VP-148

Patrol Squadron 148
Active	16 August 1943 - 15 June 1946
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Navy
Type	squadron
Role	Maritime patrol
Engagements	World War II
Aircraft flown
Patrol	PV-1 PV-2

VP-148 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron 148 (VB-148) on 16 August 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 148 (VPB-148) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 148 (VP-148) on 15 May 1946 and disestablished on 14 June 1946.^[1]

Operational history

• 16 August 1943 – 16 January 1944: VB-148 was established at NAS Alameda, California, as a medium bombing squadron flying the PV-1 Ventura. During its entire training phase, the squadron remained under the operational control of FAW-8. After forming, the squadron was relocated to a training facility at NAAS Vernalis, California, where squadron personnel received ground training. On 3 October, the first Venturas arrived for the flight training phase of the syllabus. Upon completion of the flight training phase, the squadron’s aircraft were flown to the Naval Ordnance Testing Station at Inyokern, California, where rocket launcher rails were installed. Training in use of the air-to-ground missiles ran from 31 December 1943 to 16 January 1944. On completion of the rocket attack training, the squadron returned to NAAS Vernalis to begin preparations for transportation to Hawaii.
• 3–12 February 1944: VB-148 loaded its equipment, aircraft and personnel aboard USS Nehenta Bay for transport to Naval Base Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The squadron arrived on 10 February and quickly unloaded and reassembled the aircraft for the short hop to NAS Kaneohe Bay. Training under the operational control of FAW-2 began on 12 February.
• 20 March 1944: VB-148 departed NAS Kaneohe Bay in three aircraft elements for Renard Field, Russell Islands, to relieve VB-140.
• 3 April – May 1944: The squadron was sent to Munda, New Georgia, to provide fighter cover for C-47s carrying paratroops going into New Guinea. From this date until relieved, the squadron came under the operational control of FAW-1. On 14 April, the squadron suffered its first casualty of the tour when Lieutenant William T. Henderson was shot down while overflying the Kahili Airfield, Bougainville. Henderson ditched the aircraft four miles east of Balalae Island and three of the crew of five were rescued by a Dumbo (air-sea rescue). The second squadron loss came on 3 May 1944, when Lieutenant William E. Davis and crew were declared missing in action after failing to return from a strike on Bougainville. The squadron remained at Munda until 20 May, when orders were received to relocate to Emirau. Twice daily long-range search and patrol missions to the western Carolines were coordinated with a destroyer squadron and CVE to pinpoint enemy dispositions and to conduct joint attacks against shipping. Two squadron aircraft were credited with downing two enemy twin engine bombers while on patrol.
• 26 July 1944: One of the squadron aircraft spotted a convoy of Japanese vessels while on patrol southwest of Truk. A six-plane strike was organized and subsequent attacks on the convoy resulted in the sinking of four ships totalling 2,200 tons, and the downing of two enemy escort fighters without any losses to the squadron.
• 22 October – 15ember Dec 1944: VPB-148 was relieved at Emirau by a Royal New Zealand Air Force squadron for return to NAS Kaneohe Bay, arriving there on 31 October. Squadron personnel were put aboard USS Chenango on 22 November, for return to the West Coast. After arriving at NAS Alameda on 15 December, all hands were reclassified and given home leave.
• 10 January – April 1945: VPB-148 was reformed at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington, under the operational control of FAW-6. Training in the PV-1 Ventura was commenced on glide bombing, navigation, and advanced instrument flying. The syllabus was completed at the end of April 1945 and the squadron was relocated to NAS Moffett Field, California, to await transportation to Pearl Harbor.
• 30 May – 16 August 1945: Personnel were loaded aboard USS Copahee for transportation to Pearl Harbor. After arrival on 5 June, the squadron was assigned 15 PPV-2 Harpoons at NAS Kaneohe Bay, coming under the operational control of FAW-2. A detachment of six aircraft was formed immediately and sent to Midway Island. A second detachment of three aircraft was flown to Johnston Atoll. Both detachments engaged in anti-submarine warfare patrols and long range searches in the vicinity of the islands. At NAS Kaneohe Bay, the remainder of the squadron began the combat training syllabus. The detachments returned on 16 August 1945 to NAS Kaneohe Bay to complete their portion of the combat training.
• September 1945: With the Surrender of Japan the squadron was left with little to do other than routine patrols in the vicinity of the Hawaiian islands.
• 15 June 1946: VPB-148 was disestablished at NAS Kaneohe Bay.^[1]

