home


GUESTBOOK

We love hearing from our visitors.
Please take a minute to
sign our guestbook.

page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 .
Guest #220 added April 22, 2009
Email: contact webmaster for contact information.
Name: Mike Allegre
Location: Keizer, OR
Military: Maj (ret) USAF
PBY Interest: Like so many Baby Boomers, I didn't learn from my dad exactly what unit he served with during WWII. I know he was an aircraft machinest mate to a Naval air unit at Hickham. He served/flew as a crew chief in PBYs (3, 4, 5?) and also worked and flew on C-47s. I have his DD-214 equivalent, but am unable to tell what unit he was assigned to while at Hickham from mid-1944 to war's end.
-----Is there a resource where I can try and locate this info by looking at units assigned at Hickham?
-----Thank you for this website and the memorial at Whidbey. As a retired USAF officer, I have a great interest in most military aircraft, especially WWII planes. I must visit soon.
Guest #219 added April 14, 2009
Email: contact webmaster for contact information.
Name: Jeannine Melton
Location: Bainbridge, GA
Age: 50-59
Military:
Pby Interest:
Guest #218 added April 9, 2009
Email: contact webmaster for contact information.
Name: Judy Keenan Maher
Location: Ramsey, NJ
Age: 60-69
Military: Daughter of deceased Navy veteran
Pby Interest: I am trying to find information about a plane crash my father, Joseph Daniel Keenan, was in on Feb. 18, 1945 in the South Pacific probably off Guadalcanal. He was in VJ-13 at the time. He told us that the pilot was killed and the others survived. There is no mention of it in VJ-13's cruisebook. I have in my possession the telegram informing my grandparents of the crash. He flew in a PBY.
Guest #217 added April 9, 2009
Email: contact webmaster for contact information.
Name: Ronald T. Moran
Location: Ruther Glen, Va
Age: 50-59
Military: My father, AOC Raymond T. Moran (deceased) was in VP21 and 102 and I just received the Bronze Star for him last Friday. He was also in VP62 and flew in the Aleutians after he got back here from Perth.
Pby Interest: Hello out there all you sailors. I'm looking for anyone that may have flown with my Dad. He was in from 1935 to 1955. He was on the Langley, the Yorktown and the Lake Champlaign also. Please drop me an e-mail. Thanks, Ron
Guest #216 added March 31, 2009
Email: contact webmaster for contact information.
Name: Dwight Smith
City: Ingalls, IN
Age: 80-89
Military: US army 1947-1954
Pby Interest: My friend Mr EICHER, served with VP42 at Whidby and Iwakuni in 1964-1964. He seeks to contact Lt Cmdr Papas, or any other veterans from VP42 in 64-65. We would be delighted to hear from you

Guest #215 added March 28, 2009
Email: contact webmaster for contact information.
Name: Larry Seth Steinberg
City: Silver City, NV
Age: 60-69
Military:
Pby Interest: Two members of an experimental B-25 survived a ditching off Buka Is on 17Feb44. One was my Father SSgt Lester Steinberg (13thAAF, 42ndBG, 69thBS). Rescued by a dumbo at sea, he was given a Hawaiian overstamped $1 bill; it has, in faded ink, "Royal Order of Drips Lester A Steinberg... At sea, Feb. 18, 1944... off Buka Is" It is very hard to read the names of the USN crew... perhaps.. James S. Mattof, Patrick Watts, Robert E. ____ USN, Wm Carlisle O-808101, David Kellman, Warren Johnson, P Reed, Thos J Price, William S Pure, Bill Cook.

I always thought the number sequence was an officer's serial #... BUT now believe it refers to Navy BuNo #08101, assigned to PBY construction No. 920 (Later US civil N5588V). Can anyone confirm her flying with VP-33 or VP-34? LtJG Nathan Gordon won his Medal of Honor that week flying from stationing at Vitu Is to Kavieng Harbor with BuNo #08139... "Arkansas Traveler" of VP-34. ... Any response or data appreciated.

