A BIT OF HISTORY: "...ETTINGER, LCDR Robert L...My Uncle, Robert L. Ettinger, passed away July 22, 2008. He was a LCDR and served with VP-71 and VPB-106 flying the PB4Y-2 and PBY-5A during WWII. He was a very quiet man and when asked about the war, all he would say was that he was a pilot and saw a few things. After his death, his family found his pictures, log book and medals which included Distinguished Flying Cross (2 Gold Stars), Air Medal (5 Gold Stars), American Theatre Ribbon, Asiatic - Pacific Theatre Ribbon (2 Bronze Stars) and the Phillipine Liberation Ribbon (Bronze Star). The following pictures are from my Uncle's personal collection..." Contributed by Terry Baize applegator1@yahoo.com [19JUL2016]

PERSONAL SCRAPBOOK
VP-71
VP-101
VP-104
VP-106
NAAS Camp Kearny, California

---

Circa 1942

A BIT OF HISTORY: VP-101 History "...CAPTAIN Harmom T. UTTER served with VP-101. Three days after Pearl Harbor was attacked, his PBY was shot down by two Japanese Zeroes. On Christmas of the same year, his plane was burned on the water by enemy aircraft. He spent six weeks on Bataan and excaped to Australia, returning to the states in 1942. He served with FAW-9 until the Spring of 1943..." Official U. S. Navy Documention [22DEC2012]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Op-40-A-KB - (SC)A6-4/VZ - January 6, 1942 - Location of U. S. Naval Aircraft..." WebSite: Naval Historical Center http://www.history.navy.mil/ [23SEP2006]

VP SQUADRONS MENTIONED

VP-11, VP-12 and VP-14

VP-23 and VP-24

VP-31, VP-32, VP-33 and VP-34

VP-41, VP-42, VP-43 and VP-44

VP-51, VP-52, VP-53 and VP-54

VP-61, VP-62, VP-63

VP-71, VP-72, VP-73 and VP-74

VP-81 and VP-83

VP-91, VP-92 and VP-94

VP-101

VP-201, VP-202, VP-203, VP-204, VP-205, VP-206, VP-207, VP-208, VP-209, VP-210, VP-211 and VP-212

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...San Pablo - A shallow, northern extension of San Francisco Bay in California. (AVP-30: dp. 2,619; l. 310'9"; b. 41'2"; dr. 12'7"; s. 18.5 k.; cpl. 367; a. 2 5", 8 40mm., 8 20mm.; cl. Barnegat) (Squadrons Mentioned: VP-11, VPB-25, VP-33, VP-34, VP-52, VP-101..." WebSite: Naval Historical Center http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/s4/san_pablo.htm [25DEC2005]

San Pablo (AVP-30) was laid down on 2 July 1941 302 by the Associated Shipbuilding Co., Seattle, Wash.; launched on 31 March 1942; sponsored by Mrs. W. A. Hall; and commissioned on 15 March 1943, Comdr. R. R. Darron in command.

Following commissioning and outfitting, San Pablo conducted shakedown in the Puget Sound area and then steamed to San Diego for readiness training. On 15 June, the small seaplane tender departed the west coast and headed for the South Pacific. At Espiritu Santo, San Pablo embarked marines and deck cargo; then proceeded to Noumea, New Caledonia. After offloading there, she went to Naval Seaplane Base Brisbane, Australia, to pick up the flight crews and aviation supplies, including spare parts and fuel, of patrol squadron VP-101; then returned to Noumea to commence operations as tender and base for "Black-Cat" (night-fighting, air-search, and reconnaissance) PBM's and PBY's.

