A BIT OF HISTORY: APPENDIX 3 Submarines Sunk by Patrol Squadrons During World War II - Naval Historical Center http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/dictvol2.htm [04MAY2001]

U-640, 14 May 1943
Type: VIIC Laid Down: 30 October 1941, Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Commissioned: 17 September 1942, Oblt. Karl-Heinz Nagel
Commander: September 1942 May 1943, Oblt. Karl-Heinz Nagel
Career: Assigned: September 1942 April 1943, 5th Flotilla (Keil); May 1943, 6th Flotilla (St. Nazaire)
Successes: None

Fate: Sunk 14 May 1943, off Iceland in position 60°10'N, 31°05'W, by a Fido homing torpedofrom a VP-84 PBY-5A Catalina flown by Lieutenant P. A. Bodinet. 49 dead (entire crew lost). This is believed to be the first sinking by the new weapon against a U-boat.

A BIT OF HISTORY: APPENDIX 3 Submarines Sunk by Patrol Squadrons During World War II - Naval Historical Center http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/dictvol2.htm [04MAY2001]

U-467, 25 May 1943
Type: VIIC Laid Down: 22 June 1941, Deutsche Werke AG, Kiel
Commissioned: 15 July 1942, Oblt. Heinz Kummer
Commander: July 1942 May 1943, Kptlt. Heinz Kummer
Career: Assigned: July 1942 March 1943, 5th Flotilla (Kiel); April 1943 May 1943, 11th Flotilla (Bergen).
Successes: None

Fate: Sunk 25 May 1943, southeast of Iceland, in position 62°25'N, 14°52'W, by bombs from a PBY-5A Catalina of VP 84 piloted by Lieutenant R. C. Millard. 46 dead (entire crew lost).

A BIT OF HISTORY: APPENDIX 3 Submarines Sunk by Patrol Squadrons During World War II - Naval Historical Center http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/dictvol2.htm [04MAY2001]

U-388, 20 June 1943
Type: VIIC Laid Down: 12 September 1941, Howaldtswerke, Kiel
Commissioned: 31 December 1942, Ltnt. Peter Sues
Commander: December 1942 June 1943, Oblt. Peter Sues
Career: One patrol; assigned: December 1942 June 1943, 5th Flotilla (Kiel); June 1943, 9th Flotilla (Brest)
Successes: None

Fate: Left Kiel on 8 June 1943. Sunk 20 June 1943, in the North Atlantic southeast of CapeFarewell, Greenland, in position 57°36'N, 31°20'W, by bombs from a PBY-5A Catalina of VP 84 piloted by Lieutenant E. W. Wood. 47 dead (entire crew lost).

A BIT OF HISTORY: APPENDIX 3 Submarines Sunk by Patrol Squadrons During World War II - Naval Historical Center http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/dictvol2.htm [04MAY2001]

U-194, 24 June 1943
Type: IXC/40 Laid Down: 7 January 1942, AG Weser, Bremen

Commissioned: 8 January 1943, Kptlt. Herman Hess

Commander: January 1943 June 1943, Kptlt. Herman Hess

Career: One patrol, assigned: January 1943 May 1943, 4th Flotilla (Stettin); May 1943 June 1943, 10th Flotilla (Lorient).

Successes: None

Fate: Sunk 24 June 1943, southwest of Iceland, in position 59°00'N, 26°18'W, by a PBY-5A Catalina of VP-84. 54 dead (entire crew lost). U-194 was sunk by Lieutenant J. W. Beach and crew.

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...VP-84 Rescue At Sea" Contributed by "VP/VPB-21 SCUTTLEBUTT Newsletter" World War II Stories, and more!!! [08FEB99]

This story begins on June 11, 1943 when a PBY5 from Patrol Squadron 84, which was based in Iceland, was dispatched on a rescue mission. An RAF aircraft was shot down by a German U-boat. The RAF crew managed to escape their sinking aircraft and get into a life raft. Seven hours later a message was received advising base that the raft had been sighted and that a rescue attempt was to be made. The pilot of the PBY decided to risk a landing and try and rescue them. The sea was very rough and as the aircraft attempted to land a huge wave hooked a wing tip and swung the aircraft into an a joining wave splitting her bow wide open. The aircraft immediately started to sink and the crew launched two small life rafts and all hands boarded the rafts.

