Patrol Squadron 21
What was the official name of VP-41 from May 1946 to Nov 1946?
VP-41 VP-41 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S . Navy . The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 21 ( VP-21 ) on 1 March 1944 , redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 21 ( VPB-21 ) on 1 October 1944 , redesignated Patrol Squadron 21 ( VP-21 ) on 15 May 1946 , redesignated Medium Patrol Squadron ( Seaplane ) 11 ( VP-MS-11 ) on 15 November 1946 , redesignated Patrol Squadron 41 ( VP-41 ) on 1 September 1948 and disestablished on 23 April 1949 . Operational history . - 1 March 1944 : VP-21 was established at NAS Norfolk , Virginia , as a seaplane squadron flying the PBM-3D Mariner . The next day , the squadron began relocating to NAS Harvey Point , North Carolina , where all of the ground and flight training was given . During this period , the squadron came under the operational control of FAW-5 . - 9 May 1944 : VP-21 was relocated to NAS Key West , Florida , for advanced training in Anti-submarine warfare ( ASW ) . The training was completed on 16 June 1944 , and the squadron began to fly its aircraft cross-country to NAS Alameda , California , in preparation for its trans-Pacific flight to the South Pacific . - 22 June 1944 : The squadron aircraft began the trans-Pacific flight to NAS Kaneohe Bay , Hawaii , from NAS Alameda . Upon arrival , the squadron came under the operational control of FAW-2 . The last element of three aircraft was aboard at NAS Kaneohe Bay by the 26th . Operational patrols and advanced combat training began immediately . - 19 August 1944 : VP-21 deployed to Parry Island Seaplane Base , Eniwetok , relieving VP-1 . The squadron continued under the operational control of FAW-2 , conducting patrols , searches , and the occasional bomb run over Japanese-held Ponape Island . - 17 October 1944 : VPB-21 was relocated to Kossol Passage , Palau . The squadron conducted daily searches , with tender support provided by and . FAW-1 assumed operational control . - 24 December 1944 : The squadron was relocated to Ulithi Atoll to relieve VPB-17 . Duties consisted of daytime anti-shipping patrols and hunter-killer missions . Tender support was provided by USS Chandeleur . - 21 January 1945 : During the night of the 21st Lieutenant ( jg ) Richard L . Simms and crew sank a Japanese Kaiten midget submarine attempting to attack shipping in Ulithi lagoon . The Kaiten had been released by the submarine carrier I-36 . Simms and his crew dropped four Depth charges on the Kaiten , sinking it with the loss of its two-man crew . - 29 January 1945 : VPB-21 was relocated to Tanapag Harbor , Saipan , aboard USS Chandeleur , under the operational control of the 5th Fleet ( TG 50.5.2 ) . The squadron was assigned routine patrols in the vicinity of the island group . On 17 March the squadron was able to move ashore to the naval air base barracks , remaining until the 27th . - 28 March 1945 : The squadron was relocated to Kerama Retto to support the Battle of Okinawa . Tender support continued to be provided by USS Chandeleur . While stationed at this location , on 7 April 1945 , one of the squadron aircraft spotted the Japanese battleship Yamato and her escorts steaming toward Okinawa . The aircrew was able to alert elements of the 5th Fleet and reinforcements soon arrived , resulting in the sinking of Yamato and several other Japanese vessels in the battle group . By the beginning of May , the squadron was advancing its patrols as far as the Ryukyu Islands , strafing and bombing targets of opportunity on land or sea . These were gradually extended to include the Japanese home islands , the East China Sea , the southern coast of Korea , and the China coast from north of Formosa to north of Shanghai . From 1 June 1945 , the patrols were conducted to the south and east of Okinawa , the East China and Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan . Dumbo ( air-sea rescue ) and weather flights were added to the squadron’s mission list . - 15 July 1945 : VPB-21 was relocated to Chimu-Wan , Okinawa . Daytime search and reconnaissance patrols were conducted through 6 August 1945 , when the squadron was moved again to Eniwetok . - 2 September – 18 November 1945 : After a few weeks spent relocating and a brief period of stand down for rest and relaxation , the squadron commenced routine patrols from Eniwetok , remaining at that location until 11 September 1945 , when it was relocated to Ominato , China . By 18 November 1945 , VPB-21 had been relocated from Ominato to Hong Kong . - 26 Jan 1946 : The squadron moved its headquarters to the former Imperial Japanese Navy Air Base at Sasebo , Japan . Detachments were maintained at Hong Kong and Okinawa . - 9 July – 3 October 1946 : VPB-21 was relocated to Tsingtao , China . Detachments were maintained at Hong Kong and Shanghai . On 3 October 1946 , the Shanghai detachment was relocated to Yokosuka , Japan . - 23 November 1947 : The squadron was relocated to a new home port at NAS San Diego . - 6 September 1948 – 26 March 1949 : VP-41 deployed from its home port of NAS San Diego , to Tsingtao , China , to relieve VP-MS-3 . Ground personnel and supplies departed aboard , and by 27 September all nine PBM-5 aircraft arrived at Tsingtao . On the 29th a detachment of three aircraft was sent to Yokosuka , Japan . On 1 November 1948 , five VP-41 aircraft flew to Buckner Bay , Okinawa , Japan , for ASW exercises , supported by . The exercise concluded due to a tropical storm front on the 9th . On 21 November 1948 , the explosion of a Chinese Nationalist Army ammunition dump next to the seaplane ramp damaged two squadron aircraft . On 21 December 1948 , a PBM-5 sank during a rough water landing off Tsingtao ; there were no casualties to the crew . The squadron returned to NAS San Diego on 26 March 1949 . - 23 April 1949 : VP-41 was disestablished at NAS San Diego . Aircraft assignments . The squadron was assigned the following aircraft , effective on the dates shown : Flew PBY-5s and PBY-5As from 1940-44 - PBM-3D - 2 March 1944 Home port assignments . The squadron was assigned to these home ports , effective on the dates shown : - NAS Norfolk , Virginia - 1 March 1944 - NAS Harvey Point , North Carolina - 2 March 1944 - NAS Key West , Florida - 9 May 1944 - NAS Kaneohe Bay , Hawaii - 22 June 1944 - NAS San Diego , California - 23 November 1947