still based at Carney Field, Guadalcanal transferred to Luganville Airfield, Espiritu Santo.

4. The squadron relieved Patron ONE-TWO of standby duty for JASA operations.

5. Commander Marine Air Wing TWO secret dispatch 31040 July, directed ComPatron FIFTY-FOUR to report to Commanding General Fourth Island Command for ship coverage duty.

6. August 2, 1944, to August 31, 1944, under the direction of Commanding General Fourth Island Command, the squadron operated Anti-submarine Ship Coverage patrols, maintained JASA standby planes on Luganville Airfield, maintained Dumbo Standby Seacats at Segond Channel and participated in negative searches for lost aircraft.

7. August 4, 1944, one landcat was dispatched to Torokina Airfield Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville carrying personnel from Fleet Air Wing ONE.

8. One landcat was provided as a Dumbo Escort for Air Group Twenty-Six on route from Espiritu Santo to Halavo.

9. August 6, 1944, the landcats on ferry mission to Bougainville and the dumbo escort to Halavo returned to Luganville Airfield, Espiritu Santo.

10. August 8, 1944, in compliance with ComAirSoPac Secret Dispatch 052259 August, one landcat and crew were transferred to Guadalcanal, reporting to Commander Aircraft, South Pacific for temporary duty of about thirty days with Commander Group Five Phib Pac.

11. Flight Lieutenant Dunston of Royal New Zealand Air Force Squadron Six, reported for temporary duty for dumbo service in compliance Commander Aircraft, South Pacific secret dispatch 070859.

12. August 9, 1944, Pilot Officer Lowther of Royal New Zealand Air Force Squadron Six, reported for temporary duty for dumbo service in compliance Commander Aircraft, South Pacific secret dispatch 070859.

13. August 12, 1944 - August 26, 1944, in compliance with ComAirSoPac secret dispatch 061125 August, two seacats and five landcats were provided as dumbo escorts for the flight of sixty-one Marine Avenger and Skytrain Aircraft from Espiritu Santo to the Marianas Islands covered approximately 3700 miles of overwater flying and was executed without mishap. The escorts returned by the same route arriving Espiritu Santo on August 26, 1944. The Patrol Plane Commanders of the dumbo escort flight were Commander K.J. Sanger, Lieut. K G. Sharp, Jr., Lieut.(jg) J.A. Love, Lieut.(jg) O.R. Badger, Lieut.(jg) H.D. Miner, and Lieut.(jg) R.S. Peckham.

By letter of 20 August, 1944, the Commander of Marine Air Wing Two recommended the personnel of the aircraft participating in this mission be commended or recommended for a suitable decoration.

14. August 14 - August 19, in addition to routine ship coverage patrols, the squadron conducted searches for a submarine which was reported to have attacked the merchantship Roseville at 11-00S 172-30 East on August 14th. The search was maintained continuously except when interrupted by adverse weather conditions. The results were negative.

15. August 16, The Commanding Officer received a letter addressed to Commander, Fleet Air Wing TWO from the Commanding Officer, Marine Air Group 23, Third Marine Aircraft Wing, commending Patrol Squadron 54 for its performance of duty at Midway Island. The letter was forwarded to ComPatron 54 on 25 July, 1944 by Commander, Fleet Air Wing TWO.

16. August 19, one landcat departed Espiritu Santo for the Marianas Islands transporting personnel from Fleet Air Wing ONE. The flight was routed from Espiritu Santo to Tarawa to Eniwetok to the Marianas, and returned on 29 August, 1944 by way of Eniwetok, Majuro, Apamama, Funa Futi and Nausori.

17. August 24, in compliance Commander Marine Air Wing TWO dispatch 231232, three landcats departed Espiritu Santo for Guadalcanal to report for temporary duty to First Islands Group, R. N. Z. A. F.

18. August 29. the two New Zealand seacats were detached from duty with Patron 54 and returned to Halavo.

19. August 31, by secret dispatch 310533 August from Commander, Fleet Air Wing ONE, notice was received of the departure of that command from the South Pacific and the Commanding Officer of the squadron was directed to report to Commander Aircraft, South Pacific as immediate superior in Command.

20. Two landcats on temporary duty with the First Islands Group, Royal New Zealand Air Force at Guadalcanal returned to Luganville Airfield, Espiritu Santo for engine changes.

21. Two hundred and forty five flights totaling 1127.3 hours were flown during the month.

22. 250 rounds .50 caliber ammunition were fired at Jaluit during the return flight from the Marianas by the commanding officer. no results were observed.

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1. September 1, 1944, the squadron was based at Luganville Airfield, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, under the administrative control of Commander Aircraft, South Pacific and under operational control of CTU 11.3.1. Four landcats were based at Henderson Field, Guadalcanal on temporary duty with Commander First Island Group RNZAF.

2. At Espiritu Santo and at Guadalcanal the squadron was utilized for ship- coverage, anti-submarine patrols, and for JASASA and Dumbo standby duty.

3. September 2, 1944, in compliance with dispatch orders from ComAirSoPac, Patsu ONE-SEVEN reported to the commanding officer for duty and administration.

4. September 4, 1944, Group ONE, Fleet Air Wing TWO was established, consisting of VP-54, VP-44, VB-148, Patsu 1-7, Patsu 1-9, and Patsu 1-11. The group was placed under administrative control of ComAirSoPac.. Operational control of the individual units remained as before. ComPatron 54 assumed additional duty as commanding officer of the group.

5. September 6, 1944, under orders from CTU 11.3.1, one seacat and one landcat were dispatched to Funa Futi to search for a missing PBM.

6. September 7, 1944, in compliance with further orders from CTG 11.3.1 the commanding officer leading 5 planes took off at midnight (love time) from Espiritu Santo, and proceeded to Funa Futi to participate in the search of the PBM.

7. September 8, 1944, the survivors of the missing PBM were rescued by surface ships and all PatRon 54 planes returned to base at Espiritu Santo.

8. September 10, 1944, the detachment based at Guadalcanal returned to Espiritu Santo.

9. September 13-15, 1944 in compliance with dispatch orders from ComAirSoPac the commanding officer with fifteen crews and thirteen planes departed Espiritu Santo for Emirau and reported to CTG 59.6 for temporary duty. Three PatRon 54 crews and two crews from RNZAF squadron SIX with a total of two PBY-5A airplanes and eight seacats remained at Espiritu Santo to maintain ship-coverage patrols, JASASA and Dumbo standby.

10. September, 14, 1944, by dispatch orders from CTU 11.3.1, one seacat and one landcat were dispatched from Espiritu Santo to Funa Futi to participate in a JASASA operation.. The JASASA was secured and the planes returned to Espiritu Santo on September 21, 1944.

11. September 16 & 17, 1944, The commanding Officer lead nine land cats in a search from Emiran for a missing plane which was later reported as having proceeded to an alternate destination.

12. September 22 -2 30, 1944, under the direction of CTG 59.6, the squadron commenced operations in escorting the Western Carolines Garrison Air Force from Emiran to Peleliu Island, staging through Hollandia and Owi. The squadron provided three planes for each flight of Avengers and Corsairs. The first plane took off one and one-half hours before the flight, and acted as weather plane and as "dumbo escort over the last third of each leg. The second plane departed one half hour later and provided "dumbo" escort during the middle portion of each flight. The third plane took off one half hour before the flight and provided "dumbo" escort for the early stages of each leg. Upon arrival at Peleliu Island the three landcats remained there until relieved by the escorts of succeeding flights. While at Peleliu Island the planes maintained a ready-duty plane and provided dumbo escort for Corsairs and Avenger strikes against Babelthaup Island. In addition the planes were used to evacuate wounded to Manus Island, Fly to Manus and Owl for provisions and to transport staff personnel.

