VP-23 | VPB-23 | Patrol Squadron TWENTY THREE | at Pearl Harbor and Midway

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VP-23 | VPB-23 | Patrol Squadron TWENTY THREE

 

Lineage
Established Patrol Squadron TEN-S (VP-10S) on 1 July 1930.
Redesignated Patrol Squadron TEN-F (VP-10F) on 17 July 1933.
Redesignated Patrol Squadron TEN (VP-10) on 1 October 1937.
Redesignated Patrol Squadron TWENTY FIVE (VP-25) on 1 July 1939.
Redesignated Patrol Squadron TWENTY THREE (VP-23) on 1 August 1941.
Redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron TWENTY THREE (VPB-23) on 1 October 1944.
Disestablished on 25 January 1946.

The date on which this official insignia of the squadron was accepted by BuAer is unknown. The circular design was a compass rose with the Big Dipper and Polaris Constellations imposed on it, with a bomb in the center of the design and two pairs of lightning-like radio waves on each side at the top. Radio waves were an essential element of long-range patrols, as were the navigational aids of  star sightings. The bomb indicated the secondary role of the squadron in anti-shipping and ASW. Colors of the design: blue field with white stars and radio waves and bomb, yellow, with tip of bomb red.

 

Hand-painted aircraft fabric. The only example I have seen, it is a very rare patch.

 

 

Summary of Squadron activities:

 

7 December 1941: Two detachments of aircraft had been sent to Johnston Island and Palmyra Island the day before, and on the 7th began to practice circular patrol pattern searches. On that same morning, Japanese carrier forces attacked Pearl Harbor, destroying eight of the squadron's aircraft in their hangars on Ford Island.

 

25 December 1941: The two detachments of squadron aircraft remained at Johnston Island conducting search sweeps in the event of the return of the Japanese fleet. Back at Oahu, Ensign Brady and his crew claimed one Japanese submarine. Postwar records, however, do not indicate any enemy submarine losses on that date.

 

16 January 1942: Six aircraft of VP-23 temporarily based at Kanton Island began daily searches of the waters between Kanton Island and the Fijis to protect the advance of Task Force 8 as it prepared for its strike against the Marshall and Gilbert Islands. These were the first combat patrols by U.S. aircraft in the South Pacific.

 

26 May 1942: A detachment of squadron aircraft at Midway participated in the patrols searching for the Japanese invasion force expected from intercepted radio traffic. The first sightings occurred on 6 June 1942 and led to the Battle of Midway. All of the squadron aircraft returned safely to Ford Island on 30 June 1942.

 

8 July 1942: VP-23 was deployed to Noumea, New Caledonia, to support the invasion of Guadalcanal, relieving VP-71. Tender support was provided by USS Curtiss.

 

15 July 1942: the squadron was moved forward to the island of Espiritu Santo.

 

25 July 1942: VP-23 combed Tulagi Island, the first target in the bombing campaign conducted by the squadron against Japanese-held positions.

 

6 August 1942: Lieutenant Maurice Smith and his crew of seven were reported missing after a patrol flown out of Espiritu Santo. On 14 January 1994, a team of loggers discovered the remains of the aircraft, BuNo. 2389, and its crew where they had crashed on a ridge of a hill on the island of Espiritu Santo.

 

7 August 1942: A nine-plane detachment of VP-23 was deployed to Malaita Island to support operations at Guadalcanal, with tender support provided by USS Mackinac. Severe losses by the Allies at the Battle of Savo Island forced the return of the detachment to Espiritu Santo on 9 August 1942.

 

10 August 1942: A six-plane detachment was sent to Nendo Island, Santa Cruz Islands.

 

1 October 1942: VP-23 and its detachments were recalled to Luganville Seaplane Base, Espiritu Santo for return to NAS Kaneohe Bay for rest and refit.

 

1 November 1942: Two detachments of squadron aircraft were sent to Kanton and Midway islands for search patrol rotations.

 

30 May 1943: Twelve new PBY aircraft arrived from San Diego as replacements, and six of the aircrews ferrying the aircraft remained with the squadron as replacements. Training of the new crews was begun in conjunction with operational patrols in Hawaiian waters.

 

24 June 1943: VP-23 again deployed to the South Pacific, returning to its former base of operations at Espiritu Santo. A detachment was deployed to the island of Funafuti.

 

20 August 1943: The squadron base of operations was relocated to NAB Halavo, Florida Islands. From this location the squadron conducted special searches, convoy coverage, antishipping patrols, Dumbo (air-sea rescue) and aerial resupply missions.

