VPB-122
VPB-122, Tail Codes 61-80
Occupied the opposite side of VPB-120 hangar at Shemya. First missions (sector searches) were flown after the surrender of Japan.
8/18 61V, 63V, 64V
8/21 61V, 72V
8/22 65V, 67V
8/23 64V, 68V
8/24 66V, 69V
8/25 61V, 63V, 65V, 72V
8/26 64V, 67V, 68V
8/30 62V, 63V, 65V
BuNos with known corresponding tail codes:
59644 5-11/45 crashed and wrecked 1/12/46, landing in icy conditions. Kodiak NAS.
59646 62V 5-11/45
59647 5-12/45
59678 64V 5-12/45
59775 65V 5-12/45
59777 66V 5-11/45
59778 5-10/45 wrecked 10/16/1945 Sea Island Airdrome, B.C. Canada
59779 68V 3-12/45
59780 69V 5-12/45
59781 70V 5-12/45
59783 71V 5-12/45
59788 72V 5-12/45 (PB4Y-2S)
59846 67V 6-9/45
All BuNos and corresponding squadron codes were confirmed by the photographs. Analyzing their sequence it is logical to propose that
59778 was 67V
59647 was 63V
59644 was 61V
I am in continuous search for the photos of the Aleutian Privateers to prove this hypothesis!
30 Nov 1945 (Fri) Fatal Aircraft Accident: Privateer, Bureau Number 59777, piloted by Lt. (jg) McMillian, VPB-122, was reported missing on a flight from Naval Air Station Kodiak to Seattle, WA. The last position report had been over the southwest led of the Sitka radio range. (Chronology, Fleet Air Wing Four, 1 Sep-1 Dec 1945, p. 13.) All 25 people onboard perished, making it the biggest loss-of-life disaster in PB4Y-2 carreer.
Other aircraft of VPB-122:
59357 11-12/45
59358 1-2/46
59361 1-2/46
59362 1-2/46
59363 1-2/46
59366 10/44
59503 ??
59579 4/45
59641 5-7/45
59643 5-7/45
59645 5-7/45 (shot down over Baltic Sea near Liepaja 4/8/50)
59752 4/45
59774 7/45
 59678 64VInscription on the photo: "1st week of Nov. 1945 on Attu-before 1st snowfall. Note- no guns in turrets. front row L-R- Jim Shortle, Ed Ubbens, Chief Gary Bruce, R. Elmore, "Cokie" Hughes. 2nd row, L-R: Lt. Homer Martin, Lt-Cmdr John Leahy, Lt Don Hurlburt, Ens. "Ziggie" Galant. Crew #16." Image courtesy Ed Ubbens, AETM 2/C of VPB-122 (via Malcolm Barker) |  59678 64VPhoto courtesy of Steve Hawley via Eddie Harding, USN (Ret), VPB-122 |
|---|---|
 59775 65VCredit: VPNAVY website |  59775 65V |
 59775 65VPhoto courtesy of Steve Hawley |  59777 66V |
 59777 66V |  59777 66V |
 59777 66V |  59777 66V |
 The crew of lost 59777 by the 5978130 Nov 1945 (Fri) Fatal Aircraft Accident: Privateer, Bureau Number 59777, piloted by Lt. (jg) McMillian, VPB-122, was reported missing on a flight from Naval Air Station Kodiak to Seattle, WA. Inscription on the photo: "On Attu. Pilots McMillian, Osebold 2 at right in back row. Spenger, Norman, Bumpus, Brown, Waller, Baker, Plevelich (crew). Went down. 3 crew remained in Kodiak" Image courtesy Ed Ubbens, AETM 2/C of VPB-122 (via Malcolm Barker) |  59778Photo courtesy of Nicholas Veronico |
 59779 68V VPB-122 Kodiak 04-1946Photo courtesy of Todd Hackbarth |  59779 68V |
 59780 69V VPB-122 Elmendorf AB 04-1946Photo courtesy of Todd Hackbarth |  59780 69VPhoto courtesy of Steve Hawley |
 59780 69VPhoto courtesy of Nicholas Veronico |  59780 69V Attu Nov 1945Photo courtesy of Ed Ubbens, via Malcolm Barker |
 59780 69VPhoto courtesy of Steve Hawley |  59783 71VPhoto courtesy of Nicholas Veronico |
 59788 72VPhoto courtesy of Alan Carey |  59846 67VPhoto courtesy of Nicholas Veronico |
 59846, 59966 |  59846 67V_2 |
 59846 67V_3 |  59846 67V_4 |
 RCM training at St Clemente IslandImage courtesy Ed Ubbens, AETM 2/C of VPB-122 (via Malcolm Barker) |  RCM antennas of PB4Y-2Image courtesy Ed Ubbens, AETM 2/C of VPB-122 (via Malcolm Barker) |