Utility Squadron 2 (VJ-2)
U.S. Navy (USN)

Background
United States Navy (USN) Utility Squadron 2 (VJ-2) was stationed at Pearl Harbor and operated a variety of aircraft including the J2F Duck and other types of floatplanes.

Wartime History
On December 7, 1941 the squadron survived the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and Oahu.

During late 1944, operated from Pitylu Airfield flying the JM-1 Marauder painted in high visibility yellow towing aerial targets for fighters performing aerial gunnery training exercises.

On December 29, 1944 lost is JM-1 Marauder 66617 pilot Lt(jg) Robert Lee Auer on a target towing mission ands suffered an engine failure and ditched into the sea with four missing and one rescued.

Postwar
Nicknamed "Hurricane Hunters" operating Privateers and Neptunes.

References
NARA Utility Squadron Two Unit History 1 Nov. 1943 to 31 May 1945 pages 1-100
NARA Utility Squadron Two War Diary December 1944 pages 1-4