 VP-91 Mishap
1940's
MISHAPs: 16 JAN 42 A/C: PBY-5  Location: NAS Alameda, California Strike: No BUNO: 2475 Cause: During taxi for take-off, when pilot tried to use his brakes to slow in turn, foot pressure was felt, but without brake response. Both switches were cut, plane continued ahead. The nose wheel dropped over edge of seawall and plane remained suspended in this position at an angle of 45deg. It is believed the brakes had retained sufficient fluid to operate once during braking, but that an airlock prevented replenishment. Repairable Damage: Collapsed keelson upwards. Damaged keel strip. Bent hull plates. Crew Ok. Pilot Lt(jg) Ercell E. Hart, AV-N USNR, Ens Melvin C. Rehill, AV-N USNR, Ens Dighton L. Polan, AV-N USNR, AMM2c Larned A. Carter, USN, Sea1c Sherman M. Kirby, USNR, RM3c Vella T. Gallant, USNR, AOM2c Arthur H. Cheny, USN, and Sea2c Frederick J. Stocks, USNR. Contributed by Terry pb4y-2@sbcglobal.net [25NOV2002]
 "...Clarification..." Contributed by G. Douglas Clarke bfrankc@gmail.com..." [27FEB2007]
In re-reading my earlier submission (below), I find that the reader is led to think that my uncle was lost in the training mishap mentioned on that page, but he was actually lost on a reconnaissance operation in the Solomons later in 1942.
Here is information from http://www.vpnavy.net/vp91hist41.html: LT(jg) Polan and LT(jg) Snyder were shot down by Jap Zeros. One survivor, from LT(jg) Snyder's plane 3rd pilot (enlisted pilot) and bow gunner, Bill Pugh. Information received from Japan by Jim Sawruk jsawruk@juno.com.
October 15,1942
For the 15th of October 1942, the Japanese claimed to have shot down (3) three PBY's if viewed individually but as we know only 2 were lost. It appears that 2 ZUIHO Zeros started the action at 0655 (TOKYO time) and they claimed 1 PBY. They were joined by 4 SHOKAKU ZERO'S who claimed the action was over by 0715. As was the case in the Indian Ocean, I am sure this is a duplicate claim for the same aircraft. This is not unusual in Japanese records as well as our own. Some but not all of the ZERO's pilot's names are given in the records for the 15th. At 0810' 3 HIYO ZERO's in a different Task Force claimed 1 PBY. A later Combat Air Patrol also sighted a Patrol Bomber but was unable to intercept it. Lt Teich flying in the next sector spotted smoke, went over to investigate and rescued PUGH. Lt Walkinshaw contacted and tracked a Jap Task Force and was fired upon by Anti-Aircraft fire.
"...My Uncle, ENS Dighton L. Polan, AV-N USNR, was lost during this mishap. I am hoping to find more information about him. I have telegrams home to his parents after he was lost in 1942, and other items he left behind, but am interested in contacting any of his comrades who may have survived this long. Below is the official information on him. Thanks very much. G. Douglas Clarke bfrankc@gmail.com..." [20DEC2005]
NAME: Dighton L. Polan
Inducted from: New York
Rank: Lieutenant Junior Grade
Combat Organization: United States Navy Reserve Death
Date: Dec 04 1945
Monument: Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Last Known Status: Missing U.S.