With VP-101 and assigned crash boats, San Pablo formed Task Group 73.1 and established their seaplane base by charting the bay, setting out mooring and marker bouys, and constructing quarters for squadron personnel at nearby Honey Hollow. They also built an advanced base at Samarai, Papua, New Guinea. For the next several months, the "Black Cats" operated from these bases, preying on enemy shipping along the coasts of New Guinea, New Britain, New Ireland, and in the Bismarck Sea. They inflicted great losses on inter-island barge traffic as well as to heavy shipping; harassed enemy troops with night bombing and strafing missions; conducted photo intelligence operations; provided at-sea search and rescue support for downed Army fliers and sailors of sunken vessels; and carried high ranking officers, friendly coast watchers, and native guerrilla units.

While continuously on the alert for enemy air attack, San Pablo sailors worked around the clock to fuel, repair, arm, and control the seaplanes; and to feed and care for their crews. On 9 October, she was relieved by Half Moon (AVP-26) and sailed to Brisbane for long needed repair, replenishment, and shore leave. She returned to Noumea on 20 December and resumed operations with VP-52. During January 1944, she gave direct support to the force which occupied Finschhafen, New Guinea, and helped to establish a new advance base at Langemak Bay. At times, she also tended the planes of VP-34, then flying rescue missions for the 5th AAF from Port Moresby. She once temporarily based two OS2U scout planes from Boise (CL-47).

From Langemak Bay, San Pablo's planes helped to prevent the Japanese from supplying garrisons on Rabaul and Kavieng. On 25 February, relieved again by Half Moon, San Pablo returned to Noumea for repairs alongside Dobbin (AD-3). During the work, she assisted in removing a screw from Aaron Ward (DM-34) using her seaplane winch. This speeded repairs to the destroyer-minelayer and allowed her to reach Ulithi in time to prepare for the forthcoming Okinawa campaign.

By 24 March, San Pablo was conducting operations at Seeadler Harbor, Admiralty Islands, with VP-33 and VP-52 planes. They carried out night bombing missions in the Carolines and search flights by day. The pace had so quickened by the end of March that USS Tangier (AV-8) was brought in to help carry the load. On 13 May, they moved to Hollandia to patrol the approaches to Wakde Island prior to Allied landings there. Relieved by Orca (AVP-49) on 26 May, San Pablo then refueled PT boats at Humboldt Bay and transported personnel and cargo between Manus, Seeadler, Emirau, and Wpendi. On 19 August, she commenced ASW patrols with VP-11 planes at Woendi and, during October and November, conducted ASW operations off Morotai and Hollandia. Later relieved by Saw Carlos (AVP-51), she moved to Anibong on Bay, Leyte, to support planes conducting search missions in the Philippines.

On 8 December, San Pablo received survivors of Mahan (DD-364) who had been picked up by one of her PBM's after that destroyer had suffered three kamikaze hits and sank in Ormoc Bay. She then joined a convoy en route to Mindoro and came under severe attack by suicide planes for ten consecutive days. Most of the kamikazes were beaten off by AA fire from the convoy screen or by CAP planes. However, one hit an ammunition ship which completely disintegrated in a tremendous explosion, and another crashed into a Liberty ship and caused severe damage. On 30 December at Mindoro, a Val barely passed astern of San Pablo and crashed into Orestes (AGP-10), wounding four San Pablo men with shrapnel. On the 31st, a Betty bombed nearby Porcupine (IX-126) and then crashed into Gansevoort (DD-608). Through January and early February 1945, San Pablo made search missions in the South China Sea and along the China coast with VPB-25 and VP-33 squadrons. On 13 February, she was relieved by USS Tangier (AV-8) and returned to Leyte.

Through April, she escorted LST-777, Chestatee (AOG-49), and various merchant transports between Leyte and Palawan. She then steamed, via Morotai, to Manus. At the end of June, she moved to Samar and the Lingayen Gulf area for air search and rescue operations in the South China Sea-Formosa area. These lasted until 15 August when she received orders to cease offensive operations. On 2 September, the day of Japan's formal surrender ceremony, San Pablo was in Lingayen Gulf providing ASW patrols to cover occupation convoys bound for Japan.

