VB-139 – First Aleutian Tour (October 1943 – June 1944)

U.S. Navy Bombing Squadron VB-139 deployment to the Aleutian Islands, including PV-1 Ventura operations, “Empire Express” Kurile strike missions, personnel, and aircraft losses.

Overview

VB-139 deployed to the Aleutian Islands in October 1943 as part of the expansion of U.S. Navy medium bomber operations in the North Pacific. Equipped with the Lockheed PV-1 Ventura, the squadron operated under Fleet Air Wing FOUR (FAW-4) from forward bases including Amchitka, Adak, and ultimately Attu (Casco Field).

The squadron’s primary mission was long-range maritime patrol, but operations quickly expanded to include photographic reconnaissance and bombing strikes against the Japanese Kurile Islands.

Throughout the deployment, VB-139 faced extreme environmental conditions—persistent fog, icing, high winds, and limited visibility—which frequently posed a greater threat than enemy action. Despite these challenges, the squadron successfully extended PV-1 operations into the Kuriles, contributing to the sustained “Empire Express” campaign.

Deployment Timeline

Date	Event
1 Oct 1943	Departed NAS Whidbey Island in three detachments
7–10 Oct 1943	Arrived at NAF Amchitka, Aleutians
1 Nov 1943	Detachment deployed to NAS Adak
Dec 1943	Forward elements moved to NAS Attu
10 Dec 1943	Entire squadron relocated to Casco Field, NAS Attu and releived VB-136
30 Jun 1944	Relieved by VB-135 and returned to NAS Whidbey Island

Primary Operating Bases

NAF Amchitka – Initial operational deployment
NAS Adak – Detachment operations and patrol support
NAS Attu (Casco Field) – Forward base for Kurile missions

OPERATIONAL HISTORY

Early Patrol Operations

Upon arrival in the Aleutians, VB-139 was assigned routine search sectors extending approximately 350–550 miles over the North Pacific. These missions were generally uneventful in terms of enemy contact but were consistently affected by severe weather conditions.

Runway conditions, icing, and poor visibility made both takeoffs and recoveries hazardous. Ground crews played a critical role in maintaining aircraft readiness despite these conditions.

Forward Deployment to Attu and Kurile Operations (“Empire Express” Missions)

By December 1943, VB-139 had fully relocated to Casco Field, NAS Attu, replacing VB-136. Beginning in January 1944, from this forward base, the squadron began operations against the Kurile Islands, including:

Photographic reconnaissance
Bombing missions
Occasional attacks on Japanese picket vessels.

This marked a transition from defensive patrol operations to offensive reach into Japanese-held territory.

Key developments included:

Demonstration that the PV-1 Ventura could not only reach, but also operate over the Kuriles, previously considered the domain of B-24 and PBY aircraft
Execution of night photographic reconnaissance missions. VB-139 crews conducted the first night PV-1 missions over the Kuriles, marking a significant operational milestone.

Operational Conditions during night missions:

Four 100-pound magnesium flash bombs were carried for night photography. The bombs were thrown manually by the crew. A flash bomb explosion triggered photocell which was synchronized with the shutter of the night aerial camera Fairchild K-19A. The camera was mounted in the nose of the aircraft. On approach to the target, the cover of the camera hatch in the floor was removed manually, chilling the cockpit to the freezing outside temperature. This further complicated the work conditions of the crews. Despite the use of highly sophisticated cameras, sometimes all of the negatives turned out to be overexposed. Japanese searchlights often triggered photocells prematurely. It soon became clear that a single flare bomb explosion would rarely allow to produce more than one usable photograph. In general, the results of night photography, though not a complete failure, were clearly not enough to provide detailed intelligence information about Japanese presence on the Kurile Islands.

VB-139 operations were further shaped by environmental factors:

Icing frequently degraded aircraft performance
Fog often obscured landing fields
Crews faced uncertainty about whether recovery fields were open upon return
Navigation errors could have catastrophic consequences due to limited alternates

The weather was consistently described as the primary operational hazard

MISSIONS AND COMBAT ACTIVITY

Mission Profile

VB-139 missions during the first tour included:

Long-range patrol and reconnaissance
Photographic reconnaissance and bombing of Kurile installations
Attacks on shipping and picket vessels

Enemy Opposition

Fighter opposition: Limited, but encountered
Anti-aircraft fire: Frequent during attack runs
Primary hazard: Weather and operational environment

Selected Aircraft and Notable Events

Aircraft, BuNo, and movements

Format: Squadron Code(R=replacement)/BuNo, Remarks

Click on the thumbnail to expand the photo

For further details, please refer to VB/VPB-139 Historical Survey

25V/33278

VB-139 PV-1 ready for take-off from runway on Attu, 1 March 1944

26V/33282

Transferred to Hedron in May 1944, redesignated X20. Used as a backdrop for VB-139 and VB-135 squadron photos in May-June 1944. Flown to Whidbey on Oct 23-26 1944 by Lt. M.A. Mason. The crew on the photo is of Lt.(jg) L.A. Patteson, VB-135