September 24, 1944, the squadron conducted a three plane night search for enemy shipping in the passage north of Peleliu Island. No contacts were made.

13. No bombs or ammunition were expended.

14. The squadron flew approximately 187 flights totaling 1032.2 hours.

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1. During the period covered by this diary Patrol Bombing Squadron FIFTY-FOUR was based at Luganville Airfield, Espiritu Santo, at Emiran Island and at Peleliu Island. The squadron was under administrative control of Commander, Group ONE, Fleet Air Wing TWO. The detachment based at Espiritu Santo operated under the direction of CTU 11.3.1 and the balance of the squadron operated at Emiran and Peleliu under CTG 59.6.

2. At Espiritu Santo three crews, augmented by two crews from RNZAF Squadron Number Six, carried out anti-submarine ship-coverage patrols, dumbo searches for missing aircraft, maintained dumbo and JASA standby.

3. Fifteen crews, based at Emirau and Peleliu flew "Dumbo Escort" for marine fighter and torpedo planes in transit between Emirau, Manus, Hollandia, Owi, Peleliu and Ulithi. The squadron provided "Dumbo Escort" for fighter and torpedo planes attacking Babelthaup Island north of Peleliu; evacuated wounded from Peleliu to Manus; carried provisions from Manus and Owi to Peleliu; and carried out bombing missions against Japanese positions in the Palau Islands.

4. October 11, 1944, Warrant Officer Ian Ronald Donaldson of RNZAF Squadron No. Six, on temporary duty with Patrol Bombing Squadron FIFTY-FOUR at Espiritu Santo, landed in the open sea in a New Zealand PBY-5 to rescue the crew of a J2F. The landing was effected in 15-18 foot swells running from the Southeast with an 18-20 knot wind from East-North East. In attempting to take off the plane water looped damaging the port wing tip. No personnel were injured in the accident. The crew of the PBY-5 and of the J2F were rescued by PC 1587 and a crash boat. The PC attempted to tow the seacat to port, but the plane turned over and sank during the night.

5. October 23, 1944, The Commanding Officer and Lieut.(jg) John A. Love, USNR made rendezvous at sea, 180 miles from Peleliu, with DE 201. The plane was landed in the open sea to remove a wounded seaman from the DE and fly him to Peleliu for medical treatment. The landing and take-off were successfully accomplished in 10-12 foot swells.

6. October 28, 1944, Lieut.(jg) Peter Maravich, USNR, took off at 1735 Love to search for the survivors of a New Zealand PV-1 which crashed at sea between Espiritu Santo and Efate. Lieut.(jg) Maravich located a life raft after dark and directed a nearby cargo ship, the USS Jaguar, 1X120, to the scene. The pilot circled the raft for 45 minutes dropping flares and floatlights until the ship was able to effect the rescue of the three survivors in the raft. A few minutes later Lieut.(jg) Maravich located a second raft containing one survivor approximately five miles away. Having exhausted his supply of flares and floatlights the pilot maintained sight contact with the raft by flying at 400 feet in small circles above the raft while HUMBARGER, J. B., ARM2c., directed an aldis lamp at the raft from the port blister of the plane until the Jaguar reached the scene and picked up the remaining survivor.

A four plane search was maintained during the next two days but no additional survivors were found.

7. October 27 -28, 1944, Ten one thousand pound bombs and fourteen five hundred pound bombs were dropped on Mafin Island off Espiritu Santo, to clear artillery spotting points for the 27th Division.

8. The three crews based at Espiritu Santo made eighty-four (84) operational flights totaling 347.5 hours.

9. Since the planes attached to CTG 59.6 have been operating from a number of different bases full details of individual missions have not been collected. Additional reports will be incorporated in the Diary for the month of November.

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VPB54/A7
UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET
AIR FORCE
PATROL BOMBING SQUADRON FIFTY-FOUR

1. This supplement represents the activities of the detachment of the squadron which was based at and operating from Peleliu, Palau Islands, during the period from 23 October, 1944-31 October, 1944, and should be attached to the squadron War Diary for the month of October. The actions of the detachment from 1 October, 1944- 23 October, 1944 were included in the basic diary.

2. 23 October 1944-31 October, 1944: The detachment was operating under the direction of Commander Task Group 59.6. "Dumbo" cover was provided by the detachment for strikes against Koror, Babelthaup and Yap. Several night neutralization bombing attacks on Koror Island were carried out with 500 pound bombs.

3. 29 October, 1944, Lieut Comdr. Geis, with Brig. General M.B. Bell, USA, Lt-Col Coultas, USA, Lieut D.E. Slater, USA and Captain Gabler, USMC as passengers, made a reconnaissance flight to Sonsarol, Pulo Anna and Merir Islands, escorted by fighters of VMF 122. While over Sonsarol Island a Japanese Observation Tower was observed which was manned by from three to six men. Both the fighters and the Catalina made strafing runs on the tower resulting in two Japanese killed on the ground at the base of the tower and one observer apparently killed in the tower. Photographs were taken of all Islands covered by the flight.

4. 30 October, 1944. "Dumbo" escort was provided for a Marine aircraft bombing mission against Yap. After successful completion of the strike by the Marine planes the "Dumbo" expended 1,600 rounds of 30 caliber ammunition strafing Japanese positions near the shore.

From: The Commanding Officer, Patrol Bombing Squadron FIFTY-FOUR
To: Commander in Chief, United States Fleet.

Subject: War Diaries, Forwarding of.

Enclosures:   (A) Supplement War Diary for October, 1944.
              (B) War Diary for November, 1944.
              (C) War Diary for December, 1944.

1. Enclosures (A), (B), and (C) are forwarded herewith.

2. Enclosure (A) relates the operations of a detachment of the squadron at Peleliu Island during the period from 24 October to 31 October, 1944. The information contained therein was not available at the Squadron Headquarters at the time the October Diary was submitted.

3. Enclosure (B) was delayed until the present date in order to include the activities of the Peleliu detachment.

4. The squadron has been operating at such widely scattered bases that statistical information as to the number of flights and hours of flying time has not been available at the Squadron Headquarters. This information will be included in a later diary when the log books of pilots and planes operating away from the squadron base can be analyzed.

During this period Patrol Bombing Squadron FIFTY-FOUR was based at Luganville Airfield, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, and at Peleliu Island. The squadron was under administrative control of Commander Aircraft South Pacific and was part of Group ONE, Fleet Air Wing TWO. The planes based at Espiritu Santo operated under the direction of CTU 11.3.1 and the detachment operating from Peleliu was directed by CTG 59.6.

1. 1-10 November, 1944: The planes based at Luganville Airfield, Espiritu Santo maintained Dumbo and JASA ready duty planes and carried out ship-coverage patrols as directed by the Fourth Island Command.

2. 10 November, 1944: Patrol Bombing Squadron FIFTY-FOUR was relieved of ship-coverage patrols by RNZAF Squadron Number FIVE. However from 10 November to 12 November the squadron continued flights as part of a JASA action which had been instituted on 9 November when a passenger in a PBM flying from Noumea reported sighting a Japanese submarine. On 12 November, 1944, Lt.(jg) Wilson sighted a dead whale about thirty miles from the reported position of the 9 November sighting. Upon completion of Lt.(jg) Wilson's patrol the JASA was secured.

3. 12 November - 30 November, 1944: The squadron readied itself for transfer to the Seventh Fleet in accordance with directions from Commander Aircraft South Pacific. During this period training flights and mail-carrying flights were carried on between Espiritu Santo and Suva in the Fiji Islands, and between Espiritu Santo and Efate in the New Hebrides Islands.

