Background
On March 15, 1943 was commissioned at NAS San Diego under Fleet Air Wing 14 (FAW-14) as Patrol Squadron 15 (VP-15) in the U.S. Navy (USN) under the command of Lt. Commander Samuel M. Pickering.
On May 15, 1943 transferred to Fleet Air Wing Five at NAS Bermuda. During August 1943 assigned to Fleet Air Wing Nine (FAW-9). The squadron conducted patrols over the Atlantic Ocean performing anti-submarine patrols for German U-Boats, offensive sweeps and convoy protection.
On April 21, 1944 attached to Fleet Air Wing Three based at NAS Coco Solo in Panama and operated from Naval Auxiliary Air Facility Corinto, Nicaragua and Naval Auxiliary Air Facility, Galapagos Islands.
On October 1, 1944 redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 15 (VPB-15). On October 15, 1944 returned to NAS San Diego to be reformed and returned to Fleet Air Wing Fourteen (FAW-14) for a period of training and reforming with PB2Y-3 Coronado flying boats. On December 1, 1944 the squadron was assigned brand new PB2Y-5 Coronado flying boats. By the end of October 1944 the squadron flew a total of 1,005 flights for 8,996.9 operational flight hours. Lost were five aircraft with a total of 21 personnel killed.
On March 6, 1945 assigned to Fleet Air Wing Two (FAW-2) at Kaneohe Bay on Oahu and underwent more training before transfer to Fleet Air Wing One (FAW-1).
On April 15, 1945 assigned to Saipan based at Tanapag Seaplane Base and was responsible for flying patrols eastward and westward to search for enemy submarines and shipping and sometimes to perform reconnaissance missions over Marcus Island, utility flights to Okinawa plus search missions for downed aircraft and crews.
On September 1, 1945 attached to Fleet Air Wing Eighteen (FAW-18) under operational control of the Saipan Search and Recovery Unit (CTG 94.1).
As hostilities had ceased, the squadron emphasized crew training and flew 126 missions totaling 350.2 hours for the month. including training flights, test hops, weather flights and two passenger flights to Chimu Bay on Okinawa and return.
Commanding Officers (C. O.)
Lt. Commander Samuel M. Pickering (March 15, 1943–August 21, 1943)
Lt. Commander Ward T. Shields (August 21, 1943–November 26, 1943)
Lt. Commander Reed K. Henderson (November 26, 1943–September 1945)
References
NARA "Patrol Bombing Squadron Fifteen (VPB-15) 15 March 1943 - 15 April 1943 / 15 April 1945 - 2 September 1945 (2)"
