Patrol Squadron 91 (VP-91)
Patrol Bombing Squadron 91 (VPB-91)
United States Navy (USN)

Background
On December 1, 1941 established as Patrol Squadron 91 (VP-91) at NAS Norfolk assigned to Patrol Wing 8 (PatWing-8) in the U.S. Navy (USN) operating the PBY-5 Catalina.

Wartime History
On December 15, 1941 moves to NAS Alameda and prepares for deployment. On February 28, 1942 the squadron departs San Francisco flying to NAS Pearl Harbor over several days. Assigned to Patrol Wing 1 (PatWing-1) and begins patrolling off Hawaii.

On April 5, 1942 lost is PBY-5 Catalina 2487  pilot Ensign William H. Howe (KIA) with a crew from VP-11 crashed into a hillside near Makapu'u on Oahu.

On September 4, 1942 departs NAS Pearl Harbor bound for the South Pacific (SoPAC). On September 13, 1942 arrives at Lungaville Seaplane Base off Espiritu Santo supported by USS Mackinac (AVP-13) under Fleet Air Wing 1 (FAW-1).

On September 22, 1942 PBY-5 Catalina Plane 6 pilot Lt(jg) James C. Doyle spots a Japanese submarine and made a depth charge attack releasing from 50' two 325 pound depth charges that landed 40' off the port stern as it was submerging, then turned back and released another two depth charges then circled for ten minutes but saw no indications the submarine was damaged.

On October 15, 1942 Catalinas from VP-91 were operating at Peou Bay (Pallu Passage) off Vanikoro Island (Vanikolo) and took off on patrols to find Japanese forces in the area. Lost is PBY-5 Catalina 04507  pilot Lt(jg) Dighton L. Polan (MIA) shot down by A6M2 Zeros from Zuiho and Shokaku. Also lost is PBY Catalina 2297 pilot Lt(jg) Gordon B. Snyder (7 MIA, 1 Rescued) shot down by A6M2 Zeros from Hiyo that managed to send a distress call before it crashed. Responding, PBY-5 Catalina pilot Lt. Richard "Dick" J. Teich landed to rescue injured sole survivor AP1 Wilbur V. Pugh.

On October 27, 1942 PBY-5 Catalina pilot Lt. Melvin K. Atwell on a night patrol spotted a "a large warship" that he claimed to to be an Aoba-class cruiser, in fact destroyer Akatsuki and was bracketed by anti-aircraft fire then made a dive attack releasing his four 500 pound bombs at 600' and pulled up at only 20'. Two bombs were seen to explode aft of the forward smokestack and the explosion damaged the Catalina that immediately departed.

On November 2, 1942 the officers were embarked aboard USS Curtiss (AV-4) and enlisted personnel aboard USS Tangier (AV-8).

On November 13, 1943 five Catalinas and six crews from the squadron fly to Peou Bay (Pallu Passage) off Vanikoro (Vanikolo) supported by USS Mackinac (AVP-13) for the remainder of the month.

On November 18, 1942 lost is PBY Catalina 04513  pilot Lt(jg) James C. Doyle crashed during take off into Tulagi Harbor.

On December 2, 1942 the squadron continued to operate from Peou Bay (Pallu Passage) supported by USS Ballard (AVD-10).

During March 1943 relieved and returned to the United States and was reformed at NAS San Diego under the control of Fleet Air Wing 14 (FAW-14). On August 9, 1943 the squadron departs for NAS Kaneohe Bay. On October 1, 1943 six Catalinas are detached to Johnson Island Seaplane Base to conduct anti-shipping patrols to support Task Force 14 (TF 14) for their carrier plane strike on Wake Island.

On October 29, 1943 the squadron departs for the South Pacific. On November 10, 1943 arrives Espiritu Santo attached to Fleet Air Wing 1 (FAW-1) supported by USS Wright (AV-1) and USS Chandeleur (AV-10). On November 13, 1943 six Catalinas were detached to Suva on Fiji. Another detachment of three Catalinas were sent to Halavo Seaplane Base with three planes and six crews that conduct sector patrols from Espiritu Santo with crews and planes rotating between all three locations.

On November 19, 1943 lost is PBY Catalina 08388  pilot Lt. Mayo M. Mooney (MIA) hit the sea off southern Malaita with five missing and two wounded.

On January 1, 1944 the Halavo Seaplane Base detachment was relieved, and the aircraft and crews redistributed with six Catalinas at Suva supported by USS Mackinac (AVP-13), and seven PBYs at Espiritu Santo supported by USS Chandeleur (AV-10).

On March 26, 1944 relieved by VP-54 and moves to Halavo Seaplane Base. Shortly afterwards, five Catalinas detached to Treasury Islands, three Catalinas to Green Island Seaplane Base (Nissan) and two Catalinas to Emirau Island. During this period, the squadron conduct air-sea rescue and miscellaneous utility missions for Commander Air Northern Solomons (COMAIRNOSOLS).

On April 12, 1944 PBY Catalina pilot Ensign Wayburn C. Cook rescues the entire crew of B-25C "El Croco" pilot 1st Lt. Richard W. Reed.

On May 27, 1944 the Treasury detachment moves to Green Island Seaplane Base (Nissan) supported by USS Coos Bay (AVP-25) and USS Chincoteague (AVP-24).

On June 15, 1944 relieved by VP-44 and returns to Halavo Seaplane Base and prepares to return to the United States. On July 21, 1944 departs across the Pacific and returns via NAS Kaneohe Bay before returning to NAS San Diego. On September 10, 1944 reformed under the control of FAW-14 and begins training new personnel. On October 1, 1944 redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 91 (VPB-91).

On October 15, 1944 moves to NAS Corpus Christi to transition to the PBM Mariner. On December 13, 1944 moves to NAS Whidbey Island under the control of FAW-6 and trains replacement crews until the end of the Pacific War. On April 2, 1946 disestablished and disbanded.

References
NARA Patrol Squadron 91 Report of Action With Enemy, September 22, 1942
NARA Patrol Squadron 91 War Diary November 1943
NARA Patrol Squadron 91 War Diary December 1943
NARA Patrol Squadron 91 War Diary January 1944
NARA Patrol Squadron 91 War Diary February–March 1944
NARA Patrol Squadron 91 War Diary April 1944
NARA Patrol Squadron 91 War Diary May 1944
NARA Patrol Squadron 91 War Diary June 1944
NARA Patrol Squadron 91 War Diary July 1944
Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 2, Chapter 4 Patrol Bombing Squadron (VPB) Histories (VPB-61 to VPB-103)
Thanks to Jim Sawruk for additional information