Background
Patrol Bombing Squadron 124 (VPB-124) operated the PB4Y-2 Privateer in the Pacific during World War II. Reformed from Bombing Squadron 138 (VB-138).
Wartime History
On July 7, 1945 a pair of Privateers PB4Y-2 59538 pilot Lt. Robert J. Brower and PB4Y-2 pilot Lt. Osborn Jr took off from Yontan Airfield on Okinawa on a search and reconnaissance mission over the Taushima Straits between Kyushu and Korea. During the mission, the pair engaged enemy fighters and returning spotted a sub-chaser and attacked. Lost is PB4Y-2 59538 pilot Lt. Robert J. Brower (8 MIA, 5 POW).
On July 24, 1945 a pair of Privateers PB4Y-2 "Gear Down (and Locked)" 59519 pilot Lt. John E. Ramsey and PB4Y-2 59747 pilot Lt. Gilbert E. Miller took off took off from Yontan Airfield on Okinawaon an anti-shipping sweep
over the west coast of Korea. At 9:20am a they radioed they were under attack and at 11:00am radioed that they had bombed a Japanese ship. Both bombers failed to return from the mission and were presumed to be lost along the 40th Parallel.
On July 27, 1945 Lt. Commander John M. Miller was designated Commanding Officer (C. O.) of VPB-124.
References
NARA Patrol Bombing Squadron 124 (VPB-124) War History 15 March 1943-15 August 1945
NARA VPB-124 War Diary July 1945
NARA USN VPB-124 Aircraft Action Report (AAR) No. 26 July 7, 1945
NARA VPB-124 Aircraft Action Report (AAR) No. 35
June 24, 1945
Thanks to Minoru Kamada for additional information