Guest #214 added March 18, 2009
Email: contact webmaster for contact information.
Name: Pete Sloman
From: Pasadena, CA
Age: 50-59
Military: US Navy '71-'75; CTI3 (Vietnamese, Hanoi dialect); DLIEC 5/71-4/72; NSA 10/72-12/73; NAVCOMSTAPHIL San Miguel, 1/74-1/75; USS Chicago (CG-11) summer '74.
Pby Interest: My brother Chris posted a photo of our Dad's crew at Dutch Harbor (see photos page -crews -Aleutians). Dad told us that after a particularly harrowing semi-crash landing, they managed to patch up the plane with materials on board, thanks to very helpful drawings in the "owner's manual". After he got home he told his mother about it; she went upstairs, came back with a roll of blueprints. "You mean these?" She was an industrial draftsman at Consolidated and had done the drawings.

She was a beautiful plane; just birdlike enough to avoid looking like a flying brick.

Guest #213 added March 9, 2009
Email: contact webmaster for contact information.
Name: Dennis May
From:
Age:
Military:
Pby Interest: Unfortunately, my father, Roy May from Indiana, died when I was 13, before I had any thought to ask him about his photographs or his experience during the War. I only know from his separation papers that he enlisted 10/27/42 (when he was 33 years old) and his date of separation was 11/23/45. I think he was with the Squadron HEDRON FAW 12 at Key West from early after his enlistment to about the end of 1944 when he then was on the USS Alcor in the Pacific.

I don't suppose there is much chance anyone would recognize my father in the photograph and be able to share any memories of him, but just in case, my father is in the second photo, the one where there are three kneeling and four standing behind them. My father one of the four standing, the one on the far left. (see photos page -crews-Hedron-FAW12) Aside from specific memories of my father, I would appreciate hearing any description of the nature of the operations of these planes which I understand were hunting submarines.

Guest #212 added March 6, 2009
Email: contact webmaster for contact information.
Name: George R. Thenn, Jr.
From: Alameda, CA
Age: 90-99
Military: MAJ, AUS-Ret, Corps of Engineers, United States Army; active duty: SWPA, 1944-46, "All the say back, with 'Mac,'"
1897th Engineer Aviation Battalion, 6-airstrips.
Pby Interest: My first post-high shool job in 1937 was as a "Sheet Metal
Helper," with Consolidated Aircraft, Lindberg Field, San Diego, California. The "X-Models" for the PBY had been accepted by the Navy, and for the B-24, by the Army Air Corps.

I participated in the manufacture of the first 13-plane squadrons for each model. Since there were only the initial, 13-plane orders, Consolidated did not "tool-up" and did not use mass-producing drop-hammers and steel dies; all sheet metal was initially formed on wooden forms, heaat-treated and re-formed--WWII changed all of this, which I was able to see, personally, when I returned for a summer's work, after my Freshman Year at the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. The incessant noise of many drop-hammers would be a reminder me later in the war.

