A BIT OF HISTORY: "...I am doing historical research on VJ/VU Utility Sqs and those VU Utility Sqs redesignated VC Fleet Composite Sqs as well as Marine VMJ Utility Sqs. I served with VJ-1 10 Apr 42-2 Jun 47 as AMM2C. VJ-1 was estabilished Oct 25 at NAS San Diego ( NAS North Island, San Diego, California) In Jun 40 the Sq embarked on the USS York Town for duty at NAS Pearl Harbor, Hawaii ( NAS Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii) and was there along with VJ-2 on 7Dec41. VJ-1 had JRS-1s Sirkorsky twin eng flying boats & J2F Grumman Ducks & VJ-2 had PBY-1 Catalines which required beaching gear & also had J2Fs. VJ-1 got a JRS airborne with Marines with rifles aboard for firepower. They ran into a stray Jap acft but somehow managed to evade it. Luckily they didn't find the Japanese Fleet. In Apr 43 the Sq split and formed VJ-9 which went to Espertos Santos with PV1s. In Apr 44 sent a det VJ-1A to Majuro with JMs Martin Marauders painted chrome yellow and stripped down for towing to provided towing for the fleet staging there for the Guam push. Det relieved by VJ-17 end Jun& returned to Pearl. VJ-1 relieved at Pearl 31Jul44 and embarked on USS Bismarck Sea for NAS Point Mugu, California reporting back for duty at NAS Moffett Field, California o/a 6Sep44 relieving VJ-18. I came to Goleta MCAS now Santa Barbara Arpt 10ct44 Det VJ-1A. Our primary msn was towing for fleet gunnery school at a href="naspoint.html"> NAS Point Mugu, California & Marine Gunney School. After VJ Day we folded our operation & returned to NAS Moffett Field, California. Sq embarked on new USS Block Island 19Oct45 for return to Pearl. On 15Nov46 all VJ Sqs redesinated VU Sqs. In Jul47 VU-1 moved to NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii operating until Apr49 when disestablished and it personnel trsfrd to VU-7A. In Jul51 VU-1 was reestablished from VU-7A personnel & acft. On 1Jul65 all existing VU Sqs were redesignated VC Fleet Composite Sqs. VC-1 continued to operate at NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii until being disestablished 29Sep92. NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii being deactivated in 99. Any historical input will be sincerely appreciated. As we say in Hawaii Mahalo Nui Skinny..." Contributed by Bryant "Skinny" Fleming vj-1@webtv.net [18NOV98]

"VU-7A Summary Page"

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