Navy Patrol Bombing Squadrons 102/14 Association

EVOLUTION OF YOUR SQUADRON
from 9/1/38 to 3/15/94

9/1/38     Patron 21 was commissioned at Seattle, WA with P2Y-2 aircraft.

8/1/39     The squadron was redesignated VP-45 at Seattle.  It was then sent to Sitka, AK   then back to Sand Point, Seattle.

12/1/39   Again redesignated as VP-14 under the command of W Rassieur, at San Diego.

3/1/40     Squadron was divided to form VP-13 with some of the experienced personnel of VP-14 flying PBY-4s.  Rassieur remained commander of VP-14.  VP-14 was transferred to San Diego then to Pearl Harbor and then on to Kaneohe NAS, Territory of Hawaii where it was again redesignated as VP-26 for a short time.

7/1/41     Squadron designation reverted back to VP-14 with TB Clark in command. Based at Kaneohe Bay and very active with patrols and deployments of a few men and equipment (PBY-5s).

12/7/41   Kaneohe was attacked by the Japanese causing the death of Laxton B Newman in whose name the USS Newman was later commissioned; 11 men from VP-14 were wounded and The Medal of Honor was awarded to John Finn for valor while under attack.

10/1/42   While still based at Kaneohe, with Gordon Fowler as Commanding officer, using PB4Y-1s, the squadron was very active with deployment of small groups and sector searches around the area of Hawaii.

2/15/43    VP-14 was recommissioned as VB-102 using all the same equipment and personnel under the command of Bruce Van Voorhis.

5/1/43      The squadron was deployed to Carney Field, Guadalcanal.

7/7/43      Gordon Fowler was named Commanding Officer upon the death of Bruce Van Voorhis and his entire crew during an attack on Kapingamarangi Island on 7/6/43.

                During November 1943, the squadron began transfer to Alameda NAS for deactivation.  That was completed on 11/15/43.

2/14/44     VB-102 was reformed at Kearney Field, CA with GR Pearson as Commanding officer.  During April and May, the squadron was in training.

5/30/44      Luke Sauder and his entire crew were lost in a training mishap.

7/7/44        The squadron began temporary transfer to NAS Kaneohe Bay, a stop on the way to permanent assignment to Tinian Island

8/12/44      An incremental transfer began for Tinian Island, North Field, via Johnston and Enewetok Islands.

                  VB-102 remained on Tinian, with GR Pearson as C/O. 

10/1/44       VB-102 becomes VPB-102.

2/22/45        LP Pressler is named Commanding Officer.

                    During 1945 there were many temporary assignments to Peleliu and Iwo Jima.

7/26/45        The 1st PB4Y-2s arrived.

8/7/45          The whole squadron was based on Iwo Jima with LW Bates in command.

9/8/45          The squadron was returned to Tinian with dets to Iwo.

12/3/45        ML Lowe takes command.

5/15/46        Squadron is again redesignated and becomes VP-102.

6/6/46          Squadron is returned to San Diego, designated as its permanent home.

11/15/46      Redesignated VP-HL-2 and becomes a weather reconnaissance squadron.

6/1/48          Redesignated VP-22 at Kaneohe, NAS

5/1/49          Home port is Barbers Point, Hawaii

11/1/50        Sent to Naha, Okinawa for the Korean War.

5/1/51          Back to Barbers Point, Hawaii

11/19/58      Assigned to Adak NS, Alaska

11/1/64        Becomes a P-3A Orion Squadron.

And, on 3/15/1994 after a long and glorious history and many transfers and dets from California, to Alaska, to the Pacific islands, from the Korean theater, the Philippines to Narcotics Operations, using the PBYs, PB4Y-1 and 2, the P2V5F, P3-A, B and C Orion, the squadron was permanently decommissioned at Barbers Point, Oahu, Hawaii.

A source of great pride for all who served in her command.