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The U.S. Navy Patrol (VP) 71 saw action flying the amphibious PBY Catalina before and during WWII in the Pacific Theater of Operations. About half of this Squadron was re-assigned to VPB-104 flying B-24 Liberator land-based bombers on 1 October 1944.

History
CHANGE - The squadron was established April 10, 1943 at NAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii flying the four-engine PB4Y-1 Liberator with personnel from the VP-71 Squadron who had been flying a similar mission in the two-engine amphibious PBY Catalina. Flight operations began immediately and were eventually conducted from bases including Midway, Canton, Johnston Atoll, Guadalcanal, Munda, Morotai, Tacloban, and Clark Field.

CHANGE IN INFO BOX? - Commander Harry E. Sears was awarded the Navy Cross for heroic actions while leading the new squadron in the destruction of several enemy aircraft and ships. The squadron was relieved by VB-115 on 29 March 1944, and returned to the U.S. for rest and rehabilitation. By then the squadron was credited with destruction of 30 enemy aircraft and 51 ships, with 1,252 sorties flown in seven months. By Nov 1943 they also began flying some missions detecting enemy radar installations with specially-equipped Liberators for Lt. Lawrence Heron of the "Cast Mike" team, inspired by what became "Section 22" using the similar USAF B-24 "Ferret" aircraft.