VP-45 – Patrol Squadron 45 (U.S. Navy)

Commissioned: 10 March 1943
Role: Patrol Squadron (PBY Catalina)
Theater: Aleutians / Northern Pacific
Notable distinction: First U.S. Navy patrol squadron based at Attu

Formation of VP-45 (February–March 1943)

Lt. R. Donley, first Commander, Patrol Squadron 45:

“The formation of VP-45 began in late February of 1943 when I and Wiljo Lindgren were called into the Commander, Fleet Air at Sand Point (Seattle) and directed to form a squadron of six PBY’s to be known as VP-45. We were to train the crews for the mission, the purpose and destination of which we were not told. The Admiral said he would call us back to Seattle when the mission was finished and give us a duty assignment of our choosing. We received our planes direct from Consolidated and were given priority for anything we needed.”

Lt. William H. Maxwell and Lt. Erwin H. Johnson, “VP-45: The First Squadron Based At Attu”:

“The early history of VP-45 is unique in that it started with six flight crews hastily assembled and commanded by the senior officer, Lt. Robert L. Donley”.

Deployment to Attu

25 April 1943
VP-45 departed Seattle for Attu with six PBY-5s to support the planned invasion of Attu.

13 May 1943
VP-45 arrived at Attu and began flying search patrols out of Casco Cove.

Cmdr. R. L. Donley:

“We stayed at the Andrews Lagoon, Adak, until the 13th of May when we were ordered to fly to Attu and report to the Commander of Task Force Six. Until that time, we didn’t know what our mission was. The weather was bad at Attu and the Task Force was under radio silence, so we sat up a patrol, the best we could. When our fuel ran low we were able to raise the Task Force Commander and were told to go to a small cove south of the invasion landing area. There we found the USS Casco after which the cove was later named. Our job at the time was to cover the Task Force for anti-submarine patrols during the period of the battle. In addition to providing anti-submarine coverage and being the only airborne support group at Attu, we were used to transport Army commanders to different places on the Island for scouting and even to drop surrender leaflets on the enemy. On one occasion I took several Army officers to Chichagof Harbor after the area was secure. After landing, we took life raft ashore. I will never forget the scene we encountered. The soldiers were cleaning up the area and making a pile of the dead Japanese. The pile was about six feet high and the stench was terrible. I talked to a soldier who had a bullet hole in his helmet. It missed his head and he seemed to be happy.

When we dropped surrender leaflets on the Japanese we had to have reasonably clear weather as we needed to climb high over the mountains and then drop down across the enemy areas toward the water. As the battle continued, we established patrols to the west of Attu. During these patrols we would occasionally pick up flights of Bettys on the way to make bombing runs on Attu. We would send messages of their position to the Command via the cruiser’s O2SU float planes that were patrolling the island. The P-38’s stationed at Amchitka would then be alerted to meet the Betty’s and from what I heard, they had a number of kills. Our squadron suffered no casualties. Occasionally we would take a bullet through the hull which we would patch with rubber sea plugs.

Early in June, when the battle for Attu was finally over, Comfair Seattle ordered Lindgren and I back to Seattle. However, when I arrived, I found that VP-45 was being made a 12 plane squadron under the command of LCDR Carl Amme. Amme had requested I stay on as an executive officer. Admiral Wagner was no long Comfair Seattle, so I didn”t get a duty assignment of my choosing. On July 8, 1943 I was back at Casco Cove and we had a 12 plane squadron of PBY-5’s. Shortly after arriving at Casco Cove, Amme led a three plane night flight (Carpenter and Earhart were the pilots of the other two PBY’s) to bomb Paramushiro. The entire area was shrouded by overcast so bombs were dropped when they estimated they were over the island. No enemy fire was encountered.

We lived in the airplanes and on the tender until the Seabees completed living facilities and a radio shack on Attu. We moved ashore the end of July. Near the Quonset huts there was a small stream that contained salmon and Dolly Vardin trout which one could catch in their hands. We built a barbecue pit in the cliff next to the huts and found fish a wonderful change of diet from the usual military mess and K-rations. We continued patrolling to the west and to the north as far as Kamchatka. We also provided ASW coverage for the invasion of Kiska. By October a runway was completed and it was time for the squadron to return our water logged planes to Seattle.”

Call Signs and Aircraft Assignments

Call signs (for full complement of twelve PBYs): 63V–74V

Bureau Numbers (BuNo) Assigned to VP-45 (as of Feb 1943)

Notable Operations and Incidents (1943)

10 July 1943

Four planes led by Lt. Carl “Bon” Amme were launched on a nocturnal mission to the Northern Kuriles. This was the first Navy air attack against the Japanese Home Islands.

24 July 1943 – Rescue in Soviet Waters

Catalina 08071/44V of VP-61 piloted by Lt. W.J. Wehmeyer developed engine trouble and was forced down near the Komandorski Islands.
PBY-5 08209/73V of VP-45 piloted by Lt (jg) Evans departed Attu and rescued the crew.
The damaged Catalina was sunk by gunfire from 73V after confidential material was jettisoned.

Catalina 08361/64V was also fired upon by Russian forces during search operations in the same area.
Following these incidents, pilots were warned to avoid Soviet territory.

9 August 1943 – Task Force 16 Operations Order 6-43

Fleet Air Wing Four reorganized aviation assets in preparation for the invasion of Kiska. VP-45 operated 14 PBY-5As from Attu.

28 September 1943 – Return of Original Crews

“Two crews of the original six crews were ordered to return to NAS Sand Point… landing on Lake Washington at NAS Sand Point… Shortly thereafter the rest of the squadron left Attu for NAS Sand Point and was given 30 day leave with orders to report back to NAS Oak Harbor, where most of the original PPC’s were reassigned and the 1st pilots promoted to PPC.”
(VP-45: The First Squadron Based At Attu)

VP-45 Aircraft on Strength – 1 October 1943

CO: Lt. Cmdr Carl H. Amme, Jr.
Location: Casco Cove, Attu Island, T.A.

Final Operations and Departure

1 October 1943
76V (04483), piloted by Lt. Carpenter, attacked a small craft near the Komandorskie Islands. The vessel was later identified as Soviet.

6 October 1943
Lt. Crockett (65V) conducted photographic reconnaissance of the Komandorskie Islands.

7 October 1943
VB-136 reported contact with a Japanese “Betty” bomber; aircraft were dispersed eastward.

13 October 1943
VP-45 departed Attu for NAS Sand Point, Seattle, WA. The squadron remained in reserve status until 25 December 1943