VPB-214

VPB-214 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron Two Hundred Fourteen (VP-214) on 18 October 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron Two Hundred Fourteen (VPB-214) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 21 June 1945.

Operational history

 * 18 October 1943 – 8 January 1944: VP-214, a medium seaplane squadron flying the PBM-3S Mariner, was established at NAAS Harvey Point, North Carolina, under the operational control of FAW-5. Training was conducted at Harvey Point through December 1943. On 8 January 1944, the squadron was transferred to NAS Key West, Florida, for shakedown and advanced training in Anti-submarine warfare (ASW).
 * 22 January 1944: The squadron’s first loss in training occurred when Lieutenant Francis Mitchell and his crew crashed during a practice drop of live ordnance. The cluster of depth charges exploded upon impact with the water, removing the tail of the aircraft. Four crewmembers were killed.
 * 23 January 1944: VP-214 became operational at NAS Norfolk, Virginia, while based ashore at Breezy Point. Duties included convoy escort and ASW sweeps of the offshore approaches.
 * 12 September 1944: VP-214 was deployed to NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, under the operational control of FAW-11. Duties consisted of convoy escort and ASW sweeps of the approaches to the Caribbean basin.
 * 1 October 1944: The squadron complement of aircraft was reduced from 12 to 9, with a corresponding reduction in personnel.
 * 15 January–April 1945: VPB-214 was transferred to NAS Coco Solo, Panama Canal Zone, under the operational control of FAW-3. On 18 February the squadron was based aboard the tender USS Albemarle (AV-5) at Almirante Bay, Panama, for advanced base operations. The squadron returned to NAS Coco Solo on 1 March. On 1 April the squadron began flying a series of ASW sectors on the Pacific side of the canal from NAS Coco Solo to the Galapagos Islands to Corinto, Nicaragua and back to Coco Solo.
 * 31 May 1945: Orders were received to turn in all of the squadron’s aircraft and assets to HEDRON-3 at NAS Coco Solo and proceed to NAS Norfolk for disestablishment. The squadron personnel were put aboard USS Sangamon (CVE-26) for return to Norfolk. The squadron’s aircraft were later towed out to sea and used as strafing targets by the Army Air Force fighters.
 * 18 June 1945: VPB-214 was disestablished at NAS Norfolk.

Home port assignments
The squadron was assigned to these home ports, effective on the dates shown:
 * NAAS Harvey Point, North Carolina 18 October 1943
 * NAS Key West, Florida 8 January 1944
 * NAS Norfolk, Virginia 23 January 1944
 * NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba 12 September 1944
 * NAS Coco Solo, Panama Canal Zone 15 January 1945
 * NAS Norfolk, 31 May 1945