1. 4 November, 1944, six of the thirteen planes which had been operating on temporary duty with CTG 59.6 in connection with the movement of the Western Caroline Marine Aircraft Garrison Forces from Emiran to the Palau Islands were assigned by dispatch from ComAirSoPac, to CTG 57.14 for air sea rescue duty based on Peleliu Island. At this time the remaining seven planes were returned to Espiritu Santo.
Throughout the operations on Palau, planes and crews were rotated between Espiritu Santo and Peleliu for maintenance and relief purposes. The detachment was operating without a PATSU or CASU organization and the rotation process was carried out in order to reduce the deterioration of planes from lack of maintenance.

2. 4 November, 1944: Lieut. H.G. Sharp flew as Dumbo escort for fighter planes covering the successful invasion of Prela Ana Island in the Palau group. At 2230 on this date Comdr. K.J. Sanger led a five plane bombing attack on Koror Island. Participating in the attack were Lieut. H.G. Sharp, Lieut. W.J. Sneed, Lt.(jg) McCracken and Lieut-Comdr. Geis. Each plane dropped four, five hundred pound bombs from an altitude of 8,500 to 10,000 feet. Six hits were made in the target area but no damage was observed.

3. 9 November, 1944: The Commanding Officer again led a pre-dawn attack against Koror Town leading a five plane section piloted by Lieut. Sharp, Lt.(jg) Fagerburg, Lt.(jg) Peckham and Lieut-Comdr. Geis. Each plane dropped four, five hundred pound bombs, using the Norden Bomb Sight. Fifteen hits were observed in the target area, but no specific damage could be observed.
   On the night of 9 November, 1944, Comdr. Sanger aided in the rescue of a Marine fighter pilot. The F4U was damaged during a take-off from Peleliu and the pilot was forced to bail out over the sea. Comdr. Sanger and Lt(jg) Peckham dropped 12 flares to guide a destroyer to the scene enabling the ship to effect a prompt and successful rescue.

4. 11 November, 1944, a night attack was made on Koror Town by Comdr. Sanger, Lt.(jg) Peckham and Lt.(jg) McCracken. Twelve bombs were dropped by the three planes with 11 hits being scored in the target area.

5. Comdr. Sanger flying to Ulithi observed a Marine fighter plane crash into the sea. Commander Sanger flew low over the scene and observed the pilot waving to him from the water. He landed and taxied back to the scene of the crash, but by the time he reached the pilot had disappeared, apparently drowning in spite of the Mae West which he was seen to be wearing when the Dumbo landed.

6. 12 - 13 November, 1944, Lieut. Sharp and Lieut. Sneed were directed to search for a life raft containing three men reported to be at 01-25 N and 135-27 E. After a 65 minute search with negative results they flew to Owi for the night. On the next day Lieut. Sharp found the survivors at 01- 05 N, 137-57 E. He made an open sea landing and successfully rescued the three men. The survivors were Sgt Joiner, Tech. Sgt Jepson and Cpl. Scoonmaker, members of the crew of a B-25 attached to the 499th Squadron of the 345th Bomber Group.

7. 18 November, 1944, Lieut. Sharp dropped 1 million candle power flares so as to illuminate the Ngeryong, Tarakayo, Kongauru area for LST's intercepting Japanese troops passing through that area and attempting to reinforce their Peleliu Garrison. After completion of this mission he joined Lt.(jg) Fagerburg and Lieut. Sneed in bombing Koror Town. Seven out of twelve bombs released hit the target, but as had been in the case of preceding attacks no details of damage inflicted could be observed.

8. 18 November, 1944, Lt.(jg) Fagerburg, covering a fighter strike against Yap, landed in the open sea and rescued the pilot of a Marine fighter plane who had crashed after his plane was set on fire by enemy anti-aircraft fire.

9. 19 November, 1944, Lieut. Sharp, Lt.(jg) Peckham and Lt.(jg) McCracken made a night bombing raid on Koror Island with incendiary bombs. Due to weather conditions the planes were unable to attack Koror. Lieut. Sharp attacked his secondary target, Babelthaup, dropping four bombs and making two direct hits in the area immediately adjacent to the airstrip on that Island. Large fires were started, but it was impossible to observe the extent of the damage caused.

10. 21 November, 1944, Lt.(jg) Milton H. Brown rescued a Marine fighter pilot, Captain McCullough, who crashed into the sea three miles from the South-West tip of Ngarol Island. Lt.(jg) Peckham, in the air on a test flight at the time, proceeded to the scene of the crash and dropped smoke bombs to guide Lt.(jg) Brown to the pilot, thus expediting the rescue. During Brown's landing Lt.(jg) Peckham guided him through the reefs and other obstructions which were hard to observe during the actual landing. Lt.(jg) Brown made his landing inside a lagoon the entrance to which was mined. The plane was under enemy gunfire while effecting the rescue. The operation was carried out with excellent cooperation between the two Dumbo pilots and the mission was completed within 50 minutes after the time of take off.

11. 28 November, 1944, Lt.(jg) Brissette landed at sea and picked up 1st Lieut. W. L. Sonnenberg USMC of VMF-l 14 west of the central portion of Babelthaup. Lieut. Sonnenberg when first sighted was standing on a reef one-half mile from the mainland of Babelthaup. Lt.(jg) Brissette dropped a raft to him and then dropped smoke bombs to guide him to where the landing was to be effected. The mission required one hour and forty minutes from the time that notice was received of Lieut. Sonnenberg's crash.

1. Fifty-two Mark 43,500 pound GP, 12 Mark 64, five hundred pound GP, and 12 Mark 69,500 pound incendiary bombs were expended during the month of November. 6500 rounds of fifty caliber ammunition and 10,600 rounds of thirty caliber machine gun ammunition were expended in strafing shore installations on Yap and Koror Islands after the completion of Dumbo missions escorting fighter and bomber planes attacking these points.

2. During the month of November the squadron completed six months of duty outside the United States. During this period the entire personnel of the squadron were together at one base for only one and one-half days. Some members of the squadron have been separated for as long as four months at a time. Planes of Patrol Bombing Squadron FIFTY-FOUR have landed on almost every island in the Pacific between Espiritu Santo to the Marianas byway of the Gilbert and Marshall Islands, and from Espiritu Santo to Ulithi by way of the Solomon Islands, Green Island, Emirau, the Admiralties and airfields in New Guinea. It is estimated that as of December 1, 1944 a squadron plane passed through every Allied held Island in the Pacific outside of the Aleutian chain except Moratai and Johnson Islands. At times detachments of Patrol Bombing Squadron FIFTY-FOUR have been operating over three thousand miles from their base for prolonged periods of time. Except for a few harassing actions against Koror and Babelthaup Islands the squadron's duties have been made up of Dumbo escort missions and anti-submarine ship-coverage patrols.

3. Due to the widely scattered activities of the squadron it is impossible to collect data as to the number of missions and hours flown by squadron personnel This data will be incorporated in a later diary when squadron records can be collected and accurately analyzed.

1 December - 12 December, 1944: Patrol Bombing Squadron FIFTY-FOUR was based at Luganville Airfield, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands, and maintained a detachment of six planes at Peleliu Island in the Palau group. The squadron was under the administrative control of Commander Aircraft South Pacific, and was a part of Group ONE, Fleet Air Wing TWO. The detachment at Peleliu operated under control of CTG 57.14, while the remainder of the squadron awaited orders to transfer from the South Pacific area to the Seventh Fleet. While awaiting transfer to the Seventh Fleet the squadron readied its planes for front line combat duty and conducted training flights to Suva in the Fiji Islands.

1. From 1 December, 1944, until relieved by a detachment of planes from Patrol Bombing Squadron TWENTY-THREE on 27 December, 1944, six of our planes operated Air Sea Rescue Service under the direction of CTG 57.14.

