Aircraft
of
VPW-1, VP-51, VX-4, VC-11
& VW-1 Early Years

Page Updated 03/01/06
CREDITS: VPW-1, VP-51 & VX-4 data extracted from
"B-17 in Blue" author Scott A. Thompson

VC-11 & VW-1 data from George E Stewart
VC-11 1950 - 1952, VW-1 1952 - 1955
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VPW-1 Tailcode 'EW'Established 1, April 1948,    Re-designated VP-51, September 1948. Home based at Ream Field near San Diego, California, later moving to NAAS Miramar also near San Diego.
 Model BuNo. Comment
 PB-1W 77232 to VP-51.
 PB-1W 77233 to VP-51.
 PB-1W 77234 to VP-51
 PB-1W 77237 to VP-51
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VP-51 Tailcode 'EW'Established 1, September 1948,    Disbanded 2, February 1950. Home based at NAAS Miramar near San Diego.
 Model BuNo. Comment
 PB-1W 77232 Assigned to the Glenn Martin Co. at Baltimore until July 1952
 PB-1W 77233 to O.H.
 PB-1W 77234 to O.H.
 PB-1W 77237. to O.H.
 PB-1W 77236 to VX-4 Det
 PB-1W 77243 to VX-4 Det
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VX-4 Det. Tailcode 'XD'Established 2, February 1950 - Disbanded 31, March 1950.
 Model BuNo. Comment
 PB-1W 77236 to VC-11 Det.
 PB-1W 77243 to VC-11 Det.
 PB-1W 77230 to VC-11 Det.
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VC-11 Det Tailcode 'ND'Established 31, March 1950 - Re-designated 18, June 1952. On June 6, 1952 the Detachment of four PB-1W was flown to NAS Barbers Point, Territory of Hawaii, and was commissioned as Air Borne Early Warning Squadron One (VW-1).
 Model BuNo. Comment
 PB-1W77236 to O. H. Oct/1950
 PB-1W 77243. to O. H. June/1951
 PB-1W 77230 to O. H. Apr./1952
 PB-1W 7226 / ND-8 replaced 77236 to VW-1
 PB-1W 77137 / ND-6. added Jan.1951 to VW-1
 PB-1W 77138 / ND-7 replaced 77243 to VW-1
 PB-1W 77231 / ND-9 replaced 77230 to VW-1
 SNJ-4 27189 to VC-11 May 1952
 Note: In March 1951 four Martin P4M-1Q aircraft, along with their crews and maintenance personnel, were assigned to VC-11 Det. at Miramar for operational training as a classified "Special Project Unit". In October 1951 after training was completed the unit was deployed to NAS Sangley Point, Philippines. In May of 1953 the Unit became VW-1 Det A, then in June 1954 became VW-3 Det. A and finally becoming VQ-1 in June 1955.
---------------------------------
VW-1 Tailcode 'TE'Commissioned on June 18, 1952 at NAS Barbers Point, Territory of Hawaii with four PB-1W aircraft.
 Model BuNo. Comment
 PB-1W 77137 / TE-2 to overhaul July 1953
 PB-1W 77138 / TE-3 to overhaul Feb. 1954
 PB-1W 77226 / TE-4 to overhaul Aug. 1953
 PB-1W 77231 / TE-5 to NAS San Diego May 1954
---------------------------------
 PB-1W 77240 / TE-6 added Jan. 1953
to NAS San Diego Jan. 1954
 PB-1W 77234 / TE-7. added Feb. 1953
to NAS Norfolk May 1954
 PB-1W 77228 / TE-8 added May 1953
 PB-1W 34114 / TE-? replaced 77137 July 1953
 PB-1W 77232 / TE-? replaced 77226 Sept. 1953
 PB-1W 77235 / TE-12. replaced 77240 Feb. 1954
---------------------------------
VW-1 Tailcode 'TE'There were seven WV-2's received in 1954 and at the end of 1954 there were five PB-1W.
 Model BuNo. Comment
 WV-1 124438/TE-1 Rec'd Dec. 1952
 WV-2 128323/TE-2 Rec'd Apr. 14, 1954
 WV-2 131388/TE-3 Rec'd June 29, 1954
 WV-2 131390/TE-4 Rec'd Oct. 18, 1954 Crashed (VQ-2), Germany May 22, 1962 when tail tore off in flight. All 26 crewmembers killed.
 WV-2 131392/TE-5 Rec'd Nov. 22, 1954
 WV-2 135749/TE-6 Rec'd Dec. 17, 1954
 WV-2 135751/TE-7 Rec'd Dec. 21, 1954 Converted to EC-121M. Fire damaged beyond repair at Atsugi Jan 27, 1966 while "curing" lower radome with heat.
 WV-2 135755/TE-8 Rec'd Dec. 20, 1954
---------------------------------
 As the WV-2's were received into the VW-1 inventory they were assigned the lower side number and the PB-1W side numbers were moved up. Only PB-1W 77228 and 77235 side number's are known at this time
 Model BuNo. Comment
 PB-1W 34114/TE-? to storage Feb. 1955
 PB-1W 77226/TE-?. to storage Jan. 1955
 PB-1W 77228/TE-14 to storage Jan. 1955
 PB-1W 77232/TE-? to storage Jan. 1955
 PB-1W 77235/ TE-12 to storage Jan 1955.
This aircraft is still flying with the "Gulf Coast Wing" of the "Commemorative Air Force" out of Houston TX. as the Texas Raiders, N7227C.
 
 
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