VB/VPB-101 to 106

PB4Y-1 Liberator and PB4Y-2 Privateers Information Center About the Author and Requesting Information or Images My Books on Pacific PB4Y Operations Additional Books By Alan C. Carey History of PB4Y Operations Squadron History VB-101 to VPB-106 Squadron History VB-108 to VPB-111 Squadron History VB-115 to VPB-118 Squadron History VPB-119 to VD-5 Stories from PB4Y Personnel Roll of Honor My Dad Flight Deck Library Links to Navy and B-24 Sites PB4Y Images My Photos

VP-51 and VB/VPB-101 (February to August 1943 and June 1944 to January 1945)

This was the first Navy PB4Y squadron to see action in World War II. Commanding officers: Lt. Commander William A. Moffitt Jr. from (1942-43). Lt. Commander Justin A. Miller from (1943-45). Acting-Lt. Commander M.A. Smith 1944.

Commissioned as VP-51 flying PBY Catalinas. Based at Carney Field, Guadalcanal from February to August 1943. During second tour was assigned to FAW-17 (June 1944 to January 1945); FAW-10 (January-August 1945). Operational control under ComAir7thFlt. Based Los Negros, Admirality Islands (June to August 1944); Owi, Schouten Island (August to October 1944); Morotai (October 1944 to January 1945 with a detachment at Tacloban, Leyte). VB-101 was the first PB4Y squadron deployed to the Pacific.

VB/VPB-102 (The Reluctant Dragons)

Commanding officers: Lt. Commander Bruce Van Voorhis (1943); Lt. Commander Gordon Fowler (1943); Lt. Commander "Pappy" Pearson (1944-1945). First tour based at Guadalcanal. Second tour based at Eniwetok, Tinian, and Iwo Jima. Commander Van Voorhis was the only PB4Y pilot or crewman awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

VB/VPB-104 (The Buccaneers)

Commanding officers: Commander Harry Sears (1943-1944); Commander Whitney Wright (June 1944 to June 1945); Lt. Commander William Cole (June to August 1945). First tour: Based on Guadalcanal. Second tour: Assigned to FAW-10 (January to April 1945); FAW-17 (November to December 1944 and April to August 1945). Based at Morotai, Tacloban, and Clark Field. Commander Whitney Wright invented the art of low-level attacks by the PB4Y-1 Liberator and was awarded the Navy Cross.

VB/VPB-106 (Hayward's Hellions: October 1943 to June 1944) (The Wolverators: February-August 1945)

Commanding officers: Lt. Commander John T. Hayward from (1943-44), Cdr. William S. Sampson (1944-45); Lt. Commander H.W. Hickman (July-August 1945). Assigned to FAW-2 during October 1943; FAW-1 from November 1943 to March 1944; FAW-17 from March to June 1944. Base of operations: Midway; Canton, Ellice Islands; Carney Field, Guadalcanal; Munda Field, New Georgia; Nadzab, New Guinea; Momote Field, Los Negros; Wakde Island, New Guinea; Palawan. Commander Hayward later went on to the Manhatten Project and the building of the first atomic bomb. Many former 106 personnel went on to VPB-119 and were later killed in action.