page_title: VPB-52
section_title: Operational history
hierarchical_section_title: VPB-52 / Operational history
caption_attribution_description: One of the original "Black Cat" Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina used by Patrol Squadron VP-52 in the south-west Pacific in 1943. The plane was sent to Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida (USA), and used for instructional purposes. Note the 25 mission markers.
context_page_description: VPB-52 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Torpedo Squadron 3D15 on 12 July 1928, redesignated Patrol Squadron 3-S on 21 January 1931, redesignated Patrol Squadron 3 Base Force on 17 July 1933, redesignated Patrol Squadron 3 on 1 October 1937, redesignated Patrol Squadron 32 on 1 July 1939, redesignated Patrol Squadron 52 on 1 July 1941, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 52 on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 7 April 1945.
context_section_description: 12 July 1928: VT-3D15 established at NAS Coco Solo, Panama Canal Zone, as a torpedo bomber squadron flying the T3M-2 twin floatplane. The squadron’s primary mission was observation and protection of Coco Solo zone against hostile forces.
  21 January 1931: VT-3D15 was redesignated Patrol Squadron 3 (VP-3S), Scouting Force, at NAS Coco Solo, with 18 PM-1 aircraft. Training and patrol operations were the order of the day.
  1 July 1931: NAS Coco Solo, home port for the squadron, was redesignated Fleet Air Base (FAB) Coco Solo. The redesignation of both the squadron and its home port indicated a change in mission from coastal defense to fleet aircraft. VP-3S participated in operations with the fleet in concert with VP-8S, off the coast of Cuba, in a portion of Fleet Problem XII. USS Wright provided tender support. VP-3S returned to FAB Coco Solo on 30 July 1931.
  17 July 1933: The squadron came under the control of the fleet Base Force Command and was redesignated Patrol Squadron Three Base Force (VP-3F) with 12 PM-1s supported by USS Swan and USS Lapwing.
  21 April 1934: VP-3F conducted massed flights in exercises with VPs 2F, 5F, 7F and 9F during Fleet Problem XV held off the coast of Panama. The squadron’s participation in the problem lasted through 28 May 1934.
  1 January 1935: VPs 3F and 5F conducted exercises with tenders USS Wright, USS Lapwing, USS Teal and USS Gannet to test the ability of surface vessels to support flying boat operations at remote locations.
  21–22 June 1937: Twelve PBY-1 Catalinas of VP-3F under the command of Lieutenant Robert W. Morse flew nonstop from NAS San Diego, California, to FAB Coco Solo, completing the 3,292 miles (5,298 km) flight in 27 hours and 58 minutes.
  1 October 1937: The squadron was redesignated Patrol Squadron Three (VP-3) and became part of the new patrol wing organization under PatWing-3.
  20 February 1939: VPs 3, 5 and 2 participated in Fleet Problem XX conducted in the Caribbean and coastal waters of South America. PatWing-3 aircraft were part of Black Force, taking part in bombing attacks against White Force vessels. The exercises clearly demonstrated the extreme vulnerability of the slow-moving patrol flying boats against organized antiaircraft (AA) fire of support vessels. An attack on a flying boat base also demonstrated the vulnerability of the aircraft when on the ground or in the water, as compared to dispersion with tenders at remote sites.
  14 April 1939: Aircraft of VPs 3, 2 and 5 mapped 1,076 miles (1,732 km) of South American coastline from Nicaragua to the Colombian border. The achievement was significant given the prevailing state of the weather during this period and the poor conditions for aerial photography.
  February 1940: VP-32 relieved VP-33 of Neutrality Patrol duty, flying out of NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The Neutrality Patrol was created in response to the German invasion of Poland in August 1939. This invasion set the stage for global conflict with the potential for Axis surface merchant raiders and submarines to prey on British vessels in U.S. territorial waters. President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued his first proclamation of neutrality on 5 September 1939, declaring waters within the territorial jurisdiction of the U.S. off-limits to military operations of belligerent powers. The Neutrality Patrol would extend east of Boston and south of Trinidad in the Caribbean. VPs 51, 52, 53, 54 and 33 were the first squadrons to be assigned to the Neutrality Patrol, supported by four tenders.
  29 Jun 1940: VP-32 was relieved by VP-33 on Neutrality Patrol duty.
  1 June 1941: After VP-32 was relocated to its home port at NAS Norfolk, Virginia, the squadron turned in its well-used PBY-2 and PBY-3 aircraft, obtaining six new PBY-5s at NAS San Diego. Six more aircraft were flown to NAS Norfolk on 7 July 1941.
  17 July 1941: VP-52 personnel and material were loaded aboard USS Curtiss for transport to NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to relieve VP-81. Using NAS Guantanamo as a base of operations, the squadron conducted an aerial survey of Bermuda, Cuba and Great Exuma Island. During t
caption: VP-52 PBY-5 at NAS Jacksonville, October 1944
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