Awards: Purple Heart Medal
MISHAPs: 05 JAN 42 A/C: PBY-5A Location: NAS Alameda, California Strike: No BUNO: 2473 Cause: Familiarization flight. Upon landing the nose wheel retracted slowly until weight of plane was carried on the cap of the keel. Apparently nose wheel stuck about two inches from the locked down position. Indicator warning light did not function. Damage serious. Bent braces and scarred surface of nose wheel doors. Torn off tow pendant fitting. damage of keep cap strip forward station #1. Small hole in hull forward at station #1. Crew Ok. Pilot LCDR Joe B. Paschal, USN, Ens James P. Doyle, AV-N USNR, Ens John W. Richey, AV-N USNR, ACMM Walter E. Payne (AA), USN, AMM1c Charles L. Murray, USN, CRM Platt E. Bizzell (PA), RM3c Donald H. Campbell, USN. Contributed by Terry pb4y-2@sbcglobal.net [23NOV2002]
"...Upfloats - VP-91 Cruisebook - Circa 1942 Lost in Action Crew 2 and 13 - Personal collection of SMYTH, AD1 Roger W..." Contributed by Contributed by Claudia Smyth Strock cjstrock@comcast.net [13NOV2013]
MISHAPs: 05 APR 42 A/C: PBY-5 Location: NAS Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Strike: Yes BUNO: 2476 Cause: Pilots first flight in a PBY-5A. Plane was operated as a seaplane only with side landing wheels not installed. Pilot was ordered to land at Pearl Harbor because of bad weather and was unfamiliar with landing area. His power landing slightly hot, conducive to water-looping in a cross wind. Left wing tip float became buried and nose buried itself slightly causing impact of water to collapse the hull section under navigation table. Plane swung sharply to the left, hull rapidly filled with water and sank nose down with all but the tail assembly submerged. Damage:"Total loss except for salvage of useable parts." Crew: Pilot.Lt(jg) Otto F. Meyer/No serious inj, Lt(jg) Curtis F. Vossler/No serious inj, AMM2 Gilbert E. Pullen/No serious inj, AMM2 Walter J. Fesher/No serious inj, AMM3 Arthur J. Valhusky/No serious inj, RM1 Albert L. Moore/Minor inj, RM2 William J. Bartek/Seriously inj, and P2 Phillip L. Dunham/No serious inj.." Contributed by Terry pb4y-2@sbcglobal.net [18JUN2001]
"...Found to following information from the casualty report files at the National Archives at College Park, MD: Crashed & burned on Makapuu Point, Oahu, HI. Howe, William Henry, Ens, USNR; Doll, George Lakemond, Ens, USNR; Roberts, Orren Augustus, AMM1c (NAP); Herrin, Billy Blythe, AMM2c; Berchot, Delbert Glen, AMM3c; Andrews, Charles Leroy, RM3c; Allen, William Frederick, S1c. All killed, bodies recovered..." Contributed by Thomas Bass fortnut@gmail.com [15NOV2010]
MISHAPs: 14 OCT 42 A/C: PBY-5 Location: Unknown Strike: Yes BUNO: 04509 Cause: Missing in action since making contact with enemy. [15NOV2010]
"...Found to following information from the casualty report files at the National Archives at College Park, MD: Butler, Melvin Laverne, Lt(jg), A-V(N), USNR; Tuma, Edwin Emerson, Lt(jg), A-V(N), USNR; Wussow, Allan George, Lt, USN; Fitch, John Hovey, ACRM, USN; Ford, Bernard Francis, AMM2c, USN; Goebel, Albert Morton, AP2c, USN; Pelham, Daniel Eugene, AOM3c, USN; Preshing, Joseph Leo, RM3c, USN; Stange, Raymond Frederick, ACMM, USN..." Contributed by Thomas Bass fortnut@gmail.com [15NOV2010]
MISHAPs: 15 OCT 42 A/C: PBY-5 Location: Unknown Strike: Yes BUNO: 04507 Cause: Missing in action since making contact with enemy. [15NOV2010]
"...Found to following information from the casualty report files at the National Archives at College Park, MD: Polan, Dighton Lewis, Lt(jg), A-V(N), USNR; Lincoln, Willis Carey, Jr., Lt(jg), A-V(N), USNR; Ripple, Howard Laverns, AP1c, USN; Moore, Lance, ACMM(AA), USN; Young, Raymond Lee, Jr., AMM2c; Morris, Edward Aula, ACRM(AA), USN; Kellogg, Kenneth, Jr., ARM1c..." Contributed by Thomas Bass fortnut@gmail.com [15NOV2010]
