1940’s Era

Here are some photo’s and the legend that explains the photos from the 1940’s ERA of VP40 which was known as VP-MS-10 on 11/10/46.

It wasn’t VP40 until 9/1/1948, disestablished 1/25/1950, then reestablished as Patrol Squadron Forty (VP40) on 1/20/1951

1947-48 picture legend

[Show as slideshow]

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Thanks go out to Howard Stephens (AL3 46-49) for these pictures.

UPDATE 6/24/2016

I added some pictures today from Bob Maley. also here is  some info about him. sent from his son Steve Maley.

I just found your website today, just in time for Father’s Day. My dad, Robert Maley, was an ARM3 in VP-40 during the Korean War, having been called up from the reserves (he is a WWII vet also).

Bob is 91 but still active in correspondence via email. I’ve sent him your link and I’m sure he will spend hours studying every picture. I recently scanned some of his slides and I’m sure that, with his permission I’ll be sending them to you soon. (Are there instructions for that?)

A historical note: Dad designed the “bee” patch. Won $15 in a contest.
The Bee patch is a scan of the actual embroidered patch, vintage 1951.

The personnel in the first VP40 were a patchwork quilt of left-overs from WW2, reserves and recruits from reserve units who had never seen Boot Camp.  The Pilot in our crew was a ‘Mustang’ from WW2 with PBY experience.  Our skipper was Cdr. V. Utgoff with PBY experience in the South Pacific.  Our PBM 5 Mariners were of WW2 vintage, but our greatest asset was experience gained in WW2.

I invited Steve and his father to attend our reunion and join our group. Hopefully they will, he can fill in a lot of blanks about our squadron.