VPNAVY VP-5 Open House
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VPNAVY Address

Note VP-103 NoticeNote

Note NOTICE: "...I was asked by a next of kin from one of our lost crews to ask you if you can help and if you may know any contacts that might help us we would be very greatful..." Contributed by David Sharland david@davidsharland.wanadoo.co.uk [18JUN2011]

Museum charity number 1052892 called Dunkeswell Memorial Museum at the only US Navy airbase in England and Europe in world war two. This base is very rear because of that. It was the home of VP-63, VP-103, VP-105, VP-110 and VP-114 attached to FAW-7 of the US Navy. As there is NO Memorials in Europe for the work the US Navy AntiSubmarine Squadrons done in World War Two. As there are many buildings that still exist today from WW2 left standing around NAF Dunkeswell, Devonshire, England. One of them is the administation complex. These buildings are VERY REAR as they were used only by the US Navy Fleet Air Wing 7 Group to help to defend the supply convoys to England from attacks by U-boats and surface vessels which were out in the Atlantic and the Bay of Biscay. The Museum is trying to raise £110,000 to buy the administration complex this will be a permanent Memorial building for the Dunkeswell Memorial Museum, for all who served at NAF Dunkeswell, Devonshire, England during WW2,including the 183 Officers and men who lost there lives in combat and for the 49 killed in non combat. One Officer that was based at NAF Dunkeswell, Devonshire, England was Joesph P. Kennedy Jr older brother of John F. Kennedy. Joesph was at the base until his death on the 12th August 1944.

The Museums tel phone number is 01404891943 and the website address is http://www.dunkeswellmemorialmuseum.org.uk/. If you know how we can get this help or if anyone can find it in there hearts to give a donation to this good cause with a letter of support and send it too the address on the web site address above

I hope to hear from your soon.

Yours David Sharland

UPDATE "...Heres to let all VPB-103, VPB-105, VPB-110, VPB-114, VPB-63, Headron-7, FAW-7 Crews and next of Kins know that NAF Dunkeswell, Devonshire, England Memorial Museum has sadly closed due to the owner of the building that we rented needed the building back. We are still runing as a Museum and Charity with displays, shows and talks. We are still trying to raise the funds to buy the Adminstration buildings the price has gone down to £55.000. We also have a new website and you can find it on http://dmm103105110.btck.co.uk and we are also on Facebook under Dunkeswell Memorial Museum. The Museum is also asking the following Groups of servicemen and women to have some more links with us them being NAS Cecil Field, Jacksonville, Florida (this were VPB-110 trained too) and VP-26 as VPB-114 is at the start of there timeline. I would like to hear from anyone to do with all the Groups that I have put in this massage so please contact me as soon as possible. David Sharland (Founder) david@davidsharland.wanadoo.co.uk..." [28AUG2012]

UPDATE "...I am trying to find any ex-servicemen that was based at NAF Dunkeswell, Devonshire, England with VPB-103, VPB-105 and VPB-110. The reason I am trying to find the ex-servicemen is to let them know that there is a Museum set up on the airfield as a Memorial to all those who served there and to ask if they could send photo's. The Museums name is Dunkeswell Memorial Museum. At the moment the Dunkeswell Memorial Museum is trying to obtain the old world war two ops buildings and control tower so all the artefacts we have collected can be displayed. David Sharland (Founder) david@davidsharland.wanadoo.co.uk..." [08JUL2009]


Note NOTICE: "...I just received some Navy film showing what appears to be VPB-116 #38800 showing the crew during a high altitude mission and upon landing at Tinian (Black and White with good to excellent quality). Another film, in color, shows VD-1 31996 Calamity Jane warming up and taking off (excellent quality). I would like to collect more film copies from any individuals that served with Navy/Marine PB4Y-1 Liberator and PB4Y-2 Privateer squadrons (VD-1, VD-3, VD-4, VD-5, VP-101, VP-102, VP-103, VP-104, VP-105, VP-106, VP-107, VP-108, VP-109, VP-110, VP-111, VP-112, VP-115, VP-116, VP-117, VP-118, VP-119, VP-120, VP-121, VP-122, VP-123, and VP-124). Thanks. Alan C. Carey acarey@austin.rr.com..." [27OCT2006]


Note NOTICE: "...I hope this web site can help with my research on a PB4Y "Mucks Mauler" BUNO: 32035 B5 call sign E from VB-103. I have been in contact with Charles P. Muchenthaler last year. I hope you can supply me with any photos on this PB4Y and any crew photos. I now this PB4Y crashed 28DEC43 at RAF ST Mawgan on transit flight VB-113 back to USA. I have reseached this PB4Y for last 20 years and collected a lot of history over the years...Martin Alexander alex.melrose@btopenworld.com..." [29DEC2001]