San Pablo returned to Bremerton, Wash., on 17 November to prepare for inactivation. She moved to Alameda, Calif., on 25 March 1946 and remained idle until placed out of commission, in reserve, on 13 January 1947.

Following conversion to a hydrographic-survey vessel, San Pablo was reconunissioned on 17 September 1948 at San Francisco, Comdr. T. E. Chambers in command. She conducted shakedown training off San Diego from 29 October to 15 November and was then ordered to report to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. San Pablo reached Portsmouth, Va., on 14 December and completed outfitting prior to sailing on 3 February 1949, in company with Rehoboth (AVP-50) for oceanographic work in the western approaches to the Mediterrannean. Calling at Ponta Delgada, Azores; Plymouth, England; Gibraltar; and Bermuda; she returned to Philadelphia on 18 April. During the remainder of the year, she conducted two similar cruises to survey and measure ocean currents; and, during the last, made a study of the North Atlantic Drift. She included in her ports of call Scapa Flow; the Orkney Islands; Oslo, Norway; and Copenhagen, Denmark. San Pablo was redesignated AGS-30, effective 25 August 1949.

Beginning 18 January 1950, she conducted a survey of the Gulf Stream; and, from 5 to 26 June, served as Survey Headquarters Ship for a group of American and Canadian vessels engaged in broad coverage behavioral studies of that massive current. After a cruise to Casablanca, French Morocco, in July and August, she returned to the east coast of the United States to conduct survey operations between New London and Key West for the remainder of the year.

During 1951, San Pablo conducted oceanographic studies during various cruises, ranging from Scotland to the Mediterranean and along the coast in the Narragansett Bay operating area. Her tasks included making accurate profile studies of the ocean bottom for the purpose of evaluating new sonar devices. In 1952, she spent the majority of her time in the North Atlantic, and devoted the latter part of the year to training operations out of Norfolk. From 1953 through 1968, San Pablo alternated between the North Atlantic and the Caribbean conducting studies on salinity, sound reflectivity, underwater photography techniques, deep bottom core sampling, bottom profile mapping, subsurface wave phenomena, and other topics still classified. For several months during 1965, she utilized the port and docking facilities at Rosyth, Scotland, as a temporary home port, courtesy of the British Royal Navy. From 1 January to 29 May 1969, she underwent inactivation at Philadelphia.

San Pablo was decommissioned on 29 May 1969 and struck from the Navy list on 1 June. After being used by the Ocean Science Center of the Atlantic Commission, Savannah, Georgia, she was sold on 14 September 1971 to Mrs. Margo Zahardis of Vancouver, Wash.

San Pablo earned four battle stars for World War II service.

A BIT OF HISTORY: "00SEP42--The navalized Liberator was assigned the designation PB4Y-1. The initial PB4Y-1s were essentially B-24Ds delivered to the Navy with very little change and assigned Navy Bureau of Aeronautics serial numbers. They were drawn from a variety of B-24D block numbers. The Navy Liberators first entered service with VP-101 at NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii in September of 1942. Their first U-boat kill took place on November 5, 1942..." http://www.hut.fi/~mpietil1/b-24.html

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...I am an aviation historian resident in a suburb of Perth, Western Australia. I am preparing a Masters thesis titled "The Air War in Western Australia 1939-1945". From March 1942 to August 1944 we had Patrol Wing Ten (Fleet Air Wing Ten from 01 NOV 42) based at Crawley on the Swan River, near Perth. PWTen appears to have doubled as a training and local patrol unit, with patrol squadrons being rotated as the war in the Southwest Pacific progressed. From the Wing's War Diary I have ascertained that the following squadrons were present at Crawley: VP-101 (includes merged VP-21, VP-22 and VP-102 after the evacuation of Java in MAR 42), VP-11, VP-33, VP-34, VP-52. After FAWTen left Perth in AUG 44, a utility training unit, VS-61 continued until well into 1945. I am seeking information on these squadrons when they were in Western Australia. I know of their bases at Geraldton and Exmout Gulf (POTSHOT) but I have a problem with the mobile base, "Heron Haven". I have a copy of Messimer's "In the Hands of Fate" and a few other published references, so have an overall picture. Any help would be appreciated..." Contributed by Lindsay J. Peet (Mr.) ppeetlj@ic-net.com.au [22JUL98]

"...Lindsay, Since our recent communication I have delved into the matter of Heron Haven, and have enjoyed doing so.

