Squadron History:  VPB-33

Lineage

Established as Patrol Squadron THIRTY THREE (VP-33) on 1 April 1942.
Redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron THIRTY THREE (VPB-33) on 1 October 1944.
Disestablished on 7 April 1945.

Squadron Insignia and Nickname

VP-33 was destined to become one of ten well-known Black Cat squadrons operating in the South Pacific during WWII. After reaching the combat zone and being assigned its unique mission, the squadron submitted a new design to CNO. This insignia was approved on 17 April 1944. The black cat, the central character of the design, was shown armed with a telescope and depth charge and superimposed on an enlarged cat’s eye. Colors: background, black; eye, orange and lemon yellow; cat, black with yellow outlines; eyeball, yellow; pupil, green; telescope, blue and white; depth charge, light blue with black markings. This insignia was used by the squadron until its disestablishment in 1945.

Nickname: Black Cats, 1943–1945.

Chronology of Significant Events

1 Apr–Jul 1942: VP-33 was established at NAS Norfolk, Va., under the operational control of FAW-5, as a seaplane squadron flying the PBY-5A Catalina. Squadron training was conducted at NAS Quonset Point, R.I., until mid-July.

9 Jul 1942: Patrol Squadron 52 was withdrawn from NAS Coco Solo, C.Z., and replaced by VP-33. During this period the squadron came under the operational control of FAW-3 and was assigned duties of patrolling convoy routes, ASW patrols and ferrying supplies to advanced bases in the Caribbean.

10 Jul 1943: VP-33 was relieved at NAS Coco Solo for return to NAS Corpus Christi, Texas, and 15 days home leave with orders to report to NAS San Diego, Calif.

15 Aug 1943: After a brief two-week period of refit with new aircraft and equipment, the squadron departed NAS San Diego, Calif., for transpac to NAS Kaneohe, Hawaii. Upon arrival the squadron came under the operational control of FAW-2 and quickly deployed to Canton Island. VP-33 conducted day searches toward the Gilberts covering the occupation of Baker Island.

26 Sep 1943: VP-33 was relocated to Funafuti, conducting day searches toward Tarawa.

26 Oct 1943: VP-33 moved to Perth, Australia, under the operational control of FAW-10. The squadron conducted day searches and night bombing missions to Koepang and Amboina, officially becoming a member of the Black Cat club.

15 Feb 1944: VP-33 was relocated to Samarai, New Guinea, under the operational control of FAW-17. The squadron was assigned night search patrols and attack missions against enemy shipping in the Bismarck Sea.

25 Mar 1944: VP-33 was relocated to Manus, in the Admiralty Island chain. There it conducted daylight searches toward Turk and Woleai; bombing missions against Woleai and Wakde; air-sea rescue missions around Truk, Woleai and Yap; and coverage for the invasion of Hollandia.

19 May 1944: After the occupation of Hollandia, the squadron moved aboard Heron (AVP 2) in Humboldt Bay. With VP-52, the squadron conducted VP-33 was destined to become one of ten well-known Black Cat squadrons operating in the South Pacific during WWII. After reaching the combat zone and being assigned its unique mission, the squadron air-sea rescue for Army strikes on Wewak, Wakde, Biak, Noemfoor, Manokwari, Babo, Jefman and Sagan.

17 Jul 1944: VP-33 was relocated to Manus to conduct daylight searches and air-sea rescue missions for downed aircrews.

1 Sep 1944: VP-33 moved to Middleburg Island to conduct night search and attack missions against enemy shipping in the Netherlands East Indies and southern Philippine islands area.

19 Sep 1944: The squadron was relocated to Morotai with no change in its assigned missions.

26 Sep 1944: Lieutenant James F. Merritt, Jr., led his Catalina in an attack against two enemy transports and their five armed escorts. The attack was conducted off the southwest coast of Mindanao, Philippines, in hazardous night conditions of bright moonlight and heavy concentrations of antiaircraft fire from the armed escort ships. During his mast head bombing attack his bombs failed to release. He returned, despite the heavy AA fire, and made a successful attack resulting in probable damage to one large transport and the destruction of the other transport. For his actions he was awarded the Navy Cross.