Note NOTICE: "...Does anyone know if there is anyway to get a hold of one of the VP-103 coins? I work for the Army and I've been collecting coins from the different units I've been working with, but it sure would be nice to have one from my old squadron ...TOLLE, ATAN Cindy (formerly ATAN Cindy Brown) kcranchaz@hotmail.com..." [30MAY2001]


Note NOTICE: "...Hi, I recently obtained a logbook of a Lt. F. A. Welsh. Unfortunately, no squadron was written in it. I believe that he was with either VPB-103 or VPB-110 from the time that he went overseas. He was a PPC and was in England from September 1943 til June of 1944, flying missions in the Bay. If anyone out there has ANY information about Lt. Welsh or his crew, I'd be most happy to hear from you. This site is awesome, I come here alot. Blue Skies...Mark J Adamic blackct401@aol.com..." [13OCT2000]


Note NOTICE: "...Gentlemen: I represent the Stillwater Airport Memorial Museum of Stillwater, Oklahoma. For your information, our airfield was a storage and disposal site for 82 PB4Y-1's, (approximately a third of the total naval inventory of this particular type of aircraft), immediately after World War Two. Please be informed that for over the past eight years I have been writing a book about all of the 475 combat aircraft that were scrapped at Searcy Field. I am in the final stages of preparation of my book. Unfortunately, I'm lacking information and photographs concerning many of the Navy Liberators that were flown to Stillwater including: BUNO/SQUADRON: 31974 VF-4, 31986 VD-3, VMD-254, 32030 VB-103 VPB-105, 32041 VPB-105, 31991 VB-109, 32106 VD-1 VPB-197, VD-3, 32130 VB-109 VPB-121, 32133 VMD-254, 32152 VB-106 VPB-109, 32154 VB-106 VPB-109, 32156 VB-200 VPB-122, 32158 VD-3, 32232 VMD-254, 32311 VD-1, 32314 VD-1 VPB-122, 38970 VPB-103 VPB-114 VPB-117 , 46735 VPB-104 VPB-143, 65303 VB-112, VB-114, 65311 VPB-113, 65313 VPB-113, 65314 VPB-103 VPB-114, 65384 VPB-113, 65392 VPB-114, 65393 VPB-103 VPB-114, 65394 VPB-103 VPB-114, 90132 VPB-103 VPB-114, 90135 VPB-103 VPB-114, 90467 VPB-114, 90468 VPB-114, 90469 VPB-114, 90474 VPB-103 VPB-114. Any assistance you can give my organization will be greatly appreciated! Thank you. Sincerely, John L. Dienst, Curator (Emeritus), Stillwater Regional Airport Museum, 20365 Lorain Road B-7, Fairview Park, Ohio 44126...John L. Dienst Dienst@hotmail.com..." [Home Address updated 03MAR2004 | 13JAN2000]


Note NOTICE: "...I would like to hear from Shipmates Elliott, D.E., Hendren, W. H., Mackie,W. B. C., Ross, E. I., and any other Shipmates from PATSUE 7A FAW-7 VPB-103 NAF Dunkeswell, Devonshire, England from July 1944 to June 1945...WILSON, Matthew mwilson1942@optonline.net..." [30JAN2002]


Note NOTICE: "...My father's name is C. V. Carlton and was in VPB-103 Crew 15 from '44-'45. I am interested in hearing from anyone who may have known him...Christopher V. Carlton fourdogs@intcon.net..." [02MAY99]


Note NOTICE: "...Seeking info re LT. E.M.S. Brenegan; LT Jerry McDaniels; ENS. Gene Redmond. Any other VPB-103 personnel who wish to be added to the VPB-103 Dunkeswell duty roster can e-mail me or GMACK1917@aol.com...Paul Cory Salsbury, LCDR Call2paul@aol.com..." [17DEC98]


Note NOTICE: "...Looking for information and/or pictures of Robert L. V. Dennis, enlisted/officer pilot with VB-103 1943-44. Thanks...Braxton Bradford braxbrad@yahoo.com..." [04OCT98]


Note NOTICE: "...My 80-year old dad has been trying for months to locate his co-pilot from the war. The co-pilot's name is Thaddeus C. Willson (with two l's), known as Ted. They trained together at Oceana at Norfolk Naval Base in 1943. Shipped out to England in November 1943 where they were based at Dunkswell and flew a Liberator in Squadron VB-103. They flew 52 missions together, including the Normandy Invasion, returning to the US in October 1944. Ted was from California and was living in Oakland, California around 1973...My dad lost track of them in the 1970's. My dad (in New York state) and the Liberator navigator from the war (who is in New Hampshire) are in close touch with each other and both would love to find Ted, or at least find out what happened to him if he is no longer living..." Sue Malone PJPM37A@prodigy.com [11MAR98]


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