Since my interest begins with aircraft and their squadrons, I approached this exercise from an "aircraft on aggressive ops. using Seaplane Tenders" point of view. This allowed me to rule out some matters, such as :---

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Full Text Citations For Award of The Navy Cross - To U.S. Navy Personnel - World War II - (2,889 Awards) - Navy Cross Citations U.S. Navy - World War II..." WebSite: Home of Heros http://www.homeofheroes.com/ valor/ 1_Citations/ 03_wwii-nc/ nc_06wwii_navyR.html [23NOV2007]

WATERMAN, ANDREW KENNETH (MIA)

Citation:

The Navy Cross is presented to Andrew Kenneth Waterman (02340582), Aviation Machinist's Mate First Class, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service as waist gunner of an airplane in Patrol Squadron ONE HUNDRED ONE (VP-101), Patrol Wing TEN (Patwing-10), in action against enemy Japanese naval forces located near Jolo, in the Philippine Islands, on the morning of 27 December 1941. In the ensuing action, Japanese Zero fighters and anti-aircraft bursts filled the air around the harbor, but the U.S. Navy PBY-4 bombers made their approach, dropped their bombs and inflicted heavy damage upon several enemy war and merchant ships. Although he was wounded shortly after the approach was made, Aviation Machinist's Mate First Class Bangust shot down one enemy airplane before being mortally wounded and, remaining at his station, continued to fire upon the Japanese Zero fighters until enemy bullets killed him at his post. His outstanding courage and determined skill were at all times inspiring and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 304 (July 1942)
Born: December 20, 1913 at Lewis County, Kentucky
Home Town: San Diego, California

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Full Text Citations For Award of The Navy Cross - To U.S. Navy Personnel - World War II - (2,889 Awards) - Navy Cross Citations U.S. Navy - World War II..." WebSite: Home of Heros http://www.homeofheroes.com/ valor/ 1_Citations/ 03_wwii-nc/nc_06wwii_navyN.html [22NOV2007]

PETTIT, ROBERT LEE

Citation:

The Navy Cross is presented to Robert Lee Pettit (3108990), Radioman First Class, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service as First Radioman of an airplane in Patrol Squadron ONE HUNDRED ONE (VP-101), Patrol Wing TEN (Patwing-10), in action against enemy Japanese naval forces located near Jolo, in the Philippine Islands, on the morning of 27 December 1941. When his PBY-4 Catalina was attacked during an assault on enemy shipping, and despite the fact that his aircraft was flooded with aviation gasoline from perforated tanks which then caught fire, Radioman Pettit remained at his post until he was mortally wounded. His outstanding courage and determined skill were at all times inspiring and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 304 (July 1942)
Born: November 17, 1906 at Claire, Michigan
Home Town: Clare, Michigan

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Full Text Citations For Award of The Navy Cross - To U.S. Navy Personnel - World War II - (2,889 Awards) - Navy Cross Citations U.S. Navy - World War II..." WebSite: Home of Heros http://www.homeofheroes.com/ valor/ 1_Citations/ 03_wwii-nc/ nc_06wwii_navyL.html [22NOV2007]

MCLAWHORN, EVEREN C.

