VP-62
1 May 1942:
Commissioned as 12-plane PBY-5A squadron at NAS Alameda, CA. Lt Cmdr Francis R Jones, commanding.
22 July 1942:
Arrived in Kodiak with eight PBY-5As. In 4 days moved to Cold Bay.
1 August 1942:
8 PBY-5A at Cold Bay to relieve VP-42 with 10 PBY-5A which moved to Seattle the next day.
21 October 1942:
VP-62 was moved to Alameda via Kodiak and Seattle.
From Alameda to Seattle 20 November 1942, to Annette 29 November 1942 for overhaul and leave.
December 1942 to July 1943:
Ran defensive and offensive patrols from Adak and Amchitka.
24 January 1943:
VP-42 transferred two of its Catalinas to VP-62
BuNo's:
04400 Nose wheel failure on landing in Kodiak 2 December 1942 (VP-62); repaired by Hedron. Transferred to VP-43 14 December 1942. Per DC, lost off Adak 23 July 1943 while flying with VP-61. No confirmation in FAW diaries.
04407
04408 to VP-42 before 19 June, 1942
04409 To VP-43 before 31 August 1942, 43-P-?/17V. Lt. (jg) Sammy L. Coleman participated in attack on Japanese sub RO-61 31 Aug 1942.
04410
04411 51V: Transferred from VP-61 29 May 1942. Nose wheel failure on landing in Adak 3 December 1942, damaged. Crashed in Kuluk Bay, Adak, on return from a patrol 24 May 1943. Plane and crew lost. Lt (jg) Paul C. Spencer
04412
04413 53V
04415- from VP-61 2 June 1942
04417 nose wheel failure on landing in Adak 3 December 1942, damaged
04418- from VP-61 3 June 1942
04463 August 8, 1942 Ensign Fergus F. Kelly and his PBY crew crashed into the side of Makushin Mountain on Unalaska Island with the loss of life aboard including Cmdr. Malcolm P. Hanson from the Navy Bureau of Aeronautics who was along as an observer. Other killed were: Ens. Leroy H. Dougherty, Ens. Julius O. Hodges, ACMM Harold A. Spencer, AP1c Paul H. Witham, and ARM3c Nathan Silvers
Joe Baugher: 04463 missing on patrol out of NAS Sand Pt, AK 14 July 1942. 9 MIA.
11 July 1943: to Seattle. Squadron is temporarily disbanded.
6 September 1943:
VP-62 reformed at NAS Whidbey Island, WA, Lt Cmdr F.R. More, commanding. Executive officer Lt E.C. Marlin
25 November 1943:
First PBY-5A of VP-62 departed for long-range patrol work in the Alaskan area. Entire squadron arrived to Adak by 3 December.
10 December 1943:
Fleet Air Wing Four had shifted VP-62 from Adak to Amchitka
17 January 1944:
Lieutenant (jg) Andrew B. Porter, failed to return from a patrol. Others lost were: Ens. Vincent W. O’Keefe, copilot; Ens. Martin G. Vicent; Aviation Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class Franklin E. Fehr; Aviation Radioman 2nd Class Norman R.S. Walker; Aviation Radioman 3rd Class Charles W. Gillum; Aviation Ordnanceman 3rd Class Thomas H. Durham; and Aviation Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class Jonnie I. Couley.
31 January 1944:
Three planes of VP-62 flew to Attu for a special mission. 3 February they participated in photo reconnaissance of the Kuriles to monitor results of Task Force shelling. Lt. Cmdr More in 44V returned from half-way due to excessive fuel consumption, Lt (jg) Watkins in 38V made photobombing run along east coast of Paramushiro turning back before reaching Kurabu Zaki due to low fuel supply. Lt Dryden in 47V made a sweep over Shimushu.
22 March 1944:
Several crews sent to Loran school, Adak
25 May 1944:
Lt W.J. Turpit rescued crew of OS2U forced down at sea
31 May 1944:
A PBY-5A BuNo 34033 flown by Lieutenant W.H. Squires was forced down 100 miles off Kiska due to the gasoline leak. The crew was safely rescued by an Army boat. The amphibian capsized and sank while being towed.
6 June 1944:
PBY-5A, BuNo 34002, from Hedron, Attu, replaced the lost one.
3 August 1944:
Six PBY crews from VP-62, having been delayed by terminal weather, proceeded to Adak from Amchitka to report to Commander, Task Force 90 for special duty with Task Group 12.1 transporting President Roosevelt and his party. Pilots: Lts Stoller, Dryden, Bergh, Sawrey, Wyatt, and Granoski. The take-off from Amchitka was accomplished in heavy fog using the newly installed fog dispersal system. The squadron operated out of Adak until 10 August with six PBYs. 3 Aug 1944: The six PBY crews from VP-62 supported Task Group 12-1, flying as far as Annette Islands at the southern tip of southeast Alaska during President Roosevelt’s trip back to the states. As a result of these extended flights without maintenance, all six planes required checks at the Assembly and Repair Shop, Kodiak, before returning to Amchitka on 17 to 21 August.
7 September 1944:
The Commander, Fleet Air Wing Four, suspended Hypo long-range search patrols from Amchitka and the PBY shifted to the western Aleutians. It required that VP-62 move to Attu and begin flying search patrols from that island and VP-61 be divided between Amchitka, Adak, Dutch Harbor and Kodiak with four PBY crews at each location, responsible for flying inshore patrols.
1 October 1944:
Squadron designation changed from Patrol Squadron Sixty-Two (VP-62) to Patrol Bombing Squadron Sixty-Two (VPB-62)
12 October 1944:
VPB-62 was relieved by VPB-43. All planes were flown back to NAS Seattle. Lts Marlin, Herbst, Squires, Butler, Lorenzo and Bergh remained at Attu temporarily as Patrol Plane Commanders to check out crews of VPB-43 for work in the area.
VPB-62 was reformed 1 December 1944
CO Lt Cmdr George Richard Smith
Executive officer Lt William H. Withrow
1 December 1944-1 January 1945:
VPB-62 is in training at NAS Whidbey Island, WA under FAW6, Capt F.B. Johnson, commanding.
28 August 1945:
Admiral Fletcher recommended to Admiral Nimitz that VPB-120, VPB-122 and VP-62 be retained in the North Pacific for duty and suggested that personnel in squadrons scheduled for deployment to Alaska and desiring to remain in the service be assigned to the three squadrons as replacements.