Aircraft assignments

The squadron was assigned the following aircraft, effective on the dates shown:^[1]

• PV-1 - October 1943
• PV-2 - June 1945

Home port assignments

The squadron was assigned to these home ports, effective on the dates shown:^[1]

• NAS Alameda, California - 16 August 1943
• NAAS Vernalis, California - September 1943
• NAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii - 12 February 1944
• NAS Alameda - 15 December 1944
• NAS Whidbey Island, Washington - 10 January 1945
• NAS Moffett Field, California - April 1945
• NAS Kaneohe Bay - 5 June 1945

See also

• Maritime patrol aircraft
• List of inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons
• List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons
• List of squadrons in the Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons
• History of the United States Navy

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons.

United States Navy
Portal Category
Leadership	Secretary of the Navy Under Secretary of the Navy Chief of Naval Operations Vice Chief of Naval Operations Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy 4-star admirals House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces Senate Subcommittee on Seapower
Structure	Navy Navy Reserve Fleet Marine Force Expeditionary Combat Command Merchant Marine The Pentagon Units Aircraft wings Aircraft squadrons Carrier strike group Installations Naval Observatory Master jet base Operating forces Fleet Forces Command Pacific Fleet Naval Forces Europe Naval Forces Central Command Naval Forces Southern Command Naval Special Warfare Command Naval Reserve Forces Operational Test and Evaluation Force Naval Network Warfare Command Military Sealift Command Shore Naval Sea Systems Command Naval Air Systems Command Naval Facilities Engineering Command Naval Supply Systems Command Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command Fleet Cyber Command Naval Academy Naval Education and Training Command Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command Office of Naval Intelligence Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center Naval Legal Service Command Naval Observatory Navy Occupational Safety & Health Bureau of Naval Personnel Chief of Naval Personnel Bureau of Medicine and Surgery Navy Installations Command Fleets Third Fleet Fourth Fleet Fifth Fleet Sixth Fleet Seventh Fleet Tenth Fleet Ships A–B C D–F G–H I–K L M N–O P Q–R S T–V W–Z Aircraft carriers Airships Amphibious warfare ships Auxiliaries Battleships Cruisers Destroyers Destroyer escorts Escort carriers Frigates Mine warfare vessels Monitors Patrol vessels Sailing frigates Steam frigates Steam gunboats Ships of the line Sloops of war Submarines Torpedo boats
Personnel and training	People Officers Insignia Designators Enlisted Rates Ratings Classification Personnel Chaplain Corps Chief Deputy Chief Explosive ordnance disposal Medical Corps Dental Corps Nurse Corps Medical Service Corps Supply Corps Civil Engineer Corps JAG Corps JAG DJAG NCIS Boatswain's mates Hospital corpsman Naval Aviator SEALs Seabees Master-at-arms Operations specialist SWCCs Hispanic sailors Training Recruit United States Naval Academy Officer Candidate School STA-21 NROTC BESS BFTT CNATT COMPTUEX NAWCTSD AIM Naval Chaplaincy School Naval Hospital Corps School Naval Justice School Naval Postgraduate School United States Armed Forces School of Music Navy Senior Enlisted Academy Navy Supply Corps School Naval War College Nuclear Power School JMTC TOPGUN USNTPS Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Equipment	Uniforms Awards and decorations Badges Current fleet Reserve fleet Aircraft Weapons Naval reactors
History and traditions	History "Anchors Aweigh" Blue Angels Ceremonial Barge Chesapeake Continental Navy Ensign Fleet bands Fleet Week Jack Line-crossing ceremony National Museum Navy Band Navy Flag Navy Hymn Navy Memorial Navy service numbers Navy Weeks Sailor's Creed Ship commissioning Ship decommissioning Tingey House USS Constitution Wetting-down United States naval gunfire support debate