2. 2 December, 1944: Lt.(jg) John Love landed in the open sea and rescued Lieut. Fisher of VMF 121. Lt.(jg) Love was guided to the scene of the crash by a fighter plane. After dropping a float light as a reference point he circled into the wind and landed as near to the survivor's raft as possible. Baird, ARM2c, swam with a line to the raft. Lieut. Fisher and his raft were taken aboard and the plane returned to base. In this mission notice of the crash was received at 0722 local time. The take-off was accomplished at 0729 and the plane returned at 0806, forty six minutes later. The landing was accomplished in Koror Road about one and one-half miles east of the Southern tip of Babelthaup.

13-14 December, 1944: At 1745 a B-24 was reported down fifty miles from Peleliu on a True bearing of 270 degrees. Lieut. Pinckney and Lt.(jg) Brissette took off at 1800. Lt.(jg) Wilson took off at 1820. Lieut. Pinckney and Lt.(jg) Wilson were ordered to proceed to an alternate position from the area to which Lt.(jg) Brissette was directed. At 1830 Brissette sighted two rafts tied together at approximately the position to which he had been directed. Three men were in one raft but the second raft was empty. Another man in a life jacket was observed swimming about two hundred yards distant. The sea was too rough to attempt a landing so Lt.(jg) Brissette orbited over the position and tried to maintain contact with the survivors by dropping flares. Complete darkness and rain squalls covered the area and contact was lost. Lieut. Pinckney relieved Brissette and the latter returned to base. Communications between the scene of operations and base radio at Peleliu were exceptionally poor and so Lt.(jg) Wilson was ordered to station himself half-way between the two points to relay messages. This did little to improve the situation and he was ordered to return to base, arriving there about 2015. Brissette landed at Peleliu at 2030 and Pinckney was forced to return. Lt.(jg) Maravich

then took off at 2200 and made contact with the ships at the scene dropping flares to aid in the search. After negative results he returned to base arriving at 2400. At 0620 on the 14th of December the search was resumed by Lt.(jg) Brown and Lt.(jg) Love. Dunson ARM3c in Brown's crew sighted the life raft position 0647N, 133-05E at 0820. The sighting was possible through the skillful use of a mirror from the life raft. The DD was directed to the scene and at 0854 the rescue of the three men in the rafts was completed. The rescued men reported two other possible survivors and the search was resumed with Brown and Love flying a tight square search. At 1120 Brown sighted a partially deflated raft (at 06-48N, 133-17E) which on closer examination proved to have a man clinging to it. The tender was at this time two miles from the scene an was quickly guided to the raft. The pickup was effected at 1140. The search was maintained throughout the balance of the day by Lieutenants (jg) Brissette, Maravich and Pinckney, but no further sightings were made.

3. 19 December, 1944: Lt.(jg) John Love rescued 1st Lt. R.W. Diez, USMC of VMF 122 from Komebail Lagoon about one and one-half miles from Koror, Arakabesan and Babelthaup Islands. Love was led to the scene of the crash by an F4U. He approached at 500 feet to avoid fire by heavy AA batteries from Japanese positions on the surrounding Island. After locating the survivor a smoke bomb was dropped as a reference point. During Love's approach and landing the enemy fired upon him with 20mm guns and with guns of slightly larger caliber, but no damage to the plane was sustained. During the rescue and take-off three fighter pilots strafed the shore batteries on Arakabesan and Koror to prevent their firing upon the plane. To avoid further gunfire Lt.(jg) Love started taxiing as soon as the survivor was aboard and was forced to abandon the life raft and the port sea anchor. Fighter pilots sank the life raft by strafing. The take-off on this mission was made within seven minutes of receiving telephoned notification of the crash. Six minutes were required to effect the rescue after the plane located the downed pilot.

4. 26 December, 1944: For the second time 1st Lieut. W.L. Sonnenberg of VMF 114 was rescued after a crash at sea. Lieut. Sonnenberg had been rescued by Lt.(jg) Brissette during the latter part of November. This time the rescue was effected by Lt.(jg) Love from a position about 45 miles west of Ngardmau. This made the third rescue by Lt.(jg) Love within twenty-four days.

5. 27 December, 1944: The detachment was relieved by planes from Patrol Bombing Squadron TWENTY-THREE and was ordered to Weondi to service the planes and rest personnel before moving forward to the Philippine campaign.

1. 10 December, 1944: By dispatch from ComAirSoPac the squadron was ordered to transfer all personnel and planes less the six landcats on temporary duty with CTG 57.14 to Manus and to report to ComAirSeventh Fleet for duty. The squadron was directed to turn over to Commander Air Center, Espiritu Santo the six PBY5 seaplanes which had been assigned to the squadron for use at Espiritu Santo.

2. 12 December, 1944: The squadron commenced departure from the South Pacific area in three plane sections leaving Espiritu Santo on successive days.

3. 17 December, 1944: All squadron planes and personnel, less the six planes and crews stationed at Peleliu and less one pilot and one ground officer hospitalized at Espiritu Santo, were established at Manus.

4. 17 December, 1944: Lieut. Sneed provided Dumbo escort for Ventura and Corsair planes being ferried from Manus to Leyte. The flight was held up at Owi on account of bad weather, but arrived in Leyte on the afternoon of December 19th, 1944. Lieut. Sneed was directed by ComAirSeventh Fleet to report aboard the U.S.S. ORCA and await arrival of the balance of the squadron instead of returning to Manus as originally scheduled.

5. 18 December, 1944: Dispatch orders were received by the Commanding Officer at Manus directing the squadron to move to Leyte in three plane sections, the first section being ordered to depart Manus on December 19th and arrive Leyte on December 20th. The squadron received an information copy of a dispatch from Commander Fleet Air Wing TWO to Commander Aircraft South Pacific informing that command that Patrol Bombing Squadron FIFTY-FOUR would not be relieved by rotation of crews, as had been requested by ComAirSoPac early in December, since it was planned to relieve the squadron as a unit in late February.

6. The Commanding Officer arrived in Leyte and reported to Commander Aircraft Seventh Fleet.

7. 21 December, 1945: The Commanding Officer reported for duty to CTG 73.5 aboard the U.S.S. ORCA. The squadron was to be utilized for Air Sea Rescue and to aid in supplying Filipino and American guerrilla forces throughout the Islands.

8. 22 December, 1944: With nine crews aboard the U.S.S. ORCA the squadron relieved Patrol Bombing Squadron THIRTY-FOUR and commenced their first tour of tender-based operations.

9. 23 December, 1944: The squadron made its first flights in the Philippine area. Commander Sanger and Lieut. Johnson acting as Dumbo cover for bomber strikes against Davao and Manila respectively. While Lieut. Johnson was orbiting around Cob Island off Manila a Japanese fighter plane attacked him, but was shot down immediately by the Marine fighters that were covering the Dumbo.

10. 24 December, 1944: Lt.(jg) Bonnet located and rescued 12 men of PBM of VPB-20 which had been shot down by a Japanese fighter off the south end of Negros. By the time Lt.(jg) Bonnet arrived at the scene the PBM crew had finished destroying and sinking their plane and had landed on Negros and retreated into the hills with some Filipino guerrillas, Upon seeing the "Dumbo" arrive the survivors fired a Very Pistol and returned to the beach. Bonnet landed in the water and the Filipinos carried the PBM crew out to the plane in bancas. Lt.(jg) Bonnet took off without difficulty and returned the men to Leyte. He arrived after dark and was forced to land on Tacloban strip instead of in the seaplane area beside the U.S.S. ORCA.

11. 26 December, 1944: Lt.(jg) Fagerburg banded in the water off Pintuyan Town, Paoan Island and evacuated an Army Malaria patient from an Air Warning detachment stationed on that Island.