The RAF crew paddled over to offer what assistance they could but heavy seas soon separated them. The misery of freezing temperatures, wetness joined hunger and thirst and on the first evening two of the crew died. On the second day three more of the crew perished. The fourth day two more men died leaving only two survivors. On the seventh day a mine sweeper arrived at the scene and picked up the only survivor. The last crewmember to died did so about 1 hour before the last crewmember was rescued.

The sole survivor was my brother, Lionel F. Pelietier, ARMI/c, USN. When rescued he was almost dead from cold and exposure. He had lost 60 pounds during the ordeal. His feet were badly frozen and he spent many months in Naval Hospitals. He finally returned to active duty and reported for duty aboard the USS Atlanta. His feet however continued to deteriorated and he was Honorably discharged in 1946.

For his heroic action he was awarded the Navy and Marine Corp. Heroism Medal, the Air Medal and received from the British Government.The Distinguish Flying Medal from King George which was presented to him by Lord Halifax at the British Embassy in Washington.

He was recently inducted into the Combat Aircrewman Roll of Honor aboard the USS Yorktown. He died in 1966 at the age of 45. His ordeal contributed to his early death for he never fully recovered. To me he was a real hero and there was also eight more hero's who did not survive who were with him on that raft. They gave their life for their country and for their British comrades. I have just recently learned that his crew has been given credit for the sinking of the German U-boat U640. The ironic conclusion to this story is that the crew they set out to rescue were all saved and the rescue crew all perished except one…Norm Pelietier Contributed by "VP/VPB-21 SCUTTLEBUTT Newsletter" World War II Stories, and more!!! [08FEB99]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...1943-1944--VP Squadrons Win Citations - Five Outfits Given World War Honors...Five patrol bombing squadrons of the Navy have been awarded the Presidential Unit Citation or Navy Unit Commendation on the basis of their heroic actions during World War II. those granted the PUC were VP-84, VP-83, later renamed VB-107, and VP-84. VP-83 won the citation for heroism against German submarines in the Atlantic between January and April 1943, July through February 1944 and the month of September 1944. Any personnel attached then can wear the PUC ribbon. Squadrons winning the Navy Unit Commendation were VP-32, VP-83, later renamed VB-100, and VB-103, later renamed VBP-103. VP-32's honor was won off Cuba from July 1 to 31, 1943, VP-82 won its award in the Atlantic from 15 January to 10 June 1942 and during April 1943. VB-103's period covered 1 November 1943 to 31 January 1944 and from 1 March to 30 April 1945, in Atlantic waters off England..." Bill O'Neil [AB4FK- HAM RADIO Call] ab4fk@norfolk.infi.net WebSite: Flying Boat Amateur Radio Society http://www.qsl.net/ab4fk/fbars/[15FEB98]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "00XXX43--In 1943, when the PBY (VP-84) was escorting a British convoy off the coast of Africa, a four-engine FW-200K bomber began a bomb run against the ships. Badly outmatched in speed, armament, and maneuverability, the BPY pilot ran for the German plane on a collision course, with every gun blazing. Three times the Focke-Wulf started its attack; three times the PBY charged; three times the German broke off. Wounded and burning, the attacking bomber turned tail, and fled..." "Golden Wings - A Pictorial History of the United States Navy and Marine Corps in the Air" by Martin Caidin in co-operation with the U.S. Navy ISBN 0-405-03755-4.

