VPB-210 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron Two Hundred Ten on 15 January 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron Two Hundred Ten on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 10 July 1945.
11 August 1943: The first section of six VP-210 aircraft was transferred to NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Duties consisted of convoy coverage, antisubmarine sweeps and rescue missions. The squadron’s first casualties occurred on the 18th, when Lieutenant Joseph P. Willetts and his crew crashed while training with a friendly submarine south of Montauk Point, Long Island. All hands were lost.
12 October 1943: Lieutenant Daniel T. Felix Jr., and the crew of P-9 made a radar contact at night with a surface target during coverage of the Guantanamo-Trinidad convoy. The U-boat submerged after flares were dropped, but reappeared a second time. Lieutenant Felix and his crew were opposed by intense anti-aircraft fire from the submarine, which submerged again before a bombing attack could be made.
October–December 1943: A three-aircraft detachment of USAAF 23d Antisubmarine Squadron was attached to VP-210 for ASW operations in the Caribbean. This detachment flew the B-25 Mitchell medium bomber equipped with 75-mm cannon. The PBM aircraft of VP-210 were to locate the U-boats and illuminate them with flares for the B-25s. Unfortunately, no enemy contacts developed to test the effectiveness of this unique tactic.
1 November 1943: A five-aircraft detachment was based at Great Exuma, British West Indies, remaining until relieved by VP-32 in December. The detachment relieved VP-32 again from 30 June through 23 August 1944.
26 May 1944: Lieutenant J. F. Slavic and his crew made a forced landing during patrol due to a loose engine cowling. After landing safely and securing the cowl, the aircraft lost one engine during the takeoff. In the subsequent crash, the crew safely exited the sinking aircraft. All hands were rescued after 11 hours.
1 July 1944: Lieutenant Francis Gerli collided with the crash boat during takeoff at Great Exuma, resulting in an explosion which destroyed the boat and the aircraft. Six personnel in the aircraft were killed in the accident, with five more seriously injured.
4 October 1944: The squadron was reduced from 12 aircraft to 9 aircraft, with 14 combat aircrews. Personnel and aircraft detached from the squadron were sent to VPB-99.
November 1944: Two VPB-210 Mariners were fitted with two L8 searchlights apiece. Four of the squadron’s crews were given training in use of the lights.
17 June–10 July 1945: Operations were discontinued at NAS Guantanamo Bay and preparations were begun for disestablishment of the squadron. Aircraft were flown to NS San Juan, Puerto Rico, and turned over to HEDRON-11. On 2 July 1945, the entire squadron boarded for transportation to NAS Norfolk. On 10 July 1945, the squadron was disestablished.
Aircraft assignments
The squadron was assigned the following aircraft, effective on the dates shown:
