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Post by davidd on May 9, 2021 10:38:21 GMT 12
The type of aircraft mentioned in the 22nd February 1944 incident was an SBD, of VMSB-244 as stated. The version of this incident I have a copy of reads as follows:
22nd February 1944. While orbiting his standby position, Flying Officer G C Hitchcock received a message from an SBD pilot to the effect that he had only sufficient gasoline for 5 minutes. Dumbo proceeded to the position given and located two survivors on a raft in position (as stated above), being circled by numerous SBD's and fighters. The Catalina landed (sic) and rescued the two survivors (as stated above, although in this instance the Cpl named as Petten), both of USMC, VMSB-244 based at Torokina. Both survivors were uninjured.
As can be deduced, this is undoubtedly from an official United States Navy source, almost certainly from records compiled aboard COOS BAY, being the HQ under which 6 (NZ) Squadron was operating.
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Post by aircraftclocks on May 9, 2021 17:31:33 GMT 12
From the VPB54 war diary:
1 October, 1944 - 31 October, 1944, Inclusive.
1. During the period covered by this diary Patrol Bombing Squadron FIFTY-FOUR was based at Luganville Airfield, Espiritu Santo, at Emirau Island and at Peleliu Island. The squadron was under administrative control of Commander, Group ONE, Float Air Wing TWO. The detachment based at Espiritu Santo operated under the direction of CTU 11.3.1 and the balance of the squadron operated at Emirau and Peleliu under CTG 59.6.
2. At Espiritu Santo three crews, augmented by two crews from RNZAF Squadron Number Six, carried out anti-submarine ship-coverage patrols, dumbo searches for missing aircraft, and maintained dumbo and JASA standby.
3. Fifteen crews, based at Emirau and Peleliu flew "Dumbo Escort" for marine fighter and torpedo planes in transit between Emirau, Manus, Hollandia, Owi, Peleliu and Ulithi. The squadron provided "Dumbo Escort" for fighter and torpedo planes attacking Babelthuap Island north of Peleliu; evacuated wounded from Peleliu to Manus; carried provisions from Manus and Owi to Peleliu; and carried out bombing missions against Japanese positions in the Palau Islands.
4. October 11, 1944, Warrant Officer Ian Ronald Donaldson of RNZAF Squadron No. Six, on temporary duty with Patrol Bombing Squadron FIFTY-FOUR at Espiritu Santo, landed in the open sea in a New Zealand PBY-5 to rescue the crew of a J2F. The landing was effected in 15-18 foot swells running from the Southeast and with an 18-20 knot wind from East-North East. In attempting to take off the plane water looped damaging the port wing tip. No personnel were injured in the accident. The crew of the PBY-5 and of the J2F were rescued by PC 1587 and a crash boat. The PC attempted to tow the seacat to port, but the plane turned over and sank during the night.
5. October 23, 1944, The Commanding Officer and Lieut.(jg) John A. Love, USNR, made rendezvous at sea, 180 miles from Peleliu, with DE 201. The plane was landed in the open sea to remove a wounded seaman from the DE and fly him to Peleliu for medical treatment. The landing and take-off were successfully accomplished in 10-12 foot swells.
6. October 28. 1944, Lieut.(jg) Peter Maravich, USNR, took off at 1735 Love to search for the survivors of a New Zealand PV-1 which crashed at sea between Espiritu Santo and Efate. Lieut.(jg) Maravich located a life raft after dark and directed a nearby cargo ship, the USS Jaguar, 1X120, to the scene. The pilot circled the raft for 45 minutes dropping flares and floatlights until the ship was able to effect the rescue of the three survivors in the raft. A few minutes later Lieut.(jg) Maravich located a second raft containing one survivor approximately five miles away. Having exhausted his supply of flares and floatlights. The pilot maintained sight contact with the raft by flying at 400 feet in small circles above the raft while HUMBARGER, J.B., ARM2c., directed an aldis lamp at the raft from the port blister of the plane until the Jaguar reached the scene and picked up the remaining survivor. A four plane search was maintained during the next two days but no additional survivors were found.
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Post by aircraftclocks on May 9, 2021 18:37:29 GMT 12
From the VPB54 war diary:
Chronology:
8 September, 1944: Patrol Squadron FIFTY-FOUR became part of Group ONE, Fleet Air Wing TWO which was commanded by the squadron commanding officer.
13 September, 1944: Thirteen planes and fifteen crews were attached to CTG 59.6 for temporary duty involving Dumbo Escort of Marine Squadron from Emirau to Peleliu. The crews remaining in the New Hebrides were augmented by two crews from RNZAF No. SIX.
24 September, 1944: The first Patrol Bombing Squadron FIFTY-FOUR planes landed at Peleliu on D-day plus nine.
1 October, 1944: Squadron designation was changed from Patrol Squadron to Patrol Bombing Squadron.
4 November, 1944: Six planes and crews were assigned to CTG 57.14 for duty at Peleliu Island, Palau. The remaining seven planes on duty with 59.6 returned to Espiritu Santo.