A BIT OF HISTORY: "00JUN43--Lt. E.W. Wood, in an Iceland-based PBY-5A, 84-P-9, #08037, attacked and sank U-388 in position 5736N 3120W (approx. 480 NM southwest of Reykjavik, Iceland), with a Mk.24 acoustic homing torpedo (Fido)..." Contributed by Ragnar J. Ragnarsson ragsie@centrum.is [22DEC99]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "24JUN43--Lt(jg) J.W. Beach, in an Iceland-based PBY-5A, 84-P-7 #2459, attacked and sank U-194 in position 5900N 2520W (approx. 335 NM southwest of Reykjavik), with a Mk.24 acoustic homing torpedo (Fido)..." Contributed by Ragnar J. Ragnarsson ragsie@centrum.is [27DEC99]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "25MAY43--On 25 May 1943, Lt. R.C. Millard, in an Iceland-based PBY-5A, 84-P-6, #2467, attacked and sank U-467, in position 6225N 1452W (approx. 160 NM south of Höfn, Iceland), with a Mk.24 acoustic homing torpedo (Fido), while conducting an a/s sweep around the Iceland-U.K.-bound convoy RU.75..." Contributed by Ragnar J Ragnarsson ragsie@centrum.is [12DEC99]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "14APR43--German submarine sunk: U-657, by naval land-based aircraft (VP-84), North Atlantic area, 60 d. 10' N., 31 d. 52' W...." http://www.pagesz.net/~jbdavis/navy_43.txt

A BIT OF HISTORY: "14MAY43--The first U-boat using the Mk.24 was U-640 which was attacked and sunk on 14 May 1943 by a PBY from US Navy VP 84..." http://www.dialnet.net/users/rrupert/ustorp4.html

A BIT OF HISTORY: "14MAY43--On 14 May 1943, Lt(jg) P.A. Bodinet, in an Iceland-based PBY-5A, 84-P-11, #2457, attacked and sank U-640 in position 6032N 3105W (approx. 335 NM southwest of Reykjavik), with 3x350 lb. Torpex-filled depth charges, while providing escort to the westbound convoy ONS.7. There were no survivors from U-640's 49-man crew..." Contributed by Ragnar J. Ragnarsson ragsie@centrum.is [06DEC99]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "25MAY43--German submarine sunk: U-467, by naval land-based aircraft (VP-84), 62 d. 25' N., 14 d. 52' W...." http://www.pagesz.net/~jbdavis/navy_43.txt

A BIT OF HISTORY: "20JUN43--German submarine sunk: U-388, by naval land-based aircraft (VP-84), North Atlantic area, 57 d. 36' N., 31 d. 20' w...." http://www.pagesz.net/~jbdavis/navy_43.txt

A BIT OF HISTORY: "25MAY43--U-467 Sunk 25 May, 1943 southeast of Iceland, in position 62.25N, 14.52W, by bombs from a US Catalina aircraft (VP 84). 46 dead (all crew lost)..." http://uboat.net/boats/u467.htm

Circa 1942

A BIT OF HISTORY: Bluenose Certificate "...States: "Know All Ye By These Present that W.F.Rustemeyer, AMM 3/c, While serving with Patrol Squadron 84, did on 11-9-42, embarked in Plane P-7, enter the Land of the Mid-Night Sun by crossing the Artic Circle in Latitude 66-33N and Longitude 34-00W. I, Neptunus Rex, Ruler of the Raging Main do Hereby declare Him to be a Loyal and Trusty Bluenose, and do call upon all Creatures of the Frigid North to Show Him due Deference and Respect. Neptunus Rex Ruler of the Raging Main by His Trusty Servant, J.J. Underhill, Lt. Comdr. USN, commanding VP-84..." WebSite: EBay http://cgi.ebay.com/ ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170000133662&indexURL=0&photoDisplayType=2#ebayphotohosting [13MAY2006]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Patrol Wings - Rear Admiral A. D. Bernhard - August 1942..." Contributed by John Lucas JohnLucas@netzero.com [28DEC2005]