Guest #211 added February 27, 2009
Email: contact webmaster for contact information.
Name: Tim Newell
From: Waynesboro, MS
Age:
Military: I am a US Marine sniper.
Pby Interest: My Dad, Capt. Dale S. Newell, flew the PBY with VP24 during WWII in the Pacific. Later with VP 41 in Alaska. Later flew the PB4Y out of NAS Atlanta. Retired in Oct. 1961. I'm searching for info on my Dad. I am fairly familiar with the PBY and it's history. Searching for Dad's WWII PBY info. 
Guest #210 added February 27, 2009
Email: contact webmaster for contact information.
Name: Mitch Carlson
From:
Age:
Military:
Pby Interest: I'm looking for information about PBY Squadrons operating out of Brazil in WW2 (could've been only one of two, actually, depending on dates). My late father, Jack A. Carlson, LT, USNR, was a pilot with the Natal, Brazil-based unit from '43 (?) to '45 (?). He was a quiet man, not prone to tooting his own horn, so I have little information on him other than the above.
Guest #209 added February 26, 2009
Email: contact webmaster for contact information.
Name: Leonard Miller
From: Springdale, Arkansas
Age: 80-89
Military: Staff Sgt. in the 13th Air Force in the 2nd rescue group of Air Sea & Rescue WW2 June 1943-January 1946
Pby Interest: I was a radio control gunner in the PBY 5a Catalina
Guest #208 added February 19, 2009
Email: contact webmaster for contact information.
Name: Susan Wantuck
From: Sharpsburg GA
Age: 50-59
Military:
Pby Interest: Husband is retired Army
Guest #207 added February 13 , 2009
Email: contact webmaster for contact information.
Name: Sandy Van Fossen
From: Lakewood, WA
Age: 40-49
Military: none
Pby Interest: I am searching for information on my uncle shot down over Guadal Canal. My information is vague because my mother passed and I have very little info to go on. His name was Herman Sauter.
Guest #206 added February 13 , 2009
Email: contact webmaster for contact information.
Name: William c. Praegner
From: Sultan, WA
Age: 60-69
Military: none "damm it"
Pby Interest: My dad John Griffith Praegner was a radio man on a pby during WWII. He flew of Brazil looking for U boats. Want to find out infromation about his squadron and his record if I can.
Guest #205 added February 13 , 2009
Name: John Sandiford
Email: contact webmaster for contact information.
From: Woburn, MA
Age: 50-59
Military: Served in Alaska Air National Guard
Pby Interest: My Father Flew he PBY 5A He wa the MAchini Mate First Class. They sank a destroyer with it, lost one crewman. All got the DFC. I am looking for that story/citation.
Guest #204 added January 25 , 2009
Name: Dayna Sluder
Email: contact webmaster for contact information.
From: Meridian, Indiana
Age: 40-49
Military:
Pby Interest: I located this website while searching for information regarding a PBY-5A that went missing in 1943 out of Pensicola. Would love to talk to someone who has any information regarding the anti-sub patrol during this time. Thanks
Guest #203 added January 25, 2009
Name: Jim Lemons
Email: contact webmaster for contact information.
From: Omaha, Nebraska
Age: 80-89
Military: Seaman first class, AOM, Aircrewman (NATTC, Millington, Tenn.)Flew in VP 91 1944 -1945
Pby Interest: Visited NAS Whidbey on Vacation. Would like to hear from any of the crews at NAS Whidby during my time there. My plane captain was Lt. Cmdr. Corboy. I was station there when one of the other pilots flew there crew under the Deception Pass Bridge.
Guest #202 added January 25, 2009
Name: Donald Hoover
Email: contact webmaster for contact information.
From: Rome City, Indiana
Age: 70-79
Military: US Navy 04/1951 to 10/1970 Changed rate from AD to At Retired as ATCS
Pby Interest: I flew as flight mech on two of the PBY's located at Air Ops, Sangley Point P.I. 1952 to 1954. Flew between Clark AFB, Subic Bay and Sangley Pt., One trip to Palawan Lepper Colony with a Catholic priest who was working with the Leppers. I remember the Glass sight gauges for the fuel level, the mixture controls, the crank for the wing floats just in case the electrical system failed and the rid in the bubbles was fantistic. The APU was pretty noisy though and making a bouy could be a trick. Loved it!!! great memories.
Guest #201 added January 25, 2009
Name: Phil Quirk
Email: contact webmaster for contact information.
From: Pawnee, OK
Age: 40-49
Military:
Pby Interest: My father, LT. (jg) Robert James Quirk, from Chicago Illinbois served in WW11 as Navy pilot, was in Ottumwa Iowa, Quajalane, looking for anyone who may remember him. He passed away when i was 11 years old (1971)and did not get to ask questions about his service years. He was a CHP officer in Calif.
 Guest #200 added January 4, 2009
Name: William Schultz
Email: contact webmaster for contact information.
From: Grand Prarie Texas
Age:
Found: search engine
Military: Served on Cold Bay Alaska for ten months then shipped out to Amchitka Island, arriving there the Day after the Japanese bombed the airfield there.We served under General Simon Boliver Buckner of the A.D.C. My Outfit was the "203rd Coast RTILLry Anti Aircraft" Battalion.
Pby Interest: Approxamently two or three weeks ago you showed a film of this engagement with Japanese. I am writing this note to inquire how I may acquire a copy Of that engagement

page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 .


Meetings & Events | In The News | Newsletters | Photos | PBYMF Story | About the PBY | Membership | 12/7/41 | Guestbook | Contact | Links | Home | Site Map