10 November, 1944: The squadron was relieved at Espiritu Santo by RNZAF Squadron number FIVE.
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Post by Peter Lewis on May 10, 2021 11:03:37 GMT 12
"October 11, 1944, Warrant Officer Ian Ronald Donaldson of RNZAF Squadron No. Six, on temporary duty with Patrol Bombing Squadron FIFTY-FOUR at Espiritu Santo, landed in the open sea in a New Zealand PBY-5"
NZ4013
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Post by davidd on May 13, 2021 12:20:24 GMT 12
And the lost NZ PV-1 (Ventura) was NZ4624 (one of Flight of six PV-1's of No. 2 Squadron, en route New Zealand to Espiritu Santo, via Norfolk Island), Pilot Officer A C Hawkins and crew of four, plus four passengers from No. 14 SU were aboard; both air gunners plus two members of the SU were lost. See Errol Martyn's "For Your Tomorrow, Vol. 2", page 289. Loss seemingly due to fuel system problems, as both engines failed at different times.
David D
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Post by aircraftclocks on Jun 26, 2021 23:50:34 GMT 12
From a recent photo on the Air Force of New Zealand museum (2019-192.23) fotoweb.airforcemuseum.co.nz/fotoweb/archives/5003-Search-the-Collection/Collection/2019-192.23_1_1.jpg.infoDate Captain Type Position No Total
2.5.43 S/L McGregor SS Vanderbilt 120 Miles S. Suva 8 8
26.1.44 F/O Mackley D.F.C. B24 S.E. Ontong Java 10 18
4.2.44 F/O Beauchamp D.F.C. B24 S. Nauru 5 23
11.2.44 F/O Hendry B25 40 Miles W. Buka 6 29
13.2.44 F/Lt McGrane P39 40 Miles S.E. Cape St. George 1 30
16.2.44 F/O Hendry NZ P40 20 Miles N. Cape Henpan 1 31
18.2.44 F/O Hitchcock B25 Buka Island 2 33
18.2.44 F/Lt McGrane F4U St. Georges Channel 1 34
21.2.44 F/O Hendry F4U W. Torokina 1 35
21.2.44 F/O Hendry F4U Cape St. George 1 36
22.2.44 F/O Hitchcock SBD W. Buka Passage 2 38
5.3.44 F/Sgt Monk B24 Kabanga Bay 3 41
9.3.44 F/O Beauchamp D.F.C. B25 St. Georges Channel 7 48
16.3.44 F/Lt Francis F4U Feni Island 1 49
31.3.44 F/Lt Scott TBF St. Georges Channel 3 52
11.4.44 F/Lt Scott P38 Santa Isabel 1 53
1.5.44 F/Lt Manz LST Cape Zelee 1 54
10.5.44 F/Lt McHardy D.F.C. SC163 San Cristobal 1 55
30.6.44 F/Lt McHardy D.F.C. SBD S. Guadalcanal 2 57
7.9.44 W/O Donaldson FP147 Malelei Island 9 66
29.9.44 S/L Butcher TBM Bellona Island 7 73
4.10.44 F/O Carleton APC 20 Miles S.E. Guadalcanal 1 74
5.10.44 W/C Agar PV1 N.W. Florida Island 1 74
8.11.44 F/Lt Martin SBD Beaufort Bay 3 77
16.11.44 F/O Sheehan SS Waco Victory 20 Miles S. Cape Henslow 1 78 |
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Post by aircraftclocks on Jun 28, 2021 11:18:56 GMT 12
Just noticed the maths of the total seems wrong, I make it 79.
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Post by camtech on Jun 28, 2021 22:54:07 GMT 12
Me too - 3rd from bottom 74 should be 75.
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Post by aircraftclocks on Jul 1, 2021 0:37:39 GMT 12
Started looking at some of the records to see if the information is correct, given the rescue count has not proven to be 100%. The first entry looks problematic, it says it occurred on 2.5.43.
All the records I can locate advise that the liberty ship USS William K Vanderbilt was sunk on the 17/05/43 at location 18.41S 175.07E due to being torpedoed.
The USS Dash picked up 56 survivors.
At 1600hrs, contact was made with RNZAF Catalina from Lathala Bay, observing survivors in the ship sinking area. Search aircraft sighted 2 lifeboats, 1 raft and oil slick in the vicinity.
One man is known to have been lost, the first assistant engineer.
Can anyone give any supporting information for the event occurring on 2/5/43?
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Post by davidd on Jul 1, 2021 11:44:05 GMT 12
For the apparently inexplicable failure to add the man mentioned as "rescued" by 6 Squadron PBY-5 on 5th October 1944, the simple answer was that the man in question (NZ4213642 Pilot Officer Thomas Helier VAUTIER, Navigator, aged 23), was dead (died in the crash of PV-1 NZ4561 that day). I guess the rationale was that, in truth, he could NOT be counted among those "saved", but at least his family knew where he was buried. See Errol Martyn's For Your Tomorrow, Vol 2, pg 282.
David D
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Post by jenniferscott on Jan 20, 2023 19:20:42 GMT 12
"I am afraid I never did know the name of the ship that blew up at Guadalcanal, but it must have been carrying explosives by the noise it made. We had to do a lot of A/S patrols after that both by day and night, but I can't remember for how long they went on for. On the Dumbo mission of mine when we recovered the body of P/O Vautier. I happened to have our M.O. with me., as I think it was an engine failure on one of our P.V.1 (NZ) returning from a strike mission, we recovered him from the sea and was the only one found - after a long search. The body was taken to Guadalcanal by high speed motor launch (U.S.N.) for return to his unit." From letter to me from John Agar (CO 6 Squadron) dated 26 May 1992.
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