PATROL WING	COMMANDING OFFICER
CPW-3	CDR G. L. Compo
CPW-5	CDR G. R. Owen
CPW-7	CDR F. L. Baker
CPW-9	CDR O. A. Weller
CPW-11	CDR S. J. Michael
SQUADRON TENDER	COMMANDING OFFICER
VP-31	LCDR A. Smith
VP-32	LCDR B. C. McCaffree
VP-33	LCDR H. D. Hale
VP-34	LCDR R. S. Calderhead
VP-52	LCDR F. M. Hammitt
VP-53	LCDR F. M. Nichols
VP-73	LCDR J. E. Leeper
VP-74	LCDR W. A. Thorn
VP-81	LCDR T. B. Haley
VP-82	LCDR J. D. Greer
VP-83	LCDR R. S. Clarke
VP-84	LCDR J. J. Underhill
VP-92	LCDR C. M. Heberton
VP-93	LCDR C. W. Harman
VP-94	LCDR D. W. Shafer
TENDER	COMMANDING OFFICER
USS Albemarle (AV-5)
USS Pocomoke (AV-9)
USS Chandeleur (AV-10)
USS Clemson (AVP-17)
USS Goldsborough (AVP-18)
USS Lapwing (AVP-1)
USS Sandpiper (AVP-9)
USS Barnegat (AVP-10)
USS Biscayne (AVP-11)
USS Humboldt (AVP-21)
USS Matagorda (AVP-22)
USS Rockaway (AVP-29)
USS San Pablo (AVP-30)
USS Unimak (AVP-31)

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...10DEC42 - PBY (VP-84) sinks German submarine U-611, North Atlantic, 58°09'N, 22°44'W..." HyperWar WebSite: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-Chron/USN-Chron-1942.html [16SEP2005]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...05NOV42 - PBY (VP-84) sinks German submarine U-408 off Iceland, 67°40'N, 18°32'W..." HyperWar WebSite: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-Chron/USN-Chron-1942.html [16SEP2005]

A BIT OF HISTORY: APPENDIX 3 Submarines Sunk by Patrol Squadrons During World War II - Naval Historical Center http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/dictvol2.htm [04MAY2001]

U-408, 5 November 1942
Type: VIIC Laid Down: 30 September 1940, Danziger Werft, Danzig
Commissioned: 19 November 1941, Kptlt. Reinhard von Hymmen
Commander: November 1941 November 1942, Kptlt. Reinhard von Hymmen
Career: Assigned: November 1941 April 1942, 5th Flotilla (Kiel) training; May 1942 June 1942, 9th Flotilla (Brest) front boat; July 1942 November 1942, 11th Flotilla (Bergen)
Successes: One ship with 5,464 tons sunk, shared with U-589

Fate: Sunk 5 November 1942, north of Iceland, in position 67°40'N, 18°32'W. 45 dead (entire crew lost). U-408 was sunk by a VP-84 PBY-5A piloted by Lieutenant R. C. Millard. The submarine, caught on the surface, was struck by four depth bombs aft of the conning tower while submerging.

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Squadron Awards..." Contributed by Mahlon K. Miller mkwsmiller@cox.net [23APR2001]

Presidential Unit Citation
01 Nov 42 – 30 Jun 43

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...05NOV42--On 5 November 1942, Lt. R.C. Millard, in an Iceland-based PBY-5A, 84-P-8 #7273, of VP-84, attacked and sank U-408 in position 6740N 1832W (100 NM off Iceland's north coast) with 2x325 lb. and 2x650 lb. depth charges, while conducting an antisubmarine sweep of the Denmark Strait north of Iceland with two other PBY-5As of VP-84. There were no survivors from her 45-man crew..." Contributed by Ragnar J. Ragnarsson ragsie@centrum.is [18OCT99]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...05NOV42--German submarine sunk: U-408, by naval land-based aircraft (VP-84), off Iceland, 67 d. 40' N., 18 d. 32' W...." http://www.cyberplus.ca/~chrism/chr42.txt

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...05NOV42--On 5 November 1942, Lt. R.C. Millard, in an Iceland-based PBY-5A, 84-P-8 / BuNo. 7273, of VP-84, attacked and sank U-408 in position 6740N 1832W (100 NM off Iceland's north coast) with 2x325 lb. and 2x650 lb. depth charges, while conducting an antisubmarine sweep of the Denmark Strait north of Iceland with two other PBY-5As of VP-84..." Contributed by Ragnar J. Ragnarsson ragsie@centrum.is [24OCT99]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...10DEC42--German submarine sunk: U-611, by naval land-based aircraft (VP-84), North Atlantic area, 58 d. 09' N., 22 d. 44' W...." http://www.cyberplus.ca/~chrism/chr42.txt