12. 26-27 December, 1944: Three planes from Patrol Bombing Squadron FIFTY-FOUR were ordered to load with 500 pound bombs and attack the Japanese Task Force which was at that time shelling Allied positions on Mindoro. The force was reported to include one BB, one CA, and five destroyers.

Comdr. Sanger, Lieut-Comdr. Geis and Lieut. Sharp flew their planes to Tacloban strip to have them bombed, fueled and readied for a night take-off. The take-off was made at 2345 -9 zone. At 0520 Comdr. Sanger and Lieut. Sharp located the Japanese force which was retiring to the Northwest of Mindoro. They attacked a cruiser at 0540. Comdr. Sanger obtained one direct hit on the bow and three near misses. Lieut. Sharp dropped four bombs after passing through heavy anti-aircraft fire which commenced during Commander Sanger's run. All four of Lieut. Sharp's bombs failed to arm. On returning from the attack W.J. Podhyski, AOM1c stationed in the blister of Comdr. Sanger's plane, observed eight men clinging to a floating gas tank which had torn loose from their plane. Comdr. Sanger landed and found eight men at the tank. Two more were located floating in their Mae West jackets about a mile from the tank, and two additional men were found some distance from the other groups. The twelve men, also from a PBM attached to VPB-20, were taken aboard. The rescue was effected about 15 miles west of San Jose airstrip on Mindoro. One man was fatally wounded and died before Comdr. Sanger was able to land at San Jose. At Mindoro the 11 men who survived were distributed between the three Catalinas and returned to Leyte.

13. 27 December, 1944: Lieut. Johnson located a PBM of VPB-20 which had been forced down at sea northwest of Leyte. He orbited over the scene and directed a crash boat to the plane. He then flew to the U.S.S. CURRITUCK in Leyte Gulf, and picked up parts and technical personnel to effect repairs necessary to allow the PBM to return to its base.

14. 28 December, 1944: Lieut. Badger landed in the water and evacuated two B-25 pilots from Pacijan Island, North of Mindanao. He was guided to the scene by an Army fighter plane to whom the B-25 pilots had signaled from the shore of the Island. Japanese patrols had been attempting to capture the pilots but had been thwarted by the Filipino Guerrillas. The rescue was effected before the Japanese were able to pursue them in force. Of the remaining four members of the crew two men were reported as having been killed in the crash and two were being transferred to Leyte in Bancas by the Filipinos.

15. 29 December, 1944: Commander Sanger and Lieutenant Johnson evacuated two American Army men and six Filipino guerrillas from Butuan Bay, Mindanao.
   They landed considerable quantities of supplies for the guerrillas before taking off the personnel The two Army men were M/Sgt. Perry W. Whitly, 6279696 and James E. McIntyre, 6682459, both of the 28th Bomber Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group. Both men had been on Clark Field at the outbreak of war, retreating to Mindanao after the fall of Bataan and carrying on guerrilla activities with the Filipinos since that date. At the request of Colonel McLiesh, leader of the guerrillas, the two Catalinas and their fighter cover strafed Japanese positions on the bank of a nearby river. The area strafed was pointed out by the Filipinos being evacuated on the planes, but no installations could be observed by the pilots or gunners and consequently there could be no assessment of any damage.

16. 30 December, 1944: Lieut. Badger evacuated Lieut. Lightfoot, USAAF, and two Filipino guerrillas from Mambajao, Camiguin Island. On return from this mission he landed off Panaon Island, near Pintuyan Town and evacuated two Army personnel from the Radar Unit stationed near the town.

Lieut. Sneed provided "Dumbo" escort for Ventura and TBF planes enroute to Moratai.

Lt.(jg) McCracken evacuated litter cases and two ambulatory cases from the front lines near Villaba, Leyte. While tending the patients prior to loading them into the plane, the squadron Flight Surgeon, Lieut. L P. Moore, (MC), USN, was subjected to enemy rifle fire. The men were successfully evacuated and landed at Tacloban Field where ambulances transported them to the Army Hospital.
[Note from Denvy Doty: Also rescued 60 men (not wounded) in two trips.]

17. 31 December, 1944: Comdr. Sanger evacuated eight Navy fliers and one Army Private from Masanga River on the east coast of Luzon. The fliers, all of whom had been shot down during strikes on the Manila area, had been rescued and hidden by guerrilla forces. The men rescued were:

Lt.(jg) McCracken and Lt.(jg) Peckham returned to Villabva and evacuated thirty wounded soldiers to Tacloban.
[Note from Denvy Doty: additional men were evacuated a day later]

This concluded operations for the month of December. In the first nine days of operating Air Sea Rescue missions in Leyte the squadron rescued or evacuated 89 persons, 49, Army, 32 Navy, and 8 Filipinos.

Throughout the month the squadron continued to operate with personnel and records scattered over many thousand miles. With landings at Mindoro by Commander Sanger and at Moratai by Lieut. Sneed the squadron continued its record of touching on almost every Army or Navy foothold in the Pacific outside of the Aleutian chain.

Operations during the month included daily "Dumbo" cover for bomber strikes throughout the Palau and Philippine Islands and negative searches for milling aircraft which have not been described in detail.

Eight, five hundred pound general purpose bombs were dropped on the Japanese Task Force off Mindoro. Four, five hundred pound general purpose bombs were jettisoned at sea during the same action. 1,000 rounds of 50 caliber and 8,000 rounds of 30 caliber were fired on Japanese positions on Mindanao.

The total missions and hours flown will be reported in a subsequent diary when squadron records have been collected from the Peleliu detachment, thus making possible an accurate analysis.

cc:
CinC
CinCpac.

VPB54/A9
Serial 03

From: The Commanding Officer, Patrol Bombing Squadron FIFTY-FOUR.
TO: The Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics, Office of Editorial Research,     Op-33-J-6.

VIA: Commander, Fleet Air Wing TEN.
     Commander, Seventh Fleet (Logistics).

Subject:       Squadron History, 7 December, 1941 - 1 January, 1945.

Reference: (a) Aviation Circular Letter 7744.

Enclosure: (A) Squadron History, 6 February, 1944 - 1 January, 1945

       1. In accordance with reference (a) the squadron history is forwarded herewith.

       2. The records available to this command are insufficient to provide material for the submission of the history of the unit for the period between 7 December, 1941 and 6 February, 1944. A complete set of War Diaries were not included in the records turned over to this command when the squadron was reformed on the later date. Accordingly enclosure (A) is limited to the operations of the squadron from 6 February, 1944 to the present time.

6 February, 1944 The squadron was reformed on this date at San Diego, California under the jurisdiction of Fleet Air Wing FOURTEEN. No information as though the original commissioning date is available in the squadron files. The Commanding Officer was Lieutenant Commander Kenneth John SANGER, 75078, U.S. Navy.

20 May, 1944: The squadron completed its training period under Fleet Air Wing FOURTEEN and transferred to Kaneohe, Oahu, T. H., under jurisdiction of Fleet Air Wing TWO.

31 May, 1944: Nine crews commenced patrols from Midway Island while the remainder operated from Kaneohe, T.H.

8 July, 1944: The squadron departed Kaneohe for Guadalcanal by way of Palmyra, Canton, Funa Futi and Espiritu Santo.

12 July, 1944: The squadron reported to Fleet Air Wing ONE and began a tour of duty in the South Pacific area. Operations were conducted from Carney ield, Guadalcanal and included ship-coverage patrols under the direction of the First Island Command RNZAF.

31 July, 1944: The squadron was transferred to Espiritu Santo, where operations were conducted under the direction of Commander, Second Marine Air Wing and the Fourth Island Command.