MISHAPs: 15 OCT 42 A/C: PBY-5 Location: Off Guadalcanal Strike: Yes BUNO: 2297 Cause: Shot down by Japanese fighters off Guadalcanal
"...Found to following information from the casualty report files at the National Archives at College Park, MD: Rest of survivor AP1c Pugh crewmates are as follows: Snyder, Gordon Boyd, Lt(jg), A-V(N), USNR; Mwgovej, James R.C., Ens, A-V(N), USNR; Rasmussen, Richard Arthur, Ens, A-V(N), USNR; Murray, Charles Lee, AMM1c, USN; Soyers, Robert Rause, ACMM(AA), USN; Kopicko, Joseph, ARM2c, USN; Phillips, Clifford Turner, ARM3c, USN. All missing. Pugh is listed as AP1c not AMM1c...." Contributed by Thomas Bass fortnut@gmail.com [15NOV2010]
  VP-91 Mishap "...Watch Worn by AMM1c Wilbur V. Pugh On the Day He Was Shot Down. This watch was on the wrist of Aviation Machinist's Mate First Class Wilbur V. Pugh when he was the sole survivor of the crew of a PBY Catalina of Patrol Squadron (VP) 91 shot down by Japanese fighters off Guadalcanal on 15 October 1942. While his aircraft was conducting a search of the waters around Guadalcanal for an incoming Japanese fleet, it was jumped by two Japanese fighters. Enemy fire ignited the flying boat's fuel tank, sending it down in flames from an altitude of 6,000 ft. At the time. Push was positioned in the bow of the PBY at the ready to inflate th life rafts when the aircraft leveled off for a forced landing. However, the plunged into the water, ripping open the forward hull. The incoming water somehow pushed Pugh through the opening at the top of the gun turret in the nose. He came to the surface badly injured with a dislocated shoulder and compound fracture to one of his legs. Seeing the seabag of one of his crewmates float to the surface, he grabbed on to it, and then made his way to one of the aircraft's wing floats, that had broken off and was floating nearby. He was soon rescued by another PBY, whose crew had monitored the radio distress signals of the aircraft in which Pugh was flying. He was the only survivor of the plane's eight-man crew..." WebSite: National Museum of Naval Aviation http://broadcast.illuminatedtech.com/display/story.cfm?bp=122&sid=8159 [08NOV2005]
MISHAPs: 05 MAR 43 A/C: PBY-5 Location: Enroute Oahu to San Diego, Ca Strike: Yes BUNO: 2334 Cause: Force landed at sea unknown cause. Only information available relayed to another plane in flight states plane seen to spiral towards water. landing not observed. Plane and crew missing: Crew: Pilot. LT Samuel I. Ogden, LT Melvin K. Atwell, CAP John K. Koons, AMM1 Larned A.Carter, RM2 G. L. Young, AMM3 Frank K. O'Malloy, RM3 Thomas W. Adams and LT Abbott H. Hastings. Contributed by Terry pb4y-2@sbcglobal.net [12JUL2001]
"...Just a quick question that anyone serving with PBYs in WWII can answer. My Uncle, CAP John K. Koons, served with VP-91 and was lost 05MAR43 in a mishap. He was an Aircraft Pilot First Class (AP1C) and later a Chief Aircraft Pilot (CAP). Since I was ARMY (ugh) - I am not familiar with much of the Navy's ratings (enlisted in this case). A lot of ratings are self explainatory even those mentioned here (I think). I would like a brief description of what the duties of the AP and CAP were and where on the PBY was his position. My Uncle's PBY went down at sea enroute from OHAU to the US in March 1943 and I am trying to make a scrapbook memorializing him and PBYs during the late 1940's and early 1940's. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Brian E. Sager bsager@nc.rr.com..." [04DEC2005]
MISHAPs: 13 NOV 43 A/C: PBY-5 Location: BSI, MALAITA ISL Strike: Yes BUNO: O8388 Cause: COMBAT FLT Contributed by Terry pb4y-2@sbcglobal.net [17MAR98]
