VP-5 Squadron Shipmates
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ShipmateVP-107 ShipmatesShipmate

BLAIR, John A. Jblairhouse@aol.com "...I was AOM 1/c with VP-83/VPB-107 stationed in Natal, Brazil 1943-1944, Ascension Island, Dunkeswell, England to 1945. Love to hear from any that were there..." [13APR2000]

BUSKIRK, Carl "Buzz" Von Jr. [Deceased] c/o His Daughter Nancy Berg naner@silverlink.net or his Son Richard Von Buskirk RNelsonn@cs.com "...My father, Carl Nelson Von Buskirk, Jr., served in the USN during WWII with VP-83 and VH-4. My brother has his log book and we decided to do a little research. Dad never really spoke about his time in the Navy...My father, like most men of his generation, spoke little of his personal involvement in that tumultuous time. My three brothers, my sister and I have all, at one time or another, asked my father about those years that so shaped his the lives of his generation. Other than talking about some of the sights he had seen or places he had been, like Brazil and Hawaii, he had very little to say. He made it clear that it was a time of duty and once done, it was time to move on. I know, having my father live me for the last few years of his life, that he served with pride, with honor, and was moved by the various memories that the conflict branded on his heart and soul. He would never speak of battles fought or talk about the fear and horrors common to those men of that era. I don't know of personal loss or tragedy or other elements of the self sacrifice necessary in those days. It was personal to him; those were memories that belonged to him and his generation. My father passed away in 1994. Several years later I found some personal things of his, including a brown, cloth covered "Aviators Flight Log Book" with several notations inside and, scrawled in his hand on the front, the letters, in descending order, "VP-83, VPB-83, VB-107, VPB-107, VPB-2(?), VPB-98, VPB-100, and VH-4." I gather these are various squadrons that he belonged to. Over the years some of these letters have faded, as this book is approaching 60 years old. There are several entries in the book, beginning in March of 1942 and ending February 1946. Brevity best describes the remarks column, but the entries give the flavor of locations, duties, and even lengths of patrols, ranging from .2 hours on Jan 18, 1945 ( "Crashed in ocean off Okinawa, Picked up by Flag Plane) to rump numbing flights lasting 16.5 hours ( May 15-16, 1946, PBM-5 lt. Cmdr Sterling, Kaneohe to San Francisco). It is facinating reading. My father saw quite a bit of the world at war and it's aftermath, including flying over Hiroshima, (Nov 4, 1945 PBM-5) and Nagasaki (Nov 23, 1945 same plane)..." [BIO Updated 23JAN2001 | 21JAN2001]


DAILEY, CAPTAIN Franklyn E. Retired frankyned9@gmail.com "...I served with VX-2, VPB-107. In 1956 I had orders to VP-5 as Operations Officer. Because I had a large family and had come from VPB-107 and a tour of Aleutian Duty, I resigned my commission as CDR USN and went into the Naval Reserve, commanding several VP squadrons flying mostly P2V-6M), VP-HL-7 and VP-852. I recently published The Triumph of Instrument Flight: A Retrospective in a Century of U.S. Aviation. Squadrons mentioned include: VP-41 (P2Y-2s then PBYs), VPB-120, VPP-1, and failing to make the index through oversight, VP-62 a PBY squadron in NAS Adak, Alaska. FAW-4 and FAW-7 receive coverage. The book emphasizes the northern hemisphere, especially the North Atlantic and North Pacific. I never had tropical duty though I took a reserve P2V-5F squadron from NAS Los Alamitos, California to NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii for 2-weeks acdutra, but that is not in book, no inst...Author of The Triumph of Instrument Flight: A Retrospective in the Century of U.S. Aviation..."[E-Mail Updated 05OCT2012 | E-Mail Updated 17NOV2006 | BIO Updated 26AUG2004 | 10MAY2002]