12-31 August, 1944: Seven planes were employed to provide Dumbo escort from Espiritu Santo to the Marianas for Marine Corps fighter and torpedo planes.

24 August, 1944 - Six planes were assigned temporary duty at Henderson

10 September, 1944: Field, Guadalcanal under RNZAF First Islands Command.

3 September, 1944: Fleet Air Wing ONE left the South Pacific area and the squadron passed under the direct administrative control of Commander Aircraft, South Pacific.

8 September, 1944: Patrol Squadron FIFTY-FOUR became part of Group ONE, Fleet Air Wing TWO which was commanded by the squadron commanding officer.

13 September, 1944: Thirteen planes and fifteen crews were attached to CTG 59.6 for temporary duty involving Dumbo Escort of Marine Squadron from Emirau to Peleliu. The crews remaining In the New Hebrides were augmented by two crews from RNZAF No. SIX.

24 September. 1944: The first Patrol Bombing Squadron FIFTY-FOUR planes landed at Peleliu on D-day plus nine.

1 October. 1944: Squadron designation was changed from Patrol Squadron to Patrol Bombing Squadron.

4 November, 1944: Six planes and crews were assigned to CTG 57.14 for duty at Peleliu Island, Palau. The remaining seven planes on duty with 59.6 returned to Espiritu Santo.

10 November. 1944: The squadron was relieved at Espiritu Santo by RNZAF Squadron number FIVE.

12 December, 1944: Except for the six planes assigned to CTG 57.14 the squadron was transferred to the SEVENTH FLEET and based at Los Negros, in the Admiralties.

18 December. 1944: The planes and crews based at Momote were ordered to Leyte Gulf where the squadron was assigned to CTG 73.5 and based on the U.S.S. ORCA.

23 December. 1944: Operations from Leyte Gulf commenced. This marked the first time that the squadron was based on a seaplane tender and operated from the water.

26 December. 1944: Commander Sanger, Lieut. Commander Geis, and Lieut. Sharp took part in an attack against a Japanese Task Force of 2 BB, 1 CA and 6 DDs which were shelling our beachhead at Mindoro. Commander Sanger obtained one hit on the bow of the CA.

31 December, 1944: At the expiration of nine days operation in the Philippines area the squadron has rescued or evacuated eighty-nine Army, Navy and Filipino Guerrilla personnel.

C O N F I D E N T I A L

2 January, 1945: The squadron moved from the U.S.S. Orca to the U.S.S. Tangier.

10 January. 1945: A detachment of six planes was based on the U.S.S. Orca in Lingayen Gulf. The remaining planes continued to operate aboard the U.S.S. Tangier in Leyte Gulf.

15 February, 1945: The detachment at Lingayen Gulf was relieved by a forward echelon of Patrol Bombing Squadron SEVENTEEN and proceeded to Leyte Gulf enroute to the United States in accordance with dispatch directives from Commander Aircraft Seventh fleet.

17 February, 1945: The squadron departed from Leyte Gulf to proceed to Commander Fleet Air, West Coast.

24 February. 1945: The Commanding Officer reported to Commander Fleet Air, Alameda, California.

13 March, 1945: All officers and men having been transferred to their new stations the squadron records were forwarded to Officer-in-Charge, Deferred Squadrons, HedRon 14-1, Fleet Air Wing FOURTEEN.

DATE     COMMAND    PLANE TYPE         AREA AND OPERATION

1944

6 Feb    FAW-14     PBY-5A             Reformed, at San Diego, California.
6 Feb to
15 May                                 Training at San Diego, California.
15 May -
20 May                                 Making preparations for transfer                                        beyond continental limits of the                                        U.S.
20 May                                 Departed NAS, San Diego for NAS,                                        Kaneohe.
21 May                                 Began arriving at NAS, Kaneohe.                                        Squadron personnel being transferred                                        by ship departed San Diego aboard                                        USS BRETON.
25 May  FAW-2                          All planes were at NAS, Kaneohe by                                        this time.
28 May                                 9 crews and 6 planes departed                                        Kaneohe for Midway Island to conduct                                        routine patrols from that base.
30 May                                 Remaining squadron personnel arrived                                        Pearl Harbor aboard USS BRETON and                                        transferred immediately to NAS,                                        Kaneohe.
1 June                                 Based at NAS, Kaneohe and at Midway                                        Islands;routine patrols, weekly                                        flights carrying supplies to French                                        Frigate Shoals, radar training                                        flights, anti-sub training.                                        Operations at Midway included                                        routine patrols, searches and some                                        training.
2 July                                 Midway detachment returned to NAS,                                        Kaneohe.
8 July                                 Squadron departed NAS, Kaneohe for                                        Guadalcanal in 3 plane sections,                                        leaving Kaneohe every other day.
12 July  FAW-1                         First section arrived Espiritu                                        Santo.
13 July                               First section arrived Carney Field,                                       Guadalcanal to relieve VP-8l.
18 July                               Squadron was directed to operate                                       under Commanding General 5th Island                                       Air Command for patrol, escort,                                       hunter-killer and anti-sub rescue.
19 July                               Relieved VP-81 and commenced patrol                                       and escort missions under CG, 5th                                       Island Air Command.
31 July                               1st section of 6 planes proceeded                                       from Carney Field, Guadalcanal to                                       Luganville Airfield, Espiritu Santo. 1 Aug  FAW-1 CG, 2nd MAW              Based at Luganville Airfield,                                       Espiritu Santo. Planes which were                                       still based at Carney Field                                       transferred to Luganville Airfield.                                       Relieved VP-12 of standby duty for                                       JASA operations.
2-31 Aug                              Anti-sub ship coverage patrols,                                       maintained JASA standby plane on                                       Luganville, dumbo searches.
1 Sept 1st Island Grp.                Based at Luganville Field, Espiritu         RNZAF(det)                    Santo. Four landcats were based at                                       Henderson Field on temporary                                       duty.
4 Sept  FAW-2 Group 1                 Became part of Group 1, FAW-2.
10 Sept                               Detachment at Guadalcanal returned. 13-15 Sept                            15 crews and 13 planes departed                                       Espiritu for Emirau.
14 Sept                               1 Seacat and 1 landcat were                                       dispatched from Espiritu to Funa Futi                                       to participate in JASASA operations. 21 Sept                               Returned to Espiritu Santo.

DATE     COMMAND    PLANE TYPE         AREA AND OPERATION

1944

22 Sept GR-1, FAW-2 PBY-5A            Commenced operations in escorting                                       Western Caroline Garrison Air Force                                       from Emiran to Peleliu Island staging                                       through Hollandia and Owi.
24 Sept                               Conducted 3 plane night search for                                       enemy shipping in passage North of                                       Peleliu.
1 Oct                                 Changed to VPB-54.
4 Nov                                 6 a/c & crews assigned to CTG 57.14                                       for duty at Peleliu Is., Palau.                                       Remaining 7 a/c on duty with 59.6                                       ret'd to Espiritu Santo.
10 Nov                                Relieved by RNZAF squadron No.5 but                                       remained at Espiritu Santo FFA.
12 Dec 7th Fit                        Transferred to Los Negros except for                                       6 a/c with CTG 57.14.
23 Dec CTG 73.5                       Leyte Guff, based on USS ORCA.                                       Relieved VPB-34 for FAW-l0 air-sea                                       rescue and evacuation work.
27 Dec                                6 a/c at Peleliu relieved by VPB-23                                       to join squadron at Leyte.
1945

1 Jan                                 Detachment at Pelelin proceeded to                                       Woendi to overhaul before joining                                       rest of squadron.
2 Jan                                 Planes on USS ORCA moved to USS                                       TANGIER.
10 Jan 5                              a/c & 8 crews to Lingayen Gulf for                                       air-sea rescue missions from USS                                       ORCA. These a/c replaced aboard USS                                       TANGIER by those from Woendi.
22 Jan                                Detachment aboard USS TANGIER                                       transferred to USS SAN CARLOS;                                       continued operations.
14 Feb                                Relieved at Lingayen Gulf by VPB-17.
15 Feb                                Lingayen detachment proceeded to                                       Leyte Gulf and reported aboard USS                                       CURRTUCK.
17 Feb                                Operations at Leyte were taken over                                       by VPB-17. 3 a/c ferried to Manus for                                       available transportation to U.S.                                       Others departed from Samar via NATS,                                       returning to U.S. Remainder of                                       squadron boarded USS WHARTON to                                       return to U.S.
24 Feb  FAW-8                         CO reported to ComFAirAlameda where                                       squadron personnel were to be                                       reassigned.
13 Mar                                All personnel transferred to new                                       stations.
7 Apr                                 Decommissioned.

