WWII Pearl Harbor VP-22 group - also fought in Java and the NEI.

[KASTAUFFER]

I love USN bar mounted groups and this one turned out rather nicely. I bought it on E-cheap this week and turned out to be very interesting. I also like it because the veteran was from my home state of Oregon.

 

RM1c Fraser was present during the Pearl Harbor attack while serving with Patrol Squadron 22. On December 7, 1941, all 12 PBY-3 aircraft in the squadron were destroyed or disabled during the attack; shortly thereafter the squadron received 12 new PBY-5s.

 

On January 3, 1942, VP-22 moved to Darwin, Australia to join Patrol Wing Ten's VP-l0l and 102. Bombing and reconnaissance operations were conducted throughout the northern Australia and Dutch East Indies area as the Japanese infiltrated and occupied the Dutch East Indies.

 

By March 3, 1942, all three squadrons had retreated to Perth, Australia, where VP-22 was officially decommissioned on April 18. Half of the total personnel were returned to the US for reassignment, and the remainder were combined to form a new VP-101, based at Perth.

 

VP-22's casualties during this 2 month operation were 7 personnel killed, 8 wounded, and 11 PBYs shot down or destroyed on the water.

 

VP-22 received 2 Presidential Unit Citations during the first 3 months of World War II.

 

 

Fraser later became an officer and retired from the USN as a Lt. Commander.

 

What is simply amazing is he saw plenty of combat early in the war flying missions in a PBY and never even got an Air Medal. Early in the war, medals were not given out for " numbers of missions flown". The Air Medal did not exist in 1941 - early 1942, but they were awarded retroactively.

 

This little bar mounted group is now one of my favorites

 

Kurt

 

 

[tom2001]

Cool group Kurt, and another case of some great research on your part to put a story to the medals. Congrats!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Allan H.]

Hey Kurt,

Congrats on the excellent find. Too often we look for the "bling" in these medal groups and often overloook the huge sacrifice and valor that they represent- even without the decorations.

As always, I look forward to your posts to see the excellent research and commentary that comes with them.

Allan

[JDK]

Great group Kurt!

 

On the same topic, I recently sold a CBI Combat Cargo/ Troop Carrier pilots grouping. He flew at least 75 to 100 transport/cargo missions to the front line. For all of that he was awarded 1 Air Medal. All of his flights were listed in his flight log which I also had. I found it interesting that 1 was all he was given!

 

JD

[mvmhm]

I have an identical medal bar to a man in VP-22....he was also at Pearl on December 7th (he got there on 06 September)...when VP-22 headed to Australia, he went back to the states to an aerial torpedo school.....small world....

 

Mark sends

[vicjoy1945]

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbdown:

 

Nice research Kurt !! Great and unassuming little grouping with a fantastic and incredible history !!

 

Vic

[KASTAUFFER]

BTT for the 70th Anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack

[KASTAUFFER]

Back to the top in commemoration of the 71st anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

[Wharfmaster]

Very nice "local" medal group.

 

I have one like it to a sailor that flew out of Midway early on. No Air Medal as well.

 

 

W

[KASTAUFFER]

BTT in remembrance of the Pearl Harbor attack.

[Wharfmaster]

I like PBY groups very much, with or without an Air Medal. Good find.

 

 

W

[KASTAUFFER]

Back to the top in commemoration of the 74^th Anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack.

[KASTAUFFER]

Back up to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack.

[KASTAUFFER]

BTT