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Circa 1941 - 1945

A BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Historical Center, Department Of The Navy, Washington, D. C http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/dictvol2.htm [28APR2001]

VPB-84 67KB

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Circa 1941

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Hearings Before The Joint Committee On The Investigation Of The Pearl Harbor Attack - Congress Of The United States - Seventy-Ninth Congress...Squadrons mentioned: VP-11, VP-13, VP-14, VP-21, VP-22, VP-23, VP-24, VP-31, VP-32, VP-41, VP-42, VP-43, VP-44, VP-51, VP-52, VP-71, VP-72, VP-73, VP-74, VP-81, VP-82, VP-83, VP-84, VP-91, VP-92, VP-93, VP-94, VP-101, VP-102, CPW-1, CPW-2, CPW-3, CPW-4, CPW-5, CPW-7, CPW-8 and CPW-9..." WebSite: The public's library and digital archive http://www.ibiblio.org/pha/pha/misc/rainbow5.html [01APR2005]

Hearings Before The Joint Committee On the Investigation Of The Pearl Harbor Attack 333KB

A BIT OF HISTORY: "00DEC41--Order of Battle December 1941 Patrol Wing Eight, Norfolk VP-81 PBY5 n/a South Pacific '43-44, VP-82 POB-1 Argentia, VP-83 PBY5 n/a 1/43 Natal, Brazil, and VP-84 PBY5 Argentia=B9..." http://www.halisp.net/listserv/pacwar/1314.html

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Chronicles of PBY-5A #2459 - The U.S. Navy's top-scoring antisubmarine bomber in WWII - Compiled by Ragnar J. Ragnarsson ragsie@centrum.is - 23 DEC 1941 - PBY-5As are first mentioned in VP-73's War Diary on this date when three planes drawn from VP-83 were test-flown at NAS Norfolk, Virginia. On 25 December they were loaded onboard the USS Albemarle (AV-5) at NOB Norfolk for shipment to Iceland. On 27 December a further two PBY-5As were drawn from VP-83 at NAS Norfolk, Virginia and flown to NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island, where they were loaded onboard the USS Albemarle on 30 December...Note: At the outbreak of war on 7 December 1941, VP-73 was operating as part of PatWing 7 with divisions of PBY-5 seaplanes based at Reykjavik, Argentia and NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island. Replacing the divisions at Reykjavik and Argentia with landplanes was a matter of considerable urgency as winter operations of seaplanes from these bases was considered "extremely hazardous" as concluded in a study made by the Bureau of Aeronautics. The first 5 PBY-5As went to replace the PBY-5s of the Iceland division, thereby becoming the first to be equipped with the amphibian version of the PBY, while the Argentia division was withdrawn to NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island on 2 January 1942 having been replaced by PBO-1s (Lockheed Hudsons) of VP-82...The BuAer's concern in regard to seaplane winter operations in Iceland became all too evident on 15 January 1942 when, during a hurricane-force storm at Iceland with winds of 90 kts, gusting to 120 kts, three PBY-5s of VP-73 and two PBM-1s of VP-74 were lost at anchor in Skerjafjordur (the seaplane anchorage adjacent to Reykjavik airfield). When the storm hit, four PBY-5As were already at Reykjavik airfield, the fifth being still onboard the USS Albemarle at Hvalfjord. The planes at the airfield were tied down, but it took all hands to secure the planes on the field with all available lines and weights...OCT 1942: October saw the arrival of VP-84 in Iceland to replace VP-73. About half of VP-73's planes en-route back to the United States when the squadron received orders to return to Iceland and thence to the United Kingdom and North Africa, once an airfield had been secured there following the 'Torch' landings. Some of VP-73's planes were presumably quite battered and in need for overhaul so seven of these were exchanged for newer planes brought to Iceland by VP-84. One of the planes passed to VP-84 was #2459, to become 84-P-7...PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE!" Contributed by JOHN B OUBRE VP84@WEBTV.NET via WebSite: Stichting Cat Air http://www.vliegtuigen.com [URL Change 18JUN2000 | 19JAN98]

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"VP-84 History Summary Page"

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