Here are photo’s and video’s of the 1950’s Era planes and people
If anyone knows the names of these people or places, please comment so other folks can remember them as well
8/1/2014
I received a packet today from Joe Blackmon,that contained some pictures from 1952 and a presentation booklet of the Navy’s 1st delivery of
the P5M-1 to VP40 on April 30, 1953, It is in PDF format.
P5M-1 VP40 delivery
Here is also an Itinerary page of the event as well
Itinerary P5M-1 delivery
9/2012
Here is a letter from Fred Sindlinger that explains some of the nice color pictures he sent me that are posted here also.
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.
Robert has joined our group today 6/24/2016. WELCOME ABOARD Bob
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