AEWRON TWO HISTORY
JULY 1936 TO SEPTEMBER 1959
“ At 0900, Wednesday, 1 July 1936, Commander Patrol Wing, placed Patrol Squadron ELEVEN-F in commission at United States Naval Air Station, San Diego, California, Lieutenant Commander L. A. POPE, USN, read his orders and assumed command.”
This excerpt from USN Bureau of Aeronautics Newsletter Number 31, 1 August 1936, marks the beginning of one of the Navy’s oldest squadrons, currently commissioned as Airborne Early Warning Squadron TWO (VW-2) and subsequently decommissioned 19 June 1961.
This narrative which covers VW-2 from its beginning as VP-11 is a brief history of the activities of this squadron.
On 2 January 1937, VP-11 was assigned to the USS LANGLEY, a seaplane tender, then operating as a unit of Aircraft Base Force. VP-11, equipped with PBY-1 aircraft, operated in conjunction with the LANGLEY until October 1937 when the Squadron was assigned to Patrol Wing ONE, established as a part of the Aircraft Scouting Force.
During this period various experimental tests and training exercises were being carried on. The Squadron received six (6) new PBY’s in March 1937 which were commissioned in time for their participation in the Fleet Tactical Exercises. From 16 to 19 March, VP-11 conducted advanced base operations, the first for a PBY squadron, with the LANGLEY at Port San Luis. These operations proved highly successful and much was learned of the capabilities of the PBY. Early in April 1937, the Squadron left San Diego for Honolulu. In June, after turning the aircraft and equipment over to VP-8, the officers and men boarded the USS WRIGHT and the USS LANGLEY for transportation to the coast. In the fall of 1937, PBY-2’s replaced the PBY-1’s.
In the late summer of 1938, VP-11 conducted two weeks of flight operations at NAS, Sitka, Alaska.
On 1 July 1939, Patrol Squadron ELEVEN was designated Patrol Squadron FIFTY-FOUR (VP-54) and was assigned to Patrol Wing FIVE at Norfolk. In 1940 and early 1941 the Squadron operated on the Neutrality Patrol, having detachments for varying periods of time at Norfolk, Key West, Newport, Bermuda, and San Juan. On July 1, 1941, the Squadron designation was changed to Patrol Squadron FIFTY-ONE (VP-51), with LCDR D. T. DAY, Commanding, and sent to the West Coast for the purpose of picking up new aircraft. It returned to Norfolk in August and resumed its mission of Neutrality Patrol from that station and from Bermuda. With the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Squadron was temporarily reassigned on 14 December 1941 to Patrol Wing EIGHT on the West Coast.
On 16 December 1941, VP-51 arrived at Alameda and was immediately transferred to Patrol Wing TWO, Naval Base Air Defense Force, Hawaiian Area at Pearl Harbor. In July 1942, CDR W. A. MOFFETT assumed command. VP-51 was still operating out of Pearl Harbor but a detachment of six (6) planes was under Patrol Wing FOUR in the Alaskan Area. These planes were relieved on 20 August and rejoined the Squadron at Pearl. On 25 September, the Squadron moved to NAS, Barber’s Point. In November, seven (7) crews and planes were transferred to Fleet Air Wing ONE for operation in the South Pacific Area. From 15 to 21 January 1943, the Barber’s Point detachment was in transit to Espirito Santo to operate under Fleet Air Wing ONE.
On 12 February, the entire Squadron was transferred to Guadalcanal. On 13 February 1943, VP 51 took the PB4Y LIBERATOR into combat for the first time in the Squadron’s first daylight strike against shipping off Kahili, Bougainville. On this strike VP-51 was escorted by VMF-124, flying the Vought F4U CORSAIR into action for the first time.
On 1 March 1943, its designation was changed to Bombing Squadron ONE HUNDRED ONE (VP-101). For the next eight months the Squadron flew searches over the extremities of the Solomon Islands and returned to the United States in November.
VP-101 was reformed at NAS, San Diego on 15 November 1943 with Commander Justin A. MILLER, Commanding. From 20 November 1943 to 1 April 1944, the Squadron was being trained and fitted out at Camp Kearney under Fleet Air Wing FOURTEEN. From 2 April to 31 May, it was undergoing training at NAS, Kaneohe. On 2 June, it was transferred to Los Negros, Admiralty Islands, under Fleet Air Wing SEVENTEEN, where it relieved VPB-106. Long range, armed reconnaissance missions over daily search sectors were flown in the Paleu Areas. On 19 August, the Squadron moved up to Owi in the Schouten Islands, where it continued its long range reconnaissance mission. During this period, the Squadron received a commendation from the Secretary of the Navy for “outstanding heroism against Enemy Forces in the Central and Southwest Pacific Areas”.