1. 1 January, 1945: The squadron was based aboard the U.S.S. ORCA operating under control of Commander Task Group SEVENTY THREE POINT FIVE and under the administrative control of Commander Fleet Air Wing TEN. The detachment which had operated in the Palau Islands until 27 December, 1944, proceeded to Weondi to overhaul their planes before joining the balance of the squadron in the Philippines.

2. Operations under C.T.G. 73.5 included Air Sea Rescue missions, Evacuation of survivors and guerrillas from Japanese held islands in the Philippines, and supplying guerrilla forces with food, medicines, ammunition and arms.

3. 2 January, 1945: The crews and planes operating from the U.S.S. ORCA in Leyte Gulf transferred to the U.S. TANGIER.

4. 3 January, 1945: Lieutenant William Sneed, USNR rescued Six men from a liferaft between Panay and Negros Islands.

5. 4 January, 1945: Lieutenant Delmar R. Fagerburg rescued eleven survivors from the crew of a PB4Y plane from VPB-104 on the East Coast of Samar Island.

Lieut.(jg) Howard D. Miner, USNR rescued Second Lieutenant Charles Yackin, USAF, from Patnanogan Island, East of Luzon.

6. 6 January, 1945: Lieut.(jg) Howard D. Miner, USNR rescued Second Lieutenant Blaine Ellenberge, USAF, off Negros Island.

Lieutenant Commander Lawrence L Geis, USN picked up four survivors of a B-25 off Negros Island.

Lieut William W. Dootson, USNR evacuated three men from LSTs 565,617,460 at Cuyo Island.

7. 9 January, 1945: Lieutenant (jg) Howard D. Miner, USNR, while on "Dumbo" patrol covering strikes in the Manila Harbor Area observed signals from the shore near Subic Bay. He landed and picked up five navy officers and men, survivors of plane crashes during the Third Fleet Carrier strikes in the Manila Area.

Commander K. J. Sanger, USN, ferried Lieut. General Southerland, Chief of Staff from Mindoro to ComSoWesPac Lingayen Gulf on D-day.

8. 10 January. 1945: Five planes and eight crews proceeded to Lingayen Gulf where they joined Commander Sanger and commenced Air Sea Rescue operations from the U.S.S. ORCA under operational control of C.T.U. 73.2.2. These planes and crews were replaced aboard the U.S.S. TANGIER in Leyte Gulf by the crews and planes which had been based temporarily at Weondi. The Commanding Officer with his crew and the crew of the U.S.S. ORCA's rearming boat participated in the capture of two Japanese swimmers and the killing of a third. The Japanese were members of an enemy PT boat which had attacked our forces during the preceding night.

9. 12 January, 1945: Lieut. Harry G. Sharp, USN, landed in the open sea off Salmague on the Northwest Coast of Luzon to rescue a fighter pilot who had been shot down by Japanese anti-aircraft fire while escorting Lieut. Sharp on a search for an Army pilot reported adrift in a liferaft in that vicinity.

10. 14 January. 1945: Lieutenant Albert E. Wilson, USNR, effected the rescue of Ensign Eric W. Dattwinkel, USN of VC-84 from Pambuhan on Samar Island.

11. 15 January. 1945: Lieutenant Kenneth F. Brissette, USN, landed at Paluan Island to evacuate seventeen parachute infantrymen.

Lieut. Comdr. Lawrence R. Geis, USN, rescued Second Lieutenant Robert A. Guttlieb from Signijor Island.

Lieut.(jg) Howard D. Miner, USNR, evacuated a Merchant Seaman from the S.S. John Isaacson.

12. 16 January. 1945: Lieutenant Harry G. Sharp, USN, sighted three men in a raft at latitude 16-48 North, Longitude 120-05 East off the North West Coast of Luzon. he orbited over the raft with his emergency IFF on, dropping smoke flares to guide Destroyer Number 480 to the scene, thus enabling the ship to effect the rescue successfully.

13. 17 January. 1945: Lieut.(jg) Howard D. Miner, USNR, landed at sea off the coast of Palawan Island and evacuated eleven members of the crew of a PBM from VPB-20, two pilots from the U.S.S. MAKIN ISLAND and three Japanese prisoners of war.

14. 21 January. 1945: Lieutenant John A. Love, USNR, evacuated six Filipino Officials of Panay Island from Negros and landed supplies for the guerrillas.

14. 21 January, 1945 (Cont'd): Lieut. Comdr. Lawrence R. Geis, USN, rescued five survivors from a B-25 which had been forced down near Negros.

Landing at Brooks Point on Palawan Island Lieutenant Kenneth F. Brissette, USN, evacuated one Navy and two Marine enlisted men who had escaped from the Japanese prison camp at Puerta Princessa on Palawan Island. The escaped POWs were PFC Glenn W. McDole, 301051, USMC, Sgt. Douglass W. Bogue of the Fourth Marines and Radioman First Class Fern J. Barta, 381 18 35, U.S. Navy.

15. 22 January, 1945: The detachment aboard the U.S.S. TANGIER transferred to the U.S.S. SAN CARLOS and continued to operate from Leyte Gulf.

16. 25 January, 1945: Lieutenant John A. Love, USNR, evacuated Father Haggerty from Turkuran, Mindanao.

17. 28 January. 1945: Commander Kenneth J. Sanger, USN, while returning from an unsuccessful search for an Army fighter pilot who had crashed near Apparri landed in the open sea under extremely difficult conditions and rescued two members of the crew of an A-20 which had been shot down over Laog Field on the West Coast of Luzon. The two men jumped from their liferaft as the seaplane taxied towards them and were only rescued with great difficulty. Both men had been badly injured in the crash. Lieutenant William W. Dootson, USNR, rescued Second Lieutenant Willard A. Davis, U.S. Army Air Forces at Bondoc in Southern Luzon.

18. 29 January. 1945: The squadron commenced operating a daily postal plane to the Mike 7 operation at Subic Bay carrying a Sixth Army Courier to the beachhead opposite La Paz. On 31 January, this flight was extended to include the Mike 6 operation at Nasugbu in Batangas Province.

19. 30 January, 1945: Lieutenant Ralph O. Badger, USNR, landed at Masanga River on the East Coast of Luzon and rescued an Army pilot, Lieut. M.J. Opie and Ensign Thomas W. John, USNR, and his gunner Marvin William Munson, AOM3c, of VC77. The two Navy men had forced to land at sea while operating from the U.S.S. RUDYARD BAY near Ulithi and had traveled 500 miles in a liferaft, landing at Polillio Island off the Eastern Coast of Luzon opposite Masanga River. The landing was made under difficult conditions and some damage was caused to the hull of Badger's plane during the take-off.