28V/33343

On 25 March 1944, Lt. Moore’s PV-1 28V, Bureau No. 33343, lifted off the runway in normal flight, then dropped slowly from the level of the runway before striking the water in Massacre Bay about one-half to three-quarters of a mile from the end of the runway. It immediately burst into flames. A crash rescue boat rescued Lt. James H. Moore, his copilot Lt. (jg) Joseph P. Smith and the plane captain, AMM2c Carl F. Olesen. Both Smith and Olesen suffered second-degree facial burns and shock. Those killed in the crash were: Ens. Robert E. Janson (VP-43), Ens. Mitchell F. Lambert (VP-43), ARM2c Frederick G. Heckendorn, and AOM2c Victor O. Mog. Lt. Moore had apparently lost his reference point on takeoff, gone on instruments, and, in doing so, allowed the plane to settle in the water.

29V/33352

VB-135 crew of Lt. Holloway by a VB-139 PV-1 Ventura 29V BuNo 33352 Attu, Aleutian Islands, 5 May 1944

34VR/34774

30 December 1943, Lt.(jg) Verle C. Austin, and his crew flew a sector search mission over the Bering Sea. Their PV-1 was not equipped with extra fuel tanks, they ran into bad weather and became low on fuel. Lt. Austin radioed Attu and requested a radio direction steer, stating that he was lost. The radar station on Agattu had acquired the PV-1 on its screen and a radio direction finding station on Imperial Beach, CA, had a bearing on it. Using the information, LtCmdr. Stevens ordered Lt. Austin to reverse direction and head north to Agattu. Shortly afterwards, Lieutenant Austin’s radio operator informed Attu that the PV-1 had run out of gas. By then Lieutenant Austin had spotted Agattu and managed to set the Ventura down on a frozen lake, from which it skidded to shore, where it rest today. The crew escaped with only minor injuries.

30V/34630

4/17/1944, while flying this aircraft, Lt. Hastings sighted a “Betty” on sector search flight, 50-48N, 158-50E

31V/34636

VB-139 PV-1 Ventura BuNo 34636 31V after the landing accident 12/16/1943. Lt. Albert G. Neal landed high and long, ran off the runway, and crashed. The runway was covered with snow and ice –
there had been frequent snow showers both during the day. At the time of the crash, a heavy snow shower was laying in the mountains north of the field, having passed over the field a few minutes before.
The crew escaped with minor injuries; the aircraft caught fire and was destroyed and stricken off for
parts. Further possible injuries to the crew were prevented by the quick thinking of the co-pilot who
released the wing drop tanks when it appeared that the accident was inevitable. Crew: Pilot Lt. Albert G. Neal, Co-Pilot Ens. B. W. Georgeff; AMM2c True B. Burnham; AMM2c James C. Craig; AMM2c Donald D.
Chenoweth; and ARM2c William N. Tippett.

31VR, former X6 of Hedron
As of 13 January 1944- replacement aircraft for 31V

VB-139 Lt. McGregor’s crew by PV-1 31VR (BuNo unknown) 5 May 1944 Attu. Top row L-R:
Lt.(jg) R.A.Watson, Lt. R.A. McGregor, W.C. Dennel, AMM2/c
Bottom row, G.A. Gullsted, AOM1/c, H.G. Grabowski, ARM1/c, and R.G. Oliphant, AMM2/c

32V/34640

1/15/44, Lt. Rehill- landed on slippery runway and slid into snow bank. Minor damage to plane, no injury to the crew.

5/18/44, Lt. Ralph Lowe- crashed on take-off. Crew escaped, plane destroyed.

Pictured here is the crew of the squadron CO, Lt. Cmdr William R. Stevens (top row, left)

33V/34641

3/25/44, on the mission to Paramushiro, the plane got damaged by the AAA and lost an engine. The pilot, Lt. Walt Whitman, crash-landed his PV-1 on the slope of Mutnovsky volcano, Kamchatka, USSR. The plane was accidentally discovered in 1962, but only by 2000, the mystery of the disappeared bomber was solved.

https://www.norpacwar.com/pv-1s-in-the-ussr

35V/33359

VB-139 Lt. Howe and engineers by PV-1 Ventura 35V BuNo33359
Attu, 29 June 1944

36V/33433

Lt. Norem in 36V sighted and attacked Japanese picket boat at 51-50N, 160-40E. Copilot Lt. (jg) Clifford M Tambs was killed during the 3rd strafing run. The hydraulic system was knocked out, unable to lock the landing gear, resulting in a belly landing.

Notable Personnel

Lieutenants R. A. McGregor, D. M. Birdsall and R. T. McKelvey – pioneered early Kurile night photo operations
Lt. Walter S. Whitman’s crew lost during Kurile mission 3/25/1944
Lt.(jg) Clifford M. Tambs – killed during combat operation 5/18/1944