Citation:

The Navy Cross is presented to Everen C. McLawhorn, Aviation Machinist's Mate First Class, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service as gunner of an airplane in Patrol Squadron ONE HUNDRED ONE (VP-101), Patrol Wing TEN (Patwing-10), in action against enemy Japanese naval forces located near Jolo, in the Philippine Islands, on the morning of 27 December 1941. During an air attack on enemy ships when Anti-Aircraft Fire broke up the formation of PBY-4 Catalinas and killed two waist gunners, Aviation Machinist's Mate First Class McLawhorn manned both waist guns alternately, refusing to leave his post despite being wounded seven times. When enemy incendiaries ignited a number of ammunition cases in the plane and machine gun bullets in the cases began to explode, despite the pain of his wounds, Aviation Machinist Mate First Class McLawhorn calmly jettisoned the exploding cases, risking his life in doing so. His outstanding courage and determined skill were at all times inspiring and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 304 (July 1942)
Born: April 10, 1921 at Lenoir County, North Carolina
Home Town: New Bern, North Carolina

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Full Text Citations For Award of The Navy Cross - To U.S. Navy Personnel - World War II - (2,889 Awards) - Navy Cross Citations U.S. Navy - World War II..." WebSite: Home of Heros http://www.homeofheroes.com/ valor/ 1_Citations/ 03_wwii-nc/ nc_06wwii_navyL.html [22NOV2007]

LURVEY, DON DEXTER

Synopsis:

The Navy Cross is presented to Don Dexter Lurvey, Aviation Chief Machinist's Mate, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service as gunner of an airplane in Patrol Squadron ONE HUNDRED ONE (VP-101), Patrol Wing TEN (Patwing-10), in action against enemy Japanese naval forces located near Jolo, in the Philippine Islands, on the morning of 27 December 1941. Aviation Machinist's Mate First Class Lurvey saved his pilot from drowning after their airplane crashed into the sea. His outstanding courage and determined skill were at all times inspiring and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 304 (July 1942)
Born: July 13, 1908 at Draent Center, Massachusetts
Home Town: San Diego, California

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Full Text Citations For Award of The Navy Cross - To U.S. Navy Personnel - World War II - (2,889 Awards) - Navy Cross Citations U.S. Navy - World War II..." WebSite: Home of Heros http://www.homeofheroes.com/ valor/ 1_Citations/ 03_wwii-nc/ nc_06wwii_navyC.html [20NOV2007]

DAWLEY, JACK BALDWIN

Citation:

The Navy Cross is presented to Jack Baldwin Dawley, Lieutenant, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service as Pilot of an airplane in Patrol Squadron ONE HUNDRED ONE (VP-101), Patrol Wing TEN (Patwing-10), in action against enemy Japanese naval forces located near Jolo, in the Philippine Islands, on the morning of 27 December 1941. During an air attack on enemy ships when Anti-Aircraft Fire broke up the formation of PBY-4 Catalinas, Lieutenant Dawley was shot down. He rallied his survivors and joined with another downed officer in evading the enemy and leading his men to safety. His outstanding courage and determined skill were at all times inspiring and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 304 (July 1942)
Born: November 3, 1913 at Seattle, Washington
Home Town: Seattle, Washington

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Full Text Citations For Award of The Navy Cross - To U.S. Navy Personnel - World War II - (2,889 Awards) - Navy Cross Citations U.S. Navy - World War II..." WebSite: Home of Heros http://www.homeofheroes.com/ valor/ 1_Citations/ 03_wwii-nc/ nc_06wwii_navyC.html [20NOV2007]

CHRISTMAN, ELWYN LEWIS

Citation:

The Navy Cross is presented to Elwyn Lewis Christman, Lieutenant (j.g.), U.S. Navy (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service as Pilot of an airplane in Patrol Squadron ONE HUNDRED ONE (VP-101), Patrol Wing TEN (Patwing-10), in action against enemy Japanese naval forces located near Jolo, in the Philippine Islands, on the morning of 27 December 1941. During an air attack on enemy ships when Anti-Aircraft Fire broke up the formation of PBY-4 Catalinas, Lieutenant Christman followed through alone and made a drop on an enemy vessel at 1,000 feet, before his badly damaged aircraft caught fire. Three members of the crew bailed out, but three others remained at their posts while Christman made an emergency water landing, and then led his surviving comrades to shore. His outstanding courage and determined skill were at all times inspiring and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 304 (July 1942)
Born: July 14, 1915 at Monitor, Oregon
Home Town: San Diego, California