Memorial Picture "...FISHER, Andrew Lewis...My Grandfather, Andrew Lewis Fisher, who passed away on 16 May 1989 was a radio operator/turrant gunner with VP-83, later known as VPB-107. I have in my possesion, his Presidential Unit Citation from actions while serving with VP-83 / VPB-107 as well as a letter from the Secretary of the Navy, James Forrestal. My grandfather never talked to much about his experiences during the war. I truly hope one day to hear from someone who knew my gramps during the war. He was born in Pensacola, Florida on June 7, 1924 and enlisted in the navy in May of '41. I know from what my late father had told me about gramps was that his plane had crash somewhere in S. America, and most of the crew was killed. I also knew that he and a group of other sailors got drunk one night and stole a fire truck in either Guantanomo Bay, or Brazil, in which he was busted down for. He was a great man, and my only regets was not knowing all of the stories from his mouth. Myself, I am a Medically Retired Sergeant from the Marine Corps. I was an Infantry Squad Leader with 1st Battalion 8th Marines. I served with two other commands: 4th Platoon 2nd Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team Company, in which deployed to the Middle Eastern countries of NSA Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and with Operation Determined Response in Aden, Yemen for the rescue and security mission for the recovery of the USS COLE. I also served a year in the Artic with Marine Corps Security Force Company Keflavik, Iceland. Anyway, enough of me, my main interest is of my grandfather, Andrew L. Fisher, Seamen 1st Class, Radio Operater with VP-83, later known as VPB-107. I'll end with this comment, if it hadn't of been for the men of the VP's and Naval Aviators, and ground combat teams of the 40's, we would be speaking Japanese, Italian or German. Semper Fidelis Gentlemen...Sgt. Brian L. Fisher USMC/RET mburkard@stny.rr.com..." [14JUL2005]

Memorial Picture "...FLECK, Bernard A. Retired Shipmate Pix...My Dad graduated as a Mechanical Engineer from Coopers Union in 1940 which even by todays standards is at an educational level with the military academies. He was stationed in NAF Natal, Brazil as a co-pilot with VP-83 and VPB-107 from Feb '42 to Aug '43. After NAF Natal, Brazil he went back to NAS Pensacola, Florida with VPB-107 and VPB-114 and did flight training. As a family we were stationed in the early 50's at NAF Port Lyautey, Morocco with FASRON-104. From '58 to '61 my Dad was a pilot with VW-15 at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, our family lived on base when the VW-13 flight crashed practicing "touch & goes". I was also aware of the mishap on approach to Greenland when it was so foggy that one of VW-15's flights simply landed short of the runway in the water. That resulted in constant practices of "touch and go's" at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland in pilots spare time. I was old enough to know what was going on. I remember my Dad telling me after one flight that his "super connie" was hit 7X's by lightning. And another time landing with 70 knot cross winds. After my Dad completed the (VW-15) Barrier Patrol in the '61 he was stationed in Denvile, NJ as the Naval Rep to Thiokol where the Navy was responsible for the developement of the single "throtlable" solid fuel rocket engine for the X-15. After he retired in late '62 from the Navy he moved to Cape Kennedy and did contract work for Technicolor and NASA during the space race to the Moon. Any and all pics from launch to landing on the moon, in flight video's and coming home were his responsibility to negotiate various contracts...c/o Lee Fleck ljfleck@bellsouth.net..." [06FEB2007]

FULTON, Jim "...VP-83/VB-107/VPB-107 Mr. Jim Fulton, 1536 West Main, Austin, AR 72007-8023, 501-843-3052..." http://www.warships1.com/reunion_airgroup.htm [21DEC98]


GOODELL, Billie N. Shipmate Pix ...Circa 2006 goodkemp@aol.com "...I joined the Navy at 17 and attended Boot Camp (Platoon 56) at NS Norfolk, Virginia followed by Aviation Machinist school. I reported to VP-83 in May 1941. VP-83 was flying PBY's. After training we departed for NAF Natal, Brazil (June 1942) and returned to NAS Norfolk, Virginia (May 1943). We exchanged our PBY's for PB6Y-1 and formed VPB-107. I reported to NAS Hutchinson, Kansas for Combat Aircrewman School. We formed a crew known as M68. After graduation we were sent to VPB-197 NAAS Camp Kearny, California. We arrived June 1945 to train for VPB-109 on Okinawa, Japan. We deployed July 1945 for VPB-200 at NAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii for additional training. I left VPB-200 for VPB-109 August 1945. They were disestablishing VPB-109 and reassigned us to NAS Alameda, California (December 1945). I was then assigned to VPB-197 NAAS Camp Kearny, California. VPB-197 was disestablished April 1946. I was assigned to FAETUPAC NAAS Ream Field, San Ysidro, California. I was then assigned to BTU 2 NAAS Corry Field, Pensacola, Florida (January 1950). I then reported to VR-24 Det 1 NAF Naples, Italy (July 1955). I reported to VPB-16 NAS Jacksonville, Florida December 1959 until retired in September 1962. Along the way I collected a Combat Aircrew Wings, Distinguished Flying Cross, Presidential Unit Citation with Star, Good Conduct Medal with Four Stars American Defense with Star, American Campaign, European African Mid Eastern Campaign Asiatic Pacific Campaign, World War II, and the Occupation Medal Europe and American Defense. After retirement, I got on civilian job at the Naval Air Rework Facility as a Production Controller where I retired after 18 years. I now live in Pleasant Grove, Alabama and enjoying life. I would love to hear from any former Shipmates..." [BIO Updated 25OCT2006 | E-Mail Updated 08MAR2005 | 27MAR99]