3 Oct 1944: While patrolling the Toli Toli Bay, Northern Celebes, on a Black Cat mission the night of 3 October, Lieutenant (jg) William B. Sumpter led his PBY Catalina in an attack against a 6,000-ton Katori-class light cruiser. His attack was made during the hazardous conditions of bright moonlight and against constant and intense antiaircraft fire from the cruiser. He scored eight bomb hits resulting in explosions and the burning of the cruiser and its sinking. For his actions he was awarded the Navy Cross.

23 Oct 1944: VPB-33 was relocated to Leyte to conduct daylight searches for the enemy in the Philippine Sea. The squadron at this time came under the operational control of FAW-10.

1 Dec 1944: A detachment of four aircraft remained under FAW-10 at Woendi Lagoon. The remainder of the squadron relocated to Los Negros under FAW-17. This group with seven aircraft operated from Emirau and the Green and Treasury islands to conduct ASW patrols and air-sea rescue missions.

20 Dec 1944: The Woendi detachment returned to Leyte aboard the tender San Carlos (AVP 51). There they were reunited with the rest of the squadron on 10 January 1945, with additional support from Tangier (AV 8). Antishipping patrols and Dumbo missions were the order of the day.

4 Feb–Mar 1945: VPB-33 was relieved for return to the U.S. The squadron flew to Los Negros Island and boarded HMS Tracker on 27 February for return to San Diego, Calif. Upon arrival on 19 March the squadron was assigned temporary quarters and given leave on the 24th.

10 Apr 1945: VPB-33 was disestablished.

 

Home Port Assignments

Location Date of Assignment
NAS Quonset Point, R.I. 1 Apr 1942
NAS Coco Solo, C.Z. 9 Jul 1942
NAS San Diego, Calif. Jul 1943
NAS Kaneohe, Hawaii 15 Aug 1943
NAS San Diego, Calif. 19 Mar 1945

 

Commanding Officers

Name Date Assumed Command
LCDR H. D. Hale 1 Apr 1942
LCDR R. C. Bengston 22 Dec 1942
LCDR F. P. Anderson 15 Aug 1943

 

Aircraft Assignment

Type of Aircraft Date Type First Received
PBY-5A 1 Apr 1942

 

Major Overseas Deployments

Date of Departure Date of Return Wing Base of  Operations Type of Aircraft Area of Operations
9 Jul 1942 10 Jul 1943 FAW-3 Coco Solo PBY-5A Carib
15 Aug 1943 * FAW-2 Kaneohe PBY-5A WestPac
26 Sep 1943 * FAW-2 Funafuti PBY-5A SoPac
26 Oct 1943 * FAW-10 Perth PBY-5A SoPac
15 Feb 1944 * FAW-17 Samarai PBY-5A SoPac
25 Mar 1944 * FAW-17 Manus PBY-5A SoPac
19 May 1944 * FAW-17 Humboldt Bay PBY-5A SoPac
Heron (AVP 2)
17 Jul 1944 * FAW-17 Manus PBY-5A SoPac
1 Sep 1944 * FAW-17 Middleburg Is. PBY-5A SoPac
19 Sep 1944 * FAW-17 Morotai PBY-5A SoPac
23 Oct 1944 * FAW-10 Leyte PBY-5A SoPac
1 Dec 1944 * FAW-10 Woendi PBY-5A SoPac
1 Dec 1944 * FAW-17 Los Negros PBY-5A SoPac
20 Dec 1944 19 Mar 1945 FAW-10 Leyte PBY-5A SoPac
San Carlos (AVP 51)
Tangier (AV 8)
  • Continued combat deployment in the Pacific, moving from base to base.

 

Wing Assignments

Wing Tail Code Assignment Date
PatWing-5 1 Apr 1942
PatWing-3/FAW-3 * 9 Jul 1942
FAW-14 Jul 1943
FAW-2 15 Aug 1943
FAW-10 26 Oct 1943
FAW-17 15 Feb 1944
FAW-10 23 Oct 1944
FAW-17/10 1 Dec 1944
FAW-14 27 Feb 1945

* PatWing-3 was redesignated Fleet Air Wing-3 (FAW-3) on 1 November 1942.
† A squadron detachment remained under FAW-10s operational control while the remainder of the squadron was assigned to FAW-17 on 1 December 1944. The detachment returned to the main squadron in late December 1944 and then came under FAW-17’s control.

 

Unit Awards Received

Unit Award Inclusive Date Covering Unit Award
PUC 1 Sep 1944 4 Oct 1944

The information on this page is from the   Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons - Vol. 2 CD-ROM (which is unfortunately no longer available).


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