VB-128 / VPB-128 | Patrol Bombing One Hundred Twenty Eight | Captain Marvel

[walika]

VB-128 / VPB-128 | Patrol Bombing One Hundred Twenty Eight | Captain Marvel

 

VB-128 Established: 15FEB43
VPB-128 Redesignated: 01OCT44
VP-128 Redesignated: 15MAY46

Home Port Assignments
Deland FL 15 Feb 1943 to 17 May 1943
Floyd Bennett Field NY 17 May 1943 to 6 Oct. 1944
NAS Kaneohe HI 6 Oct 1944 to 21 Jun 1945
Tinian Island 21 Jun 1945 to 5 May 1946

 

The squadron insignia, approved by CNO on 12 April 1943, depicted the “Captain Marvel” figure of comic book fame, with bomb in hand like a football ready to throw. Captain Marvel had the power to convert himself from a boy to a gigantic man, symbolizing the squadron’s belief that future battles would separate the boys from the men. It also represented the importance of the “man behind the machine” in all phases of a successful bombing mission. Colors: background, blue and white U.S. star insignia; body of Captain Marvel, red with yellow cuffs, belt, chest design and boots; face and hands flesh color; hair, black; scarf, white with yellow border and tie; and bomb, black with red nose and tail. The Captain Marvel insignia continued in use following VB-128’s redesignation to VPB-128 in 1944, VP-128 in 1946, VP-ML-1 in 1946 and VP-1 in 1948, but was dropped in favor of a new insignia 3 March 1949.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Theater made. Hand-painted on leather.

 

Bombing Squadron One Hundred Twenty Eight (VB-128) was established at Naval Air Station DeLand, Florida on 15 February 1943 as part of the build-up of Allied aircraft engaged in the Battle of the Atlantic. Under operational control of Fleet Air Wing Twelve, the squadron took only two weeks to bring aircrew and their PV-1 Ventura aircraft to operational status, and by May the squadron was able to send a detachment of aircraft to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base to provide aerial cover for convoys while the squadron moved to Floyd Bennett Field in New York City. The squadron's first loss in action came on 7 August 1943 when a Ventura was shot down by a German U-boat it had attacked and damaged. The pilot, Lieutenant JG Frederick Cushing Cross Jr., was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroic actions in saving his crew's lives despite suffering a mortal wound.

Later in August, the squadron was moved into the heart of the fight by switching from coastal patrols to covering a large area of the open ocean from their new base at Reykjavik, Iceland. Now under control of Fleet Air Wing Seven, the squadron operated as part of the antisubmarine efforts in the North Atlantic Ocean, cooperating with RAF Coastal Command. On October 4, the squadron recorded its first confirmed kill, sinking U-279 off the southwest coast of Iceland, where Lieutenant Charles L. Westhofen had spotted it on the surface and bombed it. All 48 hands aboard U-279 were lost.

December saw another change of scenery for the squadron with its relocation to San Juan, Puerto Rico under control of Fleet Air Wing Eleven. The squadron's aircraft were refitted with rockets and training undergone in the use of them against surface targets. Upon completion of training, the squadron moved to Ensenada Honda, Puerto Rico and mounted routine anti-submarine patrols throughout May 1944. With the reduction of the German submarine threat in 1944, the squadron had time for leave and training before being transferred to the Pacific for service in the Pacific War, first arriving at Naval Air Station Alameda, California on 26 September and then at Naval Air Station Kaneohe, Hawaii on 6 October. Training was undertaken in Hawaii with routine rotations to Midway Island for weather patrols. Ultimately, the squadron was moved to Owi Airfield, Papua on 21 December and by 3 January 1945, its aircraft were transferred to other squadrons to bring them up to strength.

The squadron, now designated Patrol Bombing Squadron One Hundred Twenty Eight (VPB-128) received new aircraft on 28 February 1945 at Guiuan, Samar, Philippines, from which the squadron began operating daily anti-shipping and convoy protection patrols. A pair of squadron aircraft recorded the first kills against the Japanese on 18 March when one midget submarine was sunk and another was damaged in Davao Gulf. Four days later, a strike against the wharf in Cebu City netted another midget submarine sinking by rockets, though one of the attacking aircraft was hit by antiaircraft fire and lost with all crew members. At the end of the month, the squadron relocated to Tacloban, Leyte, and then on to Puerto Princesa, Palawan, continuing with its primary responsibilities of anti-shipping and convoy coverage.

At the end of April, the squadron switched to supporting ground operations and began striking land targets selected by the United States Army, including Itu Aba Island, Brooketon, Brunei, Kudat, Seria, and Tagai Town. During this period, the Navy changed its policy on patrol squadron designations, and the designation was changed to Patrol Squadron One Hundred Twenty Eight (VP-128) in May. On 21 June 1945, the squadron was transferred to the operational control of Fleet Air Wing One and relocated to Tinian Island resuming its traditional role of sea patrol. It conducted such patrols daily until the surrender of Japanese forces, though it later undertook regular weather patrols. The squadron was moved to Okinawa, Japan and redesignated Medium Patrol Squadron (Landplane) One (VP-ML-1) before finally returning to the United States in March 1947.

 

 

Lockheed PV-1 Ventura

 

 

 

 

Source:

Roberts, Michael D. (2000). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 2, Chapter 4 Patrol Bombing Squadron (VPB) Histories (VPB-121 to VPB-141). Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy.

 

VPB-128

VP-128

[The Iron Brigade]

[walika]

 

 

Theater made. Hand-painted on leather. | Hand-painted by Edward "Bus" Paddock, KIA.

 

 

 

Thick embroidery on wool