HILL, William E. c/o David Hill david.hill4@comcast.net "...My dad, William E. Hill, served as a pilot of both PBY's and PB4Y's during WWII. He served in Fourth Fleet, FAW-16, VB-107. While stationed on Ascension Island, he participated in the sinking of U-848. After the war, he flew for 33 years for Eastern Airlines. I am currently searching for his crew mates and squadron mates; will gladly share information and details..." [06JUN2005]


Memorial Picture "...LOUKS, AMM1 James L....My Father, James L. Louks, passed away September 5th, 2007. Dad went to boot camp at NTS, Great Lakes, IL, VPB-114 (FAW-5), VPB-107 (FAW-7), NAS Hutchinson, Kansas (HEadquarters SquaDRON-5). My father spoke often of this time and how proud he was. We have allways been so proud of him. I wanted his fellow service men to know of his passing. He made many trips to the FAW Reunions. The pictures and stories of these travels live on in our hearts and in scrap books left behind. In a lot of ways he never really left that time in his life and cherrished discussion about them. So, I say farewell to my mentor and friend with this post and wish to thank all the People that servre and protect us for harm. God Bless you all! The proudest son of one best Fathers a boy could ever have. I love you Dad. kirks@kirkms.com..." [10SEP2007]


Memorial Picture "...McKERNAN, Richard "Dick"...VP-83 and VB-107, passed away 8/11/03. He was so proud of his service for his country...Shipmate Requested Name Removal ..." [17AUG2003 | 14AUG2003]

MILLER, Edward O. c/o His Daughter Allison Bown rayosemite@hotmail.com "...I would be interested in hearing from anyone who might remember my father, Edward O. Miller who served with VB-103 out of southern England from 1943 to May 1944. He flew 31 missions as a tail gunner of a B-24 Liberator. He was young when he enlisted, just 17. He is enjoying retirment and would love to hear about old squadron mates. Names of some VPB-103 mates: Pilot: Teague, Bombardier: McIntyre. Also served with VPB-107 from June 1944 to 1945: Captain: John Nagle - Pilot: Water (was a mortician in civilian life), Bombardier: Dean, Asst. Captain: Nesbitt and also a crewman..." [BIO Updated 28MAY2004 | 27MAY2004]


Memorial Picture "...SMITH, ENS. E. Robert (Smitty or Bob)...My dad, ENS. E. Robert (Smitty or Bob) Smith also flew with VP-107 out of NAF Natal, Brazil. He left the squadron in 45 to become a test pilot at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. I'm interested in any stories or photos. He passed away in 84. Thanks and Good Luck rjsmith123@msn.com..." [05AUG2005]


Memorial Picture "...WALLACE, Lou...It is with great sadness to inform you that our friend Lou Wallace coalminer@tqci.net (served with VP-92, VP-83, VPB-107, and VP-24) died January 15, 2001 Monday morning at 9:12 AM. May he rest in peace..." Contributed by William R. (Bill) Love Jr. AXC(AC)USN/RET bilbiker@suscom-maine.net [15JAN2001]

WALLACE, Lou coalminer@tqci.net "...I served with VP-92, VP-83, VPB-107, VP-24. I flew in P2V7's and P-3's. I would like to hear from Shipmates in any of the squadrons I served with..." [28SEP99]

WILSON, Richard bilsboy1@madbbs.com "...VPB-107. I was an ARM and served in Natal, Brazil and Ascension Island. Looking for Hank Sturges and Verity. Our Reunion will be held in Fort Meyers Fl in Sept. Contact Phillip Haverty, 4110 S. E. 2nd Ave., Cape Coral, Fl 33904, Tel 941 542 3728 for more information. Sturges was orginally from Peoria, Il, but may have settled in Florida after the war..." [E-Mail Updated 10APR2001 | E-Mail Updated 27OCT99 | 19MAY99]


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