Established as Patrol Squadron NINETY ONE (VP-91) on 1 December 1941.
Redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron NINETY ONE (VPB-91) on 1 October 1944.
Disestablished on 2 April 1946.

Squadron Insignia and Nickname

A photograph on file for VP-91 in the Aviation History Branch squadron insignia archives showed what appeared to be a Disney-like Dumbo elephant, with outstretched ears, astride two bombs. The figure was in a circular patch with the squadron designation VP below the right ear, and 91 above it. Above and outside the design was the logo UP-FLOATS. Colors: background, dark blue; outlines and letters, gold. The reputed insignia tied in with one of the squadron’s primary missions in WWII, that of Dumbo missions to retrieve downed airmen. The squadron achieved a record on this score, retrieving 80 airmen from the water during two tours in the South Pacific. Unfortunately, no documentation survives to verify the authenticy of the insignia or its approval by CNO.

Nickname: None on record.

1 Dec 1941: VP-91 was established at NAS Norfolk, Va., under the operational control of PatWing-8, as a seaplane squadron flying the PBY-5 Catalina. On 15 December 1941, the squadron was relocated to Alameda, Calif. Upon arrival preparations were made for the transpac to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where VP-91 would be located to reinforce the patrol squadrons depleted by the Japanese attack.

28 Feb 1942: VP-91 departed San Francisco, Calif., for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, with the last aircraft arriving safely by 2 March 1942. Upon arrival the squadron came under the operational control of PatWing-1. VP-91 remained in the Hawaii area through early September flying local patrols under COMNAVAIR-BASEDEFENSE.

4 Sep 1942: VP-91 began relocating south into the active war zone, arriving at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands, on 13 September 1942. Operations from this area were conducted while based aboard Mackinac (AVP 13) in the Segond Channel, under the operational control of FAW-1. On 2 November 1942, with the departure of Mackinac, the officers of the squadron were berthed aboard Curtiss (AV 4), while the enlisted personnel were berthed aboard Tangier (AV 8).

27 Oct 1942: Lieutenant Melvin K. Atwell and crew were flying a night reconnaissance mission in the vicinity of the Solomon Islands when they spotted a large vessel 30 miles away. They determined that the dark outline of a large ship was moving in an easterly direction at high speed. Flying closer to investigate, the ship was seen to enter a low overcast and stop. Two passes at low altitude failed to identify the ship. Atwell climbed back to 1,500 feet and when two miles from the ship was bracketed by two bursts of AA fire. He immediately put the aircraft into a dive, releasing his four 500-pound bombs over the ship at 650 to 600 feet. Two bombs were seen to explode aft of the forward smokestack of the ship, which appeared to be an Aoba class heavy cruiser. The concussion of the explosions damaged the aircraft, which barely pulled out of the dive at 20 feet above the surface of the sea. Atwell chose not to linger in the vicinity of the warship, as he had developed several fuel leaks. As they headed for home base a large orange flash was seen in the distance in the vicinity of the target, followed by a larger explosion 10 minutes later. For his courageous single-handed attack on the enemy warship Lieutenant Atwell was awarded the Navy Cross.

13 Nov 1942: Five of the squadron aircraft were flown to Vanikoro, supported by tender Mackinac (AVP 13) in Peon Bay. On 2 December 1942, Mackinac was relieved by Ballard (AVD 10), and returned to Espiritu Santo. The detachment of five aircraft and six crews remained with Ballard, flying sector searches from Vanikoro, while the seven aircraft remaining at Espiritu Santo aboard Mackinac flew sectors from that location.

Mar 1943: VP-91 was relieved for return to the continental U.S. The squadron was reformed at NAS San Diego, Calif., under the operational control of FAW-14.

9 Aug 1943: VP-91 conducted its transpac to Hawaii, with the last aircraft arriving safely at NAS Kaneohe on 18 August 1943. Here the squadron remained until 1 October 1943, when a detachment of six aircraft was sent to Johnson Island for antishipping patrols in support of the Task Force 14 raid on Wake Island from 5 to 6 October.

29 Oct 1943: VP-91 began the deployment from NAS Kaneohe, Hawaii, in three-aircraft elements to Espiritu Santo. Upon arrival on 10 November 1943, the squadron came under the operational control of FAW-1, supported by tenders Wright (AV 1) and Chandeleur (AV 10). Three days later, a detachment of six aircraft was sent to Suva, Fiji. A second detachment of three aircraft was sent to Halavo Bay, leaving three aircraft and six crews to conduct sector patrols from Espiritu Santo. Crews and aircraft were rotated frequently between all three sites.

1 Jan 1944: The Halavo Bay detachment was relieved, and the aircraft and crews redistributed with six PBYs at Suva, aboard Mackinac (AVP 13), and seven PBYs at Espiritu Santo, aboard Chandeleur (AV 10). Duties consisted primarily of convoy escort and aircraft maintenance.

26 Mar 1944: VP-91 was relieved by VP-54, and dispatched to Tulagi Island, Halavo Bay Seaplane Base. Shortly after arrival, five aircraft were detached to Treasury Island, three aircraft were sent to Green Island, and two were sent to Emirau Island. Duties of the squadron at this time consisted primarily of air-sea rescue missions and miscellaneous utility work for Commander Air Northern Solomons. On 27 May 1944, the Treasury Island detachment of five aircraft was sent to Green Island to augment the three aircraft present, reverting to search sector and antishipping patrols. The augmented detachment was supported by tenders Coos Bay (AVP 25) and Chincoteague (AVP 24).

15 Jun 1944: VP-91 was relieved at Green Island by VP-44. The eight aircraft of the detachment were flown to Halavo Bay Seaplane Base, where the squadron was reunited to prepare for transfer back to the continental U.S. VP-91 departed the combat zone on 21 July 1944 in elements of three aircraft, bound for NAS San Diego, Calif., via NAS Kaneohe, Hawaii.

10 Sep 1944: VP-91 was reformed at NAS San Diego, Calif., under the operational control of FAW-14. While training of new personnel was underway, the squadron was redesignated VPB-91.

15 Oct 1944: VPB-91 was relocated to NAS Corpus Christi, Tex., to learn how to process Naval Aviators and combat air crews through an advanced training course for combat replacement crews flying the PBM Mariner. On completion of the course on 13 December 1944, the squadron was transferred to NAS Whidbey Island, Wash., under the operational control of FAW-6. Here the squadron remained until the end of the war, training replacement crews.  

2 Apr 1946: VP-91 was disestablished at NAS Whidbey Island, Wash.