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Full Text Citations For Award of The Navy Cross - To U.S. Navy Personnel - World War II - (2,889 Awards) - Navy Cross Citations U.S. Navy - World War II..." WebSite: Home of Heros http://www.homeofheroes.com/ valor/ 1_Citations/ 03_wwii-nc/ nc_06wwii_navy.html [19NOV2007]

BANGUST, JOSEPH

Citation:

The Navy Cross is presented to Joseph Bangust (3812689), Aviation Machinist's Mate First Class, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service as waist gunner of an airplane in Patrol Squadron ONE HUNDRED ONE (VP-101), Patrol Wing TEN (Patwing-10), in action against enemy Japanese naval forces located near Jolo, in the Philippine Islands, on the morning of 27 December 1941. In the ensuing action, Japanese Zero fighters and anti-aircraft bursts filled the air around the harbor, but the U.S. Navy PBY-4 bombers made their approach, dropped their bombs and inflicted heavy damage upon several enemy war and merchant ships. Although he was wounded shortly after the approach was made, Aviation Machinist's Mate First Class Bangust remained at his station and continued to fire upon the Japanese Zero fighters until enemy bullets killed him at his post. His outstanding courage and determined skill were at all times inspiring and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 304 (July 1942)
Born: May 30, 1915 at Niles, Ohio
Home Town: San Diego, California

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Full Text Citations For Award of The Navy Cross - To U.S. Navy Personnel - World War II - (2,889 Awards) - Navy Cross Citations U.S. Navy - World War II..." WebSite: Home of Heros http://www.homeofheroes.com/ valor/ 1_Citations/ 03_wwii-nc/nc_06wwii_navyH.html [19NOV2007]

HASTINGS, BURDEN ROBERT

Citation:

The Navy Cross is presented to Burden Robert Hastings, Lieutenant, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service as Commanding Officer and Pilot of an airplane in Patrol Squadron ONE HUNDRED ONE (VP-101), Patrol Wing TEN (CPW-10), in action against enemy Japanese naval forces located near Jolo, in the Philippine Islands, on the morning of 27 December 1941. Pressing home his attack in the face of overwhelming air and antiaircraft opposition, Lieutenant Hastings led his formation, maneuvering his bombers to pass clear of lower clouds until the objective was reached and they had dropped their bombs, inflicting heavy damage upon several enemy war and merchant ships. Lieutenant Hastings' outstanding courage, daring airmanship and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 304 (July 1942)
Home Town: Washington, D.C.

A BIT OF HISTORY: VP-101 PostCard "...6-23-1941..." WebSite: EBay http://cgi.ebay.com/1941-PATROL-SQUADRON-101-naval-cover- VP-101_W0QQitemZ160112094795QQihZ006QQcategoryZ139774QQssPageName ZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting [02MAY2007]

A BIT OF HISTORY: VP-101 PostCard "...6-23-1941..." Contributed by John Lucas JohnLucas@netzero.com [02APR2004]

A BIT OF HISTORY: VP-101 PostCard "...7-17-1941..." [07JAN2007]

A BIT OF HISTORY: VP-101 PostCard "...7-17-1941...W II "1st Day Postal Service - Greeting from the Navy Mail Clerk Aboard"; Patriotic Cacheted Naval Cover; "Patrol Squadron 101" CDS; to Louie Bean, Anacostia, Washington, D.C; July 17, 1941..." WebSite: EBay http://cgi.ebay.com/ WW-II-1st-Day-Postal-Service-Greeting-from-the-Navy_W0QQitemZ200019217119QQihZ010QQcategoryZ684QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem [20AUG2006]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Office of the Chief of Naval Operations - Naval History Division • Washington - USS Snyder (DE-745)..." WebSite: HyperWar http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/dafs/DE/de745.html [16JAN2006]

Russell Snyder--born on 29 October 1915 in Corbin, Ky.--enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve on 30 August 1937. After undergoing elimination flight training at Robertson, Mo., he was appointed an aviation cadet and received further flight training at Pensacola, Fla. He was appointed a naval aviator on 8 December 1938 and promoted to Ensign on 28 August 1939.