The Squadron was redesignated as Patrol Bombing Squadron ONE HUNDRED ONE (VPB-101) on 1 October 1944. A four crew detachment under Fleet Airwing TEN was maintained at Tacloban, Leyte, from 31 December 1944 to 16 January 1945. From 2 June 1944 until 17 January 1945, 975 sorties were flown for a total of 12,772 combat flying hours. Thirteen (13) PB4Y-1 aircraft were lost, six (6) to enemy action. The Squadron was relieved by VPB-111 on 17 January and returned to the United States.
VPB-101 was reformed at NAS, Crow’s Landing, California on 25 May 1945, LCDR J. L. HALL, Commanding, and was undergoing training in the PBAY-2 type aircraft until July. The Squadron was again reformed on 20 July at NAS, Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, under the Commander Fleet Air Wing FIVE. LCDR Hurd HUTCHINS, USNR, Acting Commanding Officer (relieved by CDR Lucian A. DODSON, USN, on 28 August 1945)
In the spring of 1945, the Japanese Kamikaze Suicide attacks began to take a terrific toll on U. S. ships. Although the U. S. Navy had superior air power, it became apparent that the fighter direction tactics of the air defense in use at this time were hampered due in part to the inability of shipboard radar to detect low flying planes beyond the horizon. The Navy partially overcame this weakness by stationing picket destroyers, both radar warning and air traffic “pylon”, out ahead of major fleet units.
The use of pickets gave more time for the shipboard CIC to vector the protecting fighter planes to intercept the attacking planes. However, the attrition rate of these pickets was so high that the Navy realized that a better system of detecting low flying planes would have to be evolved.
It was and still is a well known fact that line of sight is increases with altitude, and so it is with radar. A CIC team aboard an aircraft with a powerful radar set would provide a more rapid system of detecting and interception of enemy aircraft. A suitable type of plane was needed, one that could carry the equipment, a large crew, and one that could defend itself against air attacks. The battle proven Army B-17G FLYING FORTRESS was chosen for the job. The project of Airborne CIC became known as Cadillac II and the modified B-17G was given the Navy designation PB-1W.
With the end of World War II in the summer of 1945, this project never saw action against the enemy. However, the Navy continued its work on Airborne CIC. After training several crews at the Army Air Corps Field in Laredo, Texas, the Cadillac II project was assigned to VPB-101 for training and evaluation.
At this time Airborne Early Warning and Airborne Fighter direction became the primary function of the Squadron. VPB-101 was assigned its first PB-1W on 9 September 1945. This plane was a straight model without radome and was used for pilot familiarization and instrument training. On 1 November 1945 the Squadron shifted its base to NAS, Atlantic City, leaving a detachment at NAS, Willow Grove to test fly the modified aircraft as they came from NADU, Johnsville, Penn. The second aircraft, equipped with the radome and two external teardrop tanks but not radar gear, was received on 15 November. The big day for the Squadron was 5 January 1946, VPB-101 was moved to NAS, New York (Floyd Bennett Field). Radar test flights for training personnel and evaluating the APS-20 and APS-53 began on 4 March. Results of the tests showed that the APS-20 and APS-53 was the best surface search radar in operation up to 1946.
On 15 May 1946 Patrol Bombing Squadron ONE HUNDRED ONE was designated Aircraft Development Squadron FOUR (VX-4).
A detachment of four PB-1W and one R4D aircraft departed for the U. S. Air Force Base at Kindley Field, Bermuda, on 15 May 1946 for a week of tracking operations during the U. S. Eighth Fleet Maneuvers. On 2 August a PB-1W made the first successful high altitude (20,000) feet radar relay flight with the USS ADIRONDACK. The first Hurricane flight of five hours duration was made by a PB-1W out of NAS, New York on 14 September 1946.
The Squadron’s home port was shifted to NAS, Quonset Point, Rhode Island on 15 September 1946.
In March 1947 nine (9) PB-1Ws, five (5) based at Kindley Field, Bermuda and four (4) at San Juan, participated in the Atlantic Fleet Exercises. In August a detachment of six (6) PB-1Ws, which participated in Operation Sandy (firing the V-2 rocket from the USS MIDWAY), was assigned to conduct tracking and communication procedure tests in locating the impact point by means of AEW. It was also responsible for the location of shipping in the danger area.
During the 1947 hurricane season two major storms were tracked by PB-1Ws of VX-4. The radar photographs of these storms were considered the most illustrative taken to date.
On 21 May 1948, CDR. F. E. BARDWELL, USN, took command of VX-4.
The Squadron’s home port was shifted to NAS, Patuxent River, Maryland, on 24 June 1948.
On 26 May two PB-1Ws departed for England to participate in British Exercises. During their six weeks abroad, the aircraft made demonstration flights for the RAF against aircraft, ships and submarines, and for the Royal Navy in the British Fleet Officer’s Maneuvers.