20. 31 January, 1945: One of the fighter planes escorting Lieut. William J. Sneed, while he was covering strikes against Formosa was forced down at sea Northwest of Luzon. Lieut. Sneed was unable to reach the scene due to lack of gas. On 1 February, 1945, Lieut.(jg) Ray S. Peckham, USNR, located the pilot in a liferaft, but the condition of the sea prevented any possibility of rescue. The location of the raft was given to the Submarine and Surface Forces in the area, but by the time they reached the scene no trace of the pilot or raft could be found.

21. 2 February, 1945: Lieutenant William J. Sneed, USNR, landed at Hook Bay, Polillio Island and evacuated two wounded Filipino soldiers and one Filipino Nurse. he then strafed and bombed with parafrags the Japanese installations on the East Coast of Polillio.

Commander K.J. Sanger, USN, landed at Dibut Bay on the East Coast of Luzon and evacuated four Army personnel, including a sergeant who had been operating a weather station in that area and who was badly wounded while fighting along side guerrilla forces operating against the Japanese.

22. 7 February, 1945: The fighter escort accompanying Lieut. Harry G. Sharp, USN and Lieut.(jg) Gewin McCracken, USNR, destroyed a Japanese "Dinah" type plane which approached the Catalina planes while they were searching for possible liferafts in the waters North of Luzon. Lieut. Sharp aided the fighter pilots in locating the Jap plane by turning his plane towards the Japanese aircraft in order to direct the fighters who were unable to see the enemy when it was first sighted by the two PBY pilots.

23. 8 February, 1945: Lieut. Comdr. Lawrence L Geis, USN, rescued Army pilot, Lieutenant James W. Bilodeau from Linaon, Negros Island.

Commander Kenneth J. Sanger, USN, evacuated Major Anderson, U.S. Army Air Force, leader of the guerrilla forces on the East Coast of Luzon and Commander Willlams of Air Group Three of the U.S. S. YORKTOWN from Hook Bay, Polillio Island.

Lieutenant Kenneth F. Brissette, USN, landing at sea off the coast of Mindanao, evacuated Col. Wendell W. Fertig, U.S. Army, leader of the guerrilla forces on that island and four Filipino officers from his staff.

24. 11 February, 1945: Commander Kenneth J. Sanger, USN, landed near Batan Island North of Luzon in the open sea with twenty foot swells and a ninety degree cross swell to effect the rescue of twelve persons from an Army transport plane and a pilot of a P-51 aircraft. Two Army Nurses were among the passengers of the Army transport plane which had overshot its destination by 4500 miles when it attempted to land on a Japanese field on Batan Island. The plane had hen enroute from Leyte to Clark Field.

25. 13 February, 1945: Lieutenant William J. Sneed, USNR, landed at Hook Bay, Polillio Island and evacuated two Filipino soldier who had been wounded in action against the Japanese. The two Filipino soldiers were 13 and 21 years of age. The thirteen year old had killed three Japanese while rescuing the older boy who had been wounded.

26. 14 February, 1945: The squadron was relieved at Lingayen Gulf by Patrol Bombing Squadron SEVENTEEN.

27. 15 February. 1945: In accordance with orders from Commander Aircraft SEVENTH FLEET, the Lingayen detachment proceeded to Leyte Gulf and reported aboard the U.S.S. CURRITUCK.

28. 17 February. 1945: Operations at Leyte were taken over by Patrol Bombing Squadron SEVENTEEN. Lieut. Badger, Lieut. Brown and Lieut.(jg) Bonnet ferried three seaplanes to Manus with orders from ComAir7th to return to the United States from Manus by the first available transportation. Commander Sanger with a party of ten officers and men departed from Samar via NATS, returning to the United States via Peleliu, Guam, Kwajalein, Johnston and Oahu Islands.

Lieut.Comdr. Geis and the remainder of the squadron boarded the transport U.S.S. WHARTON to return to the United States. Three planes were delivered to VPB-71 at Lingayen Gulf and the remaining 12 were turned over the Commander Aircraft SEVENTH FLEET.

29. 24 February, 1945: The Commanding Officer reported to Commander Fleet Air Alameda where the squadron personnel were to be reassigned.

30. Between 1 November, 1944 and 17 February, 1945, the squadron flew on 600 flights totaling 2775 hours.

31. 13 March. 1945: All officers and men were transferred to their new stations the Fleet Air Wing FOURTEEN.

Chronology - Part I

2 January, 1945
The squadron moved from the U.S.S. Orca to the U.S.S. Tangier.

10 January, 1945
A detachment of six planes was based on the U.S.S. Orca In Lingayen Gulf. The remaining planes continued to operate aboard the U.S.S. Tangier in Leyte Gulf.

15 February, 1945
The detachment at Lingayen Gulf was relieved by a forward echelon of Patrol Bombing Squadron SEVENTEEN and proceeded to Leyte Gulf enroute to the United States in accordance with dispatch directives from Commander Aircraft Seventh Fleet.

17 February, 1945
The squadron departed from Leyte Gulf to proceed to Commander Fleet Air, West Coast.

24 February, 1945
The Commanding Officer reported to Commander Fleet Air, Alameda, California.

13 March, 1945
All officers and men having been transferred to their new stations the squadron records were forwarded to Officer-in-Charge, Deferred Squadrons, HedRon 14-1, Fleet Air Wing FOURTEEN

From War Diary for VP54 - Part Two - Narrative:

Lieut. Comdr., K. J. Sanger, U S. Navy assumed command of Patrol Squadron FIFTY-FOUR on 6 February, 1944. The squadron was reformed as of today, under the administration of Commander Fleet Air Wing FOURTEEN.

During the first few weeks operations consisted almost entirely of administrative details and planning. Pilots, Navigators and enlisted men reporting to the squadron were, for the most part, assigned to temporary duty with the operational training unit of Hedron, Fleet Air Wing FOURTEEN, and were given instruction in the various training schools maintained by Fleet Air Wing FOURTEEN and ComFairWestCoast

Beginning around the 15th of March eighteen crews were assembled and the squadron commenced intensive training in all phases of the training curriculum laid down by ComFairWestCoast for PBY5A squadrons. 100% completion of this necessitated an intensive schedule of flying during which the crews averaged over 100 hours of flying per month. The training was designed to fit the squadron for Blackcat operations. Night navigation fights, torpedo drops, bombing tactics, formation flying and radar-navigation hops were included in the schedule Ground school included instruction in link trainers, radar operation and use, communications, recognition and swimming.

At the end of the first week in May the crews had completed their training schedule. Short leaves were granted to all personnel prior to departure from the United States and preparations were made to transfer the squadron to Kaneohe, T.H. Commencing on 20 May the squadron moved from San Diego to Kaneohe, T.H. All planes and combat crews made the TransPacific fight Three ground officers, all squadron Air Bombers and Ordnancemen and the squadron gear were transported aboard the CVE, U.S.S. BRETON, arriving in Pearl Harbor on 31 May, 1944. The planes made a successful crossing. One plane piloted by Lt.(jg) John Love was forced to return due to engine trouble, but made the trip successfully the following day.

On May 30th half the squadron with Air Bombers on temporary duty from Hedron, Fleet Air Wing TWO, were dispatched to Midway where they carried out 600 mile anti-submarine patrols. During this tour of duly Lieut.(jg) Milton H. Brown made the squadron 's first open sea rescue when he landed at sea and picked up 2nd Lieut W.E. Garrett, USMCR, a Marine fighter pilot of VMF 313. On the recommendation of Colonel K.H. Weir of Marine Aircraft Group TWENTY-THREE, Lieut.(jg) Brown was awarded the Navy-Marine Corps Medal by Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet On 8 July, 1944, the squadron transferred to the South Pacific area. The flight from Hawaii was made by way of Palmyra, Canton, Funafuti