VP-24

VP-24, Patrol Squadron 24 was a United States Navy "Black Cat" squadron that flew the PBY-5A (patrol bomber) Consolidated PBY Catalina in the Pacific Theater of Operations of WWII (redesignated as VP-12). VP-24 served in Korean War flying Lockheed P-2 Neptune patrol planes. Later, VP-24 flew P-3 Orion aircraft (1960's?). Other redesignations included the highly decorated VB-104 and VPB-104 during and VP-104 just after the war and VA-HM-13, returning to VP-24 before it was disestablished on April 30, 1995 as part of the post Cold War drawdown of forces.

History

The first VP-24 was created when it was redesignated from VP-8 on July 1, 1939. Among many other designation changes flying a variety of aircraft, VP-24 was redesignated VB-, VPB- and then VP-104 for most of WWII, returning to VP-24 from 1948-1956 and from 1959-1995.

World War II

VP-24 flying PBYs was redesignated as the VB-104 squadron April 10, 1943 at Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii flying the four-engine PB4Y-1 Liberator with personnel from the VP-71 Squadron who had been flying a similar mission in the two-engine amphibious PBY Catalina. Flight operations began immediately and (redesignated as VPB-104 from October 1, 1944 until after the war) were eventually conducted from bases including Midway, Canton, Johnston Atoll, Guadalcanal, Munda, Morotai, Tacloban, and Clark Field. During the war, the improved PB4Y-2 aircraft were introduced. VB/VPB-104 was the only patrol squadron in WWII to receive two Presidential Unit Citations. Later redesignated VP-104, VP-HL-4, and VA(HM)-13, the squadron was finally redesignated back to VP-24 in 1959 and remained so until 1995.