Medium Patrol Squadron ( Seaplane ) 10 ( VP-MS-10 )
VP-40 was officially named what from Nov 1946 to Sep 1948?
VP-40 VP-40 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S . Navy . The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 55 ( VP-55 ) on 1 August 1940 , redesignated Patrol Squadron 74 ( VP-74 ) on 1 July 1941 , redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 74 ( VPB-74 ) on 1 October 1944 , redesignated Patrol Squadron 74 ( VP-74 ) on 15 May 1946 , redesignated Medium Patrol Squadron ( Seaplane ) 10 ( VP-MS-10 ) on 15 November 1946 , redesignated Patrol Squadron 40 ( VP-40 ) on 1 September 1948 and disestablished on 25 January 1950 . Operational history . - 1 August 1940 : VP-55 was established at NAS Norfolk , Virginia , under the administrative control of PatWing-5 as a seaplane patrol squadron destined for duty with the Neutrality Patrol . VP-55 and sister squadron VP-56 were ordered to provide aerial surveillance for the ships of the Support Force on the offshore patrol . The first aircraft flown by the squadron was an XPBM-1 , the pre-production version of the Martin Mariner . Training on this aircraft was undertaken at the Glenn L . Martin plant in Baltimore , Martyand , from 1 September through early October 1940 . Engineering personnel were sent to the Wright engine plant for instruction . By the end of January 1941 the squadron’s full complement of 12 PBM-1 aircraft had been delivered . - 1 February 1941 : A six-aircraft detachment was sent to NAS Jacksonville , Florida for training . The six remaining aircraft at NAS Norfolk continued training and participated in the Neutrality Patrol . - 1 March – 5 April 1941 : The destroyer units and Patrol Wing of Support Force ( Neutrality Patrol ) were reorganized as elements of Support Force , U.S . Atlantic Fleet under command of Rear Admiral Arthur L . Bristol , designated Task Force 4 . The Patrol Wing of Task Force 4 consisted of Patrol Squadrons 51 , 52 , 55 and 56 , with tender support provided by and . On 5 April 1941 , VP-53 joined Support Force . The original offshore patrol wasnow extended to include a northern patrol to strategic islands in the north and east to help ensure the safe passage of war materials to Britain . - 1 May 1941 : VP-55 flew to Gardiners Bay , New York , for 10 days of exercises with USS Albemarle . On the conclusion of the exercises , Albemarle proceeded on to NAS Argentia , Newfoundland . The squadron returned to NAS Norfolk . - 1 July 1941 : Patrol Wing , Support Force became Patrol Wing 7 , remaining a patrol wing of Support Force . Patrol Squadrons 51 , 52 , 53 and 55 became Patrol Squadrons 71 , 72 , 73 and 74 , respectively . - 19 July 1941 : A three-aircraft detachment was sent to NAS Argentia , based aboard USS Albemarle and . - 12 August 1941 – January 1942 : Six aircraft were dispatched to Reykjavik , Iceland , aboard . The VP-74 detachment operated from Skerja Fjord conducting convoy coverage patrols out from base and air patrols from the Denmark Strait to Greenland . The aircraft carried no bombs , but merely reported submarine contacts . That system was abandoned after 15 October 1941 when a new destroyer , , was torpedoed near Iceland , from then on , it was “Sink on Sight.” On 15 January 1942 , two of the Reykjavik detachment aircraft were sunk at their moorings during a storm . - 2 January – September 1942 : The squadron’s Argentia detachment was relieved by VP-82 for return to NAS Norfolk . These aircraft , plus three from the Norfolk detachment , were assigned to duty at Bermuda , based on Darrells Island , Bermuda , tended by . The detachment moved to NAS King’s Point on 1 May 1942 , remaining until September conducting Anti-submarine warfare ( ASW ) patrols and air-sea rescue . - 3 June 1942 : Ensign John Cushman and his entire crew were lost at sea during a mission off Bermuda . - 30 June 1942 : Plane #1 , flown by Lieutenant Richard E . Schreder , was credited with sinking U-158 . The submarine was spotted by the crew during a ferry flight . - September 1942 : The entire squadron was relocated to NAS Norfolk , with a two-aircraft detachment at NS San Juan , Puerto Rico . During this brief refit period , the squadron’s original PBM-1 seaplanes were traded in for newer PBM-3s . After refit , eight squadron aircraft departed Norfolk on 22 September 1942 , NAS Trinidad , British West Indies . Upon arrival the squadron began ASW patrols and rescue work . During this assignment VP-74 came under the operational control of PatWing-11 . - 18 December 1942 : Orders were received transferring the squadron to NAF Natal , Brazil . Upon arrival , provided tender service , while the squadron conducted ASW patrols and air-sea rescue missions . - 16 February 1943 : The squadron at NAF Natal received new PBM-3Cs . - 24 February 1943 : The squadron experienced its first encounter with the new German U-boat tactic of remaining on the surface to fight . Ensign W . J . Barnard sighted a U-boat torpedoing a ship . During his attack run against the submarine it surfaced and returned unusually heavy and accurate anti-aircraft ( AA ) fire . Ensign Barnard and his crew escaped injury , but lost track of the submarine on the return run . By this point in the war the German U-boats were being equipped with quad-mount 20-mm AA guns and presented a special hazard to aircrews pressing an attack when the element of surprise had been lost . Lieutenant Carey , Plane #6 , was shot down in this manner in July 1943 . - 20 March 1943 : A three-aircraft detachment was established at NAF Aratu , Bahia , Brazil . - 28 April 1943 : Ten of the squadron’s PBM-3Cs were sent to NAF Aratu , while one remained at NAF Natal . - 17 May 1943 : Planes #5 and #6 , piloted by Lieutenants Howland Davis and Carey , respectively , shared credit with and for the sinking of U-128 . - 25 June 1943 : A two-aircraft detachment was established at NAF Galeão , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil . - 19 July 1943 : Plane #5 , piloted by Lieutenant ( jg ) Roy S . Whitcomb , was credited with sinking U-513 . The captain of the U-boat had elected to remain on the surface and fight it out with his AA batteries . - 31 Jul 1943 : Plane #7 , piloted by Lieutenant W . F . Smith , shared honors with a Brazilian PBY in sinking U-199 . - 27 September 1943 : Plane #2 , piloted by Lieutenant ( jg ) Harry B . Patterson , was credited with sinking U-161 , two crew members were wounded in the attack by return fire from the U-boat . - 16 October 1943 : VP-74 was relieved at NAF Aratu , Brazil , by VPB-211 . - 2 November 1943 : The squadron returned to the US and had detachments assigned to NAS Norfolk , with two PBM-3Cs and 1 PBM-3S and nine PBM-3Ss at NAS Floyd Bennett Field , New York . - 14 December 1943 – March 1944 : The entire squadron was reassigned to NAS Elizabeth City , North Carolina , for ASW patrols and coverage of convoy routes . From 8 January to March 1944 , the squadron maintained a three-aircraft detachment at NAS Norfolk . - 15 December 1944 : A three-aircraft detachment was sent to NAS Coco Solo , Panama Canal Zone , for convoy and ASW operations under FAW-3 . The detachment was augmented on 2 January 1945 by three additional aircraft . - 24–28 January 1945 : VPB-74 was transferred to NAS Coco Solo , joining the six-aircraft detachment already stationed at that location . On 28 January 1945 , VPB-74 was officially put under the operational control of FAW-3 . - 1–28 February 1945 : The squadron relocated to NAF Seymour Island , Galapagos , with a three-aircraft detachment at Corinto , Nicaragua . On 28 February 1945 , an additional four-aircraft detachment began operations at Tangus Cove , Galapagos , based aboard USS Albemarle . - 4 April 1945 : VPB-74 was relieved for return to home port NAS Norfolk , under the operational control of FAW-9 . Shortly thereafter , the squadron was refitted with new PBM-5E Mariners . - 28 May 1945 : A three-aircraft detachment of VPB-74 returned to the Canal Zone for duty under FAW-3 at NAF Seymour Island , aboard . The last detachment arrived by 4 June 1945 . - 15 September 1945 : After the Surrender of Japan on 2 September 1945 , the squadron mission was changed to the peacetime job of guarding the Panama Canal . The administrative elements of the squadron were transferred to NAS Coco Solo on 15 September 1945 . Over the next four years , a rotating three-aircraft detachment was maintained at NAS Guantanamo , Cuba , for air-sea rescue missions . - October 1945 : The squadron’s aircraft were replaced by new PBM-5s . - 9 January 1950 : VP-40 was relieved for return to NAS Norfolk where it was formally disestablished on 25 January 1950 . Aircraft assignments . The squadron was assigned the following aircraft , effective on the dates shown : - XPBM-1 - September 1940 - PBM-1 - January 1941 - PBM-3 - September 1942 - PBM-3C - February 1943 - PBM-3S - June 1943 - PBM-5E - April 1945 Home port assignments . The squadron was assigned to these home ports , effective on the dates shown : - NAS Norfolk , Virginia - 1 August 1940 - NAS Trinidad , British West Indies - 22 September 1942 - NAF Natal , Brazil - 18 December 1942 - NAS Norfolk - November 1943 - NAS Elizabeth City , North Carolina - 14 December 1943 - NAS Coco Solo , Panama Canal Zone - 24 January 1945 - NAF Seymour Island , Galapagos - 1 February 1945 - NAS Norfolk - 4 April 1945 - NAS Coco Solo - 15 September 1945 - NAS Norfolk - 9 January 1950