Naval Patrol Squadrons

Greenland flights

Patrol Wing, Support Force
 (Patrol Squadrons VP 51, 52, 53 & 55)

East Greenland Survey

29 May - 8 June 1941
 VP-52 deployed four aircraft (PBY's) to Iceland, based on seaplane tender USS Belknap (AVD 8) at Reykjavik. The planes surveyed the east coast of Greenland where Danish weather stations were suspected of being in use by the Germans for relaying forecasts to the submarine wolf packs. Inspections of the facilities showed them to be abandoned, and the detachment returned to Argentia, Newfoundland.
 Survey flights: Iceland to East Greenland (31.5. & 5.6.)


PBY from VP 52 on East Greenland Survey
Squadron

Home Port

Detachment

Tender

Operation

VP 52

Argentia
Newfoundland

Reykjavik
Iceland

USS Belknap (AVD 8)  

29.5.41 - 8.6.41

1st July 1941 redesignated: Patrol Wing 7
(Patrol Squadrons VP 71, 72, 73 & 74)

Greenland Search

3 July - 7 July 1941
4 PBY Catalina’s departed Argentia for Reykjavik. Based on seaplane tender USS Belknap (AVD 8). During deployment to Iceland to provide cover for a USMC occupation force, the sqdn suffered its first loss when 72-P-12 failed to arrive. Searches along the route and on Greenland found no trace of the crew or plane.



1941 - PBY from VP 72
Squadron

Home Port

Detachment

Tender

Operation

VP 72

Argentia
 Newfoundland

Reykjavik
 Iceland

USS Belknap (AVD 8)

3.7.41 - 7.7.41

 
Naval Patrol Plane Base Iceland c/o P.M. Morgan St. Annex N.Y. - Canc. US Navy 22.4.1942

Denmark Strait Patrol

6 Aug 1941 – Oct 1942: Six PBY Catalina’s of VP-73 and five PBM Mariner’s of VP-74 arrived at Skerjafjördur, near Reykjavik – Camp Snafu !!. USS Goldsborough (AVD 5), USS Belknap (AVD 8) and USS Barnegat (AVP 10) provided tender support to the squadrons. Convoys were covered up to 500-miles from base and ASW coverage of the Denmark Strait between Iceland and Greenland was provided. VP-73 reaching Greenland on occasion. Crews operating in the extreme conditions of the Arctic Circle became known as blue noses.
15 Jan 1942: Winter in Iceland was the worst enemy of the patrol squadrons sinking three of VP-73’s Catalina's and two of VP-74’s PBMs.


Mar 1942: PBY  from VP 73 returning to Reykjavik .
Squadron

Home Port

Detachment

Tenders

Operation

VP 73

Argentia
Newfoundland

Reykjavik
 Iceland

USS Goldsborough (AVD 5)
USS Belknap (AVD 8)
 USS Barnegat (AVP 10)

6.8.41 - 9.41
9.41 - 5.42
5.42 -10. 42

VP 74

Argentia
 Newfoundland

Reykjavik
Iceland

USS Goldsborough (AVD 5)
USS Belknap (AVD 8)
 USS George E Badger (AVD 3)

12.8.41 - 9.41
9.41 - 1.42
41 - 42

Back to Greenland Units
Update: 21.11.2005
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