VB/VPB-108 to VPB-111

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

VB/VPB-108 (November 1943 to July 1945 and March to August 1945)

This was the first PB4Y-1 squadron to serve in the Central Pacific. Commanding officers: Commander E.C. Renfro (1943-1944); Lt. Commander John Muldrow (March to May 1945); Lt. Commander Robert C. Lefever May-August 1945). First tour: Assigned operational control under Task Force 57 and administrative control under FAW 2. Second tour: Assigned to FAW 1 (March to April 1945); FAW 18 (May to August 1945. First Tour: Based at Ellice Islands (November 1943), Gilbert Islands, and Marshall Islands. During the second tour it was stationed at Peleliu, Tinian, and Iwo Jima.

VB/VPB-109 (The Reluctant Raiders; December 1943 to August 1944 and April to August 1945).

Commanding officers: Commander Norman "Bus" "Buzz" Miller (1943-1944); Lt. Commander George L. Hicks (1944-45). Based at Apamama, Gilbert Islands; Kwajalein, Marshall Islands; Eniwetok, Marshall Islands; Isley Field, Saipan. Commander Miller was awarded the Navy Cross for a mission to Truk and Puluwat. On the second tour, as a PB4Y-2 squadron,it was based at Palawan, Philippines; Yontan Field, Okinawa; Iwo Jima. Flew PB4Y-1 Liberators during first tour and PB4Y-2 Privateers during the second tour. It was the first squadron to use the SWOD mk-9 "Bat."

VPB-111 (December 1944 to August 1945)

Commanding officers: Commander James V. Barry (January 1944 to April 1945); Lieutenant Commander Gordon R. Egbert (April 1945). Based at Tinian (December 1944); Morotai ( January to February 1945); Tacloban (February to April 1945); Palawan (April to August 1945). VPB-111 started as a European-based PB4Y-1 squadron. During it's second tour of duty in the Pacific, the squadron flew PB4Y-1s and 2s.