Patrol Squadron 101 (VP-101)
United States Navy (USN)

Background
On December 3, 1940 Patrol Squadron 1 (VP-1) was redesignated Patrol Squadron 101 (VP-101) in United States Navy (USN). During 1941, Patrol Squadron 101 (VP-101) was part of Patrol Wing 10 (Pat Wing 10) operating from the USS William B. Preston (AVD-7) off Cavite Naval Base inside Manila Bay. Catalinas were also operating elsewhere including Malalag Bay near Davao on Mindanao.

Wartime History
On December 8, 1941 before 8:00am PBY 1229 was strafed by Japanese fighters while moored in Malalag Bay near Davao.

On January 25, 1942 damaged and abandoned was PBY-5 Catalina 2302 at Halong Seaplane Base at Halong on Ambon Island in the Netherlands East Indies (NEI).

On February 24, 1942 lost is PBY-5 Catalina 28-5MNE Y-73 (44) pilot Lt(jg) John M. Robertson (MIA) and lost over Makassar Strait.

On February 25, 1942 lost is PBY-5 Catalina 28-5MNE Y-73 (44) pilot Lt(jg) William S. Robinson (MIA) and lost over Bali Island.

On August 1, 1943 assigned to the 7th Fleet, Task Group 73.1 (TG 73.1) under Commander Dunlap comprised of VP-101 supported by USS San Pablo (AVP-30) and Aircraft Rescue Boat C-9485 operating from Samarai Seaplane Base on Samarai Island off Milne Bay on the eastern tip of New Guinea.

During August 1943, the squadron began operating from Port Moresby Seaplane Base to perform search and rescue missions.

On August 16, 1943 lost is PBY-5 Catalina 2446 piloted by Lt. T. W. Marshall took off from Port Moresby Seaplane Base on a flight roughly 130 miles to the northwest to rescue a downed pilot. While landing three miles offshore, sustained damaged while landing that broke of the right engine and other damage but remained afloat for roughly two hours until abandoned and sunk.

During September 1943, VP-101 was requested to make bi-weekly searches along the northeast coast of New Guinea to Wewak.

On September 14, 1943 lost is PBY-5 Catalina 2424 crashed on take off and was considered impractical to repair and written off.

On October 26, 1943 lost is PBY-5 Catalina 2447 pilot Lt. Edgar Brown Graff (KIA) crashed in bad weather near Sogeri.

During December 1943, VP-101 ceased operating from Port Moresby Seaplane Base.

References
NARA "War Diary Aircraft, Seventh Fleet From: 1 August, 1943 To: 31 August, 1943" pages 1-4
NARA "War Diary Aircraft, Seventh Fleet From: 1 September, 1943 To: 30 September, 1943" pages 1-4
Thanks to Jim Sawruk and Edward Rogers for additional information