CDR. A. F. FLEMING, USN, relieved CDR. F. E. BARDWELL, USN, as Commanding Officer of VX-4 on 26 May 1950.
The third phase “Cadillac” began in 1950 with the arrival in the Squadron of the Lockheed Constellation, the WV-1.
On 24 January 1952 CDR. H. A. ROWE assumed command.
Air Development Squadron FOUR (VX-4) was redesignated Airborne Early Warning Squadron TWO (VW-2) on 18 June 1952.
Upon redesignation the Squadron was no longer under the operational control of ComOpDevLant, but became an operational squadron under the direction of ComNavAirLant. This redesignation is significant in view of the fact that VW-2 was the first AEW Squadron in the Navy. The Squadron’s primary mission was AEW with secondary responsibilities of ASW, Hurricane Reconnaissance and continued work on assigned projects evaluating AEW equipment.
In September of 1952 the Squadron participated in NATO Operations “Main Brace” and “Long Step”, flying a total of over 800 hours. AEW coverage was afforded day and night in all kinds of weather, with all personnel and equipment operating at peak efficiency.
CDR. J. D. McALLISTER, USN, relieved CDR. J. N. MYERS on 15 October 1954 and assumed command of VW-2.
CAPT. O. O. DEAN, USN, became Commanding Officer of the Squadron on 14 December 1956.
In September 1957 the Squadron took part in a major NATO Exercise, “Strikeback”. Operating out of Keflavik, Iceland VW-2 afforded AEW for the Second Fleet. Thirty-three flights averaging 15 hours apiece were flown over the North Atlantic providing continuous coverage for 10 days. For its effort the Squadron received the following commendation:
The Commander of the Second Fleet: “THE OUTSTANDING
PERFORMANCE OF YOUR EYES OF THE FLEET HAS CONTRIBUTED
GREATLY TO THE SUCCESS OF EXERCISE STRIKEBACK. WELL DONE”.
During this same summer in July, AEWRON TWO placed a detachment of two (2) aircraft on the Island of Malta. They are under operational control of the Sixth Fleet and officially known as Detachment BRAVO at the Royal Naval Station, Halfar, Malta.
Flying four (4) aircraft out of Souda Bay, Crete, from the 15th of July, through the 21st of August 1958, VW-2 crews logged better than 1,000 hours providing continuous coverage for the Sixth Fleet during the Lebanon Crisis.
On 13 October 1958, CAPT. O. O. DEAN, USN, was relieved as Commanding Officer by CAPT. J. W. LENNEY, USN.
The VW-2 Squadron insignia portrays Woden, the chief god of Norwegian mythology. The ancient legend tells how he watched over earthbound mortals and periodically sent down from the heavens a pair of ravens to examine his subjects and report upon activities on the earth’s surface. When these reports were displeasing, Woden punished mortal transgressors by hurling his thunderbolts at them. This legend of airborne reconnaissance, warning, and punishment aptly parallels the mission of Airborne Early Warning and Fighter Intercept Directions assigned to this Squadron.
The above information was reproduced from a written document received from VW-2 at the time of decommissioning of the Squadron, 19 June 1961.
The following information is added by Jack Tyler AT2, serving in VW-2 from 30 November 1959 to 19 June 1961.
During the summer of 1960, on 5 July, VW-2 deployed the last Detachment BRAVO to Sigonella, Sicily and on 7 September the aircraft, crew and ground support personnel reported to Keflavik, Iceland to participate in a NATO exercise. That deployment to Sicily, being the last, ended the surveillance by VW-2 for the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean area. CAPT. F. A. TODD, USN was the Commanding Officer of VW-2 during that time.
On 23 January 1961, The Squadron participated in the air search, locating, and tracking of the Portuguese luxury cruise liner, Santa Maria. A rebel terrorist group, acting against the Government of Portugal, high jacked the cruise liner and sailed to Recife, Brazil, where the incident was ended.
AEWRON TWO (VW-2) was decommissioned at Patuxent River, Maryland 19 June, 1961. The aircraft and all personnel were reassigned to other AEW squadrons. Three of the WV-2’s and approximately half the squadron personnel were assigned to the training unit, AEWTULANT, also based at Patuxent River, Maryland. The other planes and personnel were assigned to other AEW squadrons in Argentia, Newfoundland. Up until decommissioning, the last six Super Constellations that were built by Lockheed and delivered to the U S Navy were assigned to VW-2. The bureau numbers were 145936, 937, 938, 939, 940 and 941.
The history of AEWRON TWO (VW-2) spanned a period from 1 July, 1936 to 19 June 1961. The Squadron served in many and varied operations during those 25 years, including combat action in the South Pacific during WWII. The officers and enlisted personnel proudly served and were a great asset to the United States Navy, carrying out many, many missions and operations that were critical to our Nation’s defense.