 

15 September 1943: A squadron PBY-5 piloted by Lieutenant W. J. Geritz spotted a submarine southeast of San Cristobal. The destroyer USS Saufley assisted in the sinking of the submarine. Postwar records indicate the submarine sunk was Ro-101 and the entire crew of 50 was lost.

 

18 September 1943: VP-23 conducted a bombing attack on Japanese positions at Nauru Island.

 

10 December 1943: VP-23 was relieved at NAB Halavo by VP-14. The squadron transferred to Espiritu Santo on 13 December 1943, in preparation for the return flight to NAS Kaneohe Bay.

 

15 February 1944: The squadron personnel of VP-23 boarded USS Kasaan Bay for return to the continental United States. The squadron arrived at NAS San Diego on 23 February 1943. Reassignments of personnel, home leaves, and other administrative details were taken care of upon arrival.

 

1 March 1944: VP-23 was reformed with new personnel and new equipment at NAS San Diego. Training commenced immediately and continued through mid-June 1944.20 Jun 1944: The squadron flew the trans-Pacific flight from San Diego to Kaneohe Bay, in the new amphibious version of the Catalina, the PBY-5A. All aircraft arrived safely and the squadron began operations on 30 June, sending a six-aircraft detachment to Midway for training in Anti-submarine warfare (ASW)

 

29 July 1944: The Kaneohe detachment of six aircraft relieved the Midway detachment. This group returned to Kaneohe on 16 August 1944.

 

20 August 1944: VP-23 was deployed to the island of Eniwetok. From this naval air base searches were conducted to the northern and western approaches of the island. Periodic reconnaissance flights were conducted to Ponape and Wake islands.

 

10 September 1944: Group 1, FAW-2 was relieved by FAW- 1 while VP-23 was based on NAB Eniwetok. Operational control of the squadron was undertaken by TU 96.1.7.

 

30 November 1944: VPB-23 conducted a bombing attack on Japanese positions on Wake Island.

 

4 December 1944: Twelve squadron aircraft were transferred to Saipan; three aircraft remained at Eniwetok to provide search patrol support to FAW- 1. Upon arrival at Saipan on 5 December, a detachment of three aircraft was sent to Orote Field, Guam, for air-sea rescue work, and another detachment of two aircraft was assigned to the Army Air Corps for air-sea rescue work. The remaining squadron aircraft conducted flight operations from Tanapag Harbor, Saipan, with headquarters ashore under the operational command of TU 94.4.2.

 

7 December 1944: A third detachment of two aircraft was sent to Falalop Airfield, Ulithi, for air-sea rescue missions.

 

27 December 1944: A fourth detachment of two aircraft relieved the VPB-54 detachment at Peleliu. The primary mission was provision of air-sea rescue support for elements of TU 94.4.2.

 

1 February 1945: Detachments of VPB-23 were maintained at NAS Agana, Guam; Isley Field #2, Saipan; Falalop Airfield, Ulithi; and Peleliu Airfield, Palau Islands. Operational control was under TU 94.4.2 with a primary mission of air-sea rescue, Dumbo and ferry flights.

 

14 February 1945: Detachments of VPB-23 were maintained at NAS Agana, Guam; Kobler Field, Saipan; Falalop Airfield; Peleliu Airfield; Iwo Jima, Nanpo Shoto. Operational control was under TU 94.11.2, with the primary missions being Dumbo flights, press flights and antishipping patrols.

 

1 March 1945: Three crews of VPB-23 were detached from the Saipan detachment for return to the continental U.S. via NAS Kaneohe Bay.

 

21 March 1945: The VPB-23 detachment at Peleliu was relieved by a detachment from VPB-108.

 

30 March 1945: Daily ferry and resupply flights between Guam and Kerama Rhetto were begun by the Guam detachment.

 

9 April 1945: The Eniwetok detachment of three aircraft returned to VPB-23 at Saipan.

 

20 June 1945: The detachment at Falalop Airfield was augmented by three more aircraft. Nightly antishipping patrols and Dumbo missions were conducted in support of TU 94.11.2 operations.

 

9 July 1945: The base of operations for VPB-23 on Saipan was transferred to Peleliu Airfield, to provide air-sea rescue in support of Army Air Corps B-29 strikes on the Japanese home islands. Air-sea rescue missions were also provided in support of United States Marine Corps air strikes on Japanese positions of bypassed islands.

 

Source:

Roberts, Michael D. Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons. Naval Historical Center. Washington, DC. 2000. Volume 2 p 428.
National Geographic Society. Insignia and Decorations of the U. S. Armed Forces. Revised, December, 1944. p 180.