"...In November 1943 Patrol Squadron 91 (VP-91) was operating from Tulagi in the Florida Island Group. On the 19th of the month PBY-5 #08388 was caught in a down draft and crashed...SEE: WFI Research Group: http://www.wfirg.com/strange_tales/vp-91..." Contributed by Phil Fazzini phillip.fazzini@zoomtown.com [30JUL2015]
"...Found to following information from the casualty report files at the National Archives at College Park, MD: Reichard William Hazzard should be Richard William Hazzard, ARM3c; Coupe received a contusion to the abdomen; Gerald Able Rodier should be Gerald Abel Rogier, ARM3c, received laceration to left leg...." Contributed by Thomas Bass fortnut@gmail.com [15NOV2010]
"...Crew: Pilot. Lt. Mayo Marcus Mooney A-V(N) USNR/Killed, Ens. Richard Healy Donovan A-V(N) USNR/Killed, AP1c. Arthur Lee Miller USN/Killed, ART2c. Carleton Liebbrant USNR/Killed, RM3c. Reichard William Hazzard USNR/Killed, Amm2c. Curtis Arthur Baldwin USN/Killed, RM2c. Oliver Zane Coupe USNR/Minor inj, and Aom3c. Gerald Able Rodier USNR/Minor inj..." Contributed by Terry pb4y-2@sbcglobal.net [01AUG2001]
MISHAPs: 19 NOV 43 A/C: PBY-5A Location: Malaita Isl, BSI South Pacific Strike: Yes BUNO: O8388 Cause: COMBAT FLT Contributed by Terry pb4y-2@sbcglobal.net [17MAR98]
MISHAPs: 22 JAN 44 A/C: PBY-5A Location: Espiritu Santos, New Hebrides Strike: Yes BUNO: O8386 Cause: Lt. Megas (co-pilot) was at the controls. Plane was taking off to investigate a submarine contact. Pilot in an attempt to get airborne quickly made a downwind take-off, plane bounced four times and from the last bounce, which was approximately forty feet high, steeled back in a nose low attitude and crashed. One or more depth bombs exploded after crash. Plane: "Demolished" Crew: Pilot Lt John Womack Richey A-V(N) USNR/Killed, Lt(jg) Alfred Erwin Megas (co-pilot) A-V(N) USNR/Killed, AP1c George L. J. Spearing, Jr, USN/Killed, Amm1c Earl Anthony Lightfoot USN/Killed, Rm2c Robert Louis Cyr, Jr. USN/Killed, Amm2c William Phillip Grayard USN/Killed, Rm3c Herbert Francis Rush USN/Minor inj, Aom3c Gerald A. Rogier V-6 USNR/Minor inj, and Aom3c Elmer D. Smith V-6 USNR/Minor inj. Contributed by Terry pb4y-2@sbcglobal.net [04AUG2001]
"...Found to following information from the casualty report files at the National Archives at College Park, MD: Megas should be Magas; Spearing's full name is George Lambert Joseph; Cyr was a ARM2c; Grayard should be USNR (V-6); Rush was a ARM3c, received sprained back & multiple lacerations & abrasions...." Contributed by Thomas Bass fortnut@gmail.com [15NOV2010]
MISHAPs: 28 FEB 44 A/C: PBY-5 Location: WaWa Channel, Espirtu Santo, New Hebrides Strike: No BUNO: O8486 Cause: Take-off was started using 45"HG. on the manifold pressure gauge and 2700 RPM's in a southwest direction. The run was normal until I.A.S. of about fifty knots was reached at which time the plane settled back, with port float hitting first and throwing the plane into a turn left, which buried the starboard float in the swells, thus bending the entire starboard wing tip down. The throttles were cut and plane beached on some coral heads, since it as apparent that the plane could not be kept afloat until it returned to base. Plane: Recommended major overhaul. Crew OK: Pilot Lt(jg) Richard J. Long USN, AP1c Stanley Ashton Thompson (co-pilot) USN, Ens A. P. Klien, AP1c J. A. Parker, Amm1c A. W. Collins, Amm2c L. W. Mott, Rm2c J. C. Evans, ART2c J. C. Edmision, and T.M.Dobbs. Contributed by Terry pb4y-2@sbcglobal.net [05AUG2001]
"...Here are a few pictures and covers of books that have been in my dad's flight bag for over 50 years..."
 VP-91 PBY5 BUNO: B000
Contributed by David Burns dab7317@ccp.com [26AUG98]
"VP-91 Summary Page"
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