Ensign Snyder was killed in action in December 1941, while attached to Patrol Squadron 101 in the Pacific.

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...This Day in Naval History - Dec. 10 Story Number: NNS011210-16 - Release Date: 12/10/2001 5:36:00 PM..." WebSite: Navy News http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display_history.asp?story_id=295 [11DEC2005]

10MAY41 - A patrol bomber from VP-101 shoots down a Japanese zero fighter in first Navy air-to-air kill during World War II.

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...08DEC41 - Seaplane tender (destroyer) William B. Preston (AVD-7) is attacked by fighters and attack planes from Japanese carrier Ryujo in Davao Gulf, P.I.; William B. Preston escapes, but two PBYs (VP-101) she is tending are strafed and destroyed on the water..." WebSite: HyperWar http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-Chron/USN-Chron-1941.html [15SEP2005]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...10DEC41 - While flying to safety during the raid on Cavite, Lieutenant Harmon T. Utter's PBY (VP-101) is attacked by three Japanese Mitsubishi A6M2 Type 0 carrier fighters (ZERO) (3rd Kokutai); Chief Boatswain Earl D. Payne, Utter's bow gunner, shoots down one, thus scoring the U.S. Navy's first verifiable air-to-air "kill" of a Japanese plane in the Pacific War. Utter, as a commander, will later coordinate the carrier air strikes that lead to the destruction of Japanese battleship Yamato (see 7 April 1945)..." WebSite: HyperWar http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-Chron/USN-Chron-1941.html [15SEP2005]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...25DEC41 - Admiral Thomas C. Hart turns over all remaining naval forces in the Philippines to Rear Admiral Francis W. Rockwell (Commandant Sixteenth Naval District). After Japanese bombers destroy PBYs (VP-101 and VP-102) earmarked to transport him and his staff south, Hart sails in submarine Shark (SS-174) (held in readiness for that eventuality) to establish new Asiatic Fleet headquarters in Java (see 1 January 1942). During Japanese bombing of shipping in Manila Bay, submarine Sturgeon (SS-187) is straddled but is not damaged..." WebSite: HyperWar http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-Chron/USN-Chron-1941.html [15SEP2005]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...27DEC41 - Six PBYs (VP-101) bomb Japanese shipping at Jolo, P.I. against heavy fighter opposition; four Catalinas are lost..." WebSite: HyperWar http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-Chron/USN-Chron-1941.html [15SEP2005]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Hearings Before The Joint Committee On The Investigation Of The Pearl Harbor Attack - Congress Of The United States - Seventy-Ninth Congress...Squadrons mentioned: VP-11, VP-13, VP-14, VP-21, VP-22, VP-23, VP-24, VP-31, VP-32, VP-41, VP-42, VP-43, VP-44, VP-51, VP-52, VP-71, VP-72, VP-73, VP-74, VP-81, VP-82, VP-83, VP-84, VP-91, VP-92, VP-93, VP-94, VP-101, VP-102, CPW-1, CPW-2, CPW-3, CPW-4, CPW-5, CPW-7, CPW-8 and CPW-9..." WebSite: The public's library and digital archive http://www.ibiblio.org/pha/pha/misc/rainbow5.html [01APR2005]

Hearings Before The Joint Committee On the Investigation Of The Pearl Harbor Attack 333KB

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...VP-101 Squadron Awards..." Contributed by Mahlon K. Miller mkwsmiller@cox.net [23APR2001]