Born in rural South Georgia on 12-07-32 as fourth of five boys. Grew up on a farm and finished Sycamore High School in 1950. Wanted to go to college, but Korean War and draft were pursuing me. I enlisted in the Navy with a guarantee that I would be allowed to attend aviation prep school and a trade school (3-14-51). After boot camp in San Diego, I

attended aviation prep school and ordnance school at NATTC Jacksonville, Fl. Upon completion of these schools I was fortunate to be able to select VP-21 at Patuxent River as my assignment beginning 12-11-51. Joe Radcliff and Robert Hall were in the same class as I and they too came to VP-21.

Little was going on when I reported to the Squadron since they were overseas. I soon learned to avoid a 1st Class Boatswains Mate who had ideas contrary to mine. I spent a lot of time in the line shack learning to smoke luckies, drink coffee, play various card games such as acey duecy, etc. When the squadron returned, I soon learned the ground crew duties and in June of 52 I was assigned to Crew 4 ( I loved it). Over the period, the pilots I flew with were Mason, Stone, Benton, Pezzi, Patch, Barthes, Hufstedler, Sommers, Falkenstien, Grimm, Gerber, Marsh and Saunders.

Some of the crew members I worked with included Braswell, Johnson,Goodie, Ernie, Sheehan, Sediva, Iacavone, Osborne, Hall, Whitcomb, Dutt, Walsh, Sullivan, Licamelli and others. Served a short month on Crew 2 in Feb. 53 and we did some FERRY work in trading the P4M's for the P2V-6's and then back to Crew 4. For some

Personal conflict with Ordnance Ground crew Chief led to loss of crew status for one month on Malta, but Cmdr Saunders saw that I got 1/2 set of skins and returned to Crew 9 the following month. I served two tours to Malta, (53 and 54). Became 1sr Ord. on Crew 8 in September 53 with Steve Sullivan as 2nd (Great Guy). Moved to Crew 10 when we got back to the States and finished my Crew status there until December 54 and worked on

Memorable events included the crash of HC-3 (5-3-54). Pilot-Bill Grimm, Co-pilot-Peterson, Plane Capt-H.E.Johnson, Radioman-J.A Iacavone and myself with two hitchhikers made an emergeny (Crashed) landing on a mountain

side near Fritztown, PA, Skeleton crew was returning from Quonset Pt. from taking a volley ball team up for competition. Joe Lazzaro's Crew was in the other plane but they returned without a hitch. Someone forgot to transfer fuel and we ran out of gas. The Pilot and Plane Capt. were disciplined, but Bill Grimm gained an acquital and retired as Captain in 1978. Understand this, THEY DID ONE HELLUVA JOB PUTTING THAT PLANE DOWN.

We had a little Revolutionary War on Malta in 53, as a result of some fine U.S. Sailors attempt to blow up the Brits next door with some of those maltese fireworks.

Upon Discharge (3-11-55), I got my Masters Degree from Ga.Sou. U., Married the sweetest girl in the world and taught school (teacher, coach, dept. head, administrator) for 26 years in Brantley County Ga. living in Hoboken, Ga. I then went to work with the State as Education Supervisor at a Large Prison in Waycross, GA. Retired from there in 96 and nowstay home to enjoy my Church, Wife, three children and their families (6 grandchildren). The Lord has blessed my life many ways.

Dick Webb grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana where he finished high school at 16. He joined the Navy at age 17 in July of 1941, went to boot camp at Great Lakes NTC, Aviation Radio School in Jacksonville, FL, Radar School in Yellow Water, FL, and Gunnery School in Hollywood, FL.

Dick's first duty was in Torpedo Squadron Six aboard the USS Enterprise in February 1942 as a radio gunner in a TBD (Devastator). He was wounded at the battle of Midway in June 1942.

After hospitalization, Dick transferred to Hutchinson, Kansas for training in PB4Y-1s (B-24s) and then joined VB-106 at Camp Kearney, California in February 1943. Dick then did a tour of duty in Tarawa, Guadalcanal, Munda, New Georgia, and the Admiralty Island. In June of 1944 he returned to the States as a Combat Air Crewman, Aviation Radioman Second Class. After a brief tour as a radio code instructor in Memphis, TN, and as a member of CASU Six in Alameda, CA, Dick transferred to Camp Kearney for training in PB4Y-2s.

Dick was assigned to the crew of LTJG W.E. Derryberry, PPC, as first radioman, and became a memeber of VPB-111 in March of 1945 at Tacloban, Leyte, in the Philippines as a replacement crew. VPB-111 was flying PB4Y-1s. He flew patrols in Indo-China, Borneo, Singapore in Malaya and the Celebes Islands. He remained on Palawa until the end of the war. In October 1945, Dick flew a PB4Y-2 back to Floyd Bennett Field in New York. Dick had achieved the rank of ARM First Class at this time. He remained with VPB-111 through the designation changes (VPB-111, VP-HL-11, and finally VP-21) and was discharged from the Navy in September 1948 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard with the rank of ARMC.

Dick then returned home to Indianapolis and entered Indiana University at Bloomington, graduating in 1953 as an Industrial Engineer. He then worked as a production manager and plant manager for United States Radium Co. in North Hollywood, CA, until December 1960. He was then recruited and hired by RCA in Indianapolis as manager of cost planning where he remained until retirement in 1984.

Dick Webb is a widower with one son, Rick. He was a Scout Master for 14 years and an advisor for Junior Achievement. He is a life member of the American Legion and VFW, and a member of the Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite and the Shrine.

Dick has been a member of the VPB-111/ VP-21 Veterans Association since the Orlando reunion in 1987, and has been Treasurer since the Indianapolis reunion in 1989. Dick was responsible for the preparation of the Articles of Association for our organization and submitted them to the IRS in August of 1989 to obtain our "Not-for-Profit" tax status. Dick has also had the privelige of having been a former Chairman of the Board of Directors for the VPB-111/ VP-21 Veterans Association.

Roy was born 1930 in Fairmount, Illinois. Moved to Michigan in 1939 and grew up near Battle Creek. Graduated from Bellevue High School in 1947.

He joined the Navy in 1948 for three years as a Kiddie Kruiser. "Later on during Korea I would have been automattically extended for two more years, but I outfoxed them and re-enlisted in 1951 for six more years".

Roy attended Boot Camp at Great Lakes, Air Fundamentals and AL”A” school at NATTC Memphis. On finishing school in 1949, Roy was given the choice of four VP Squadrons and joined VP-21 in 1949, which was then at Patuxent River, MD. After some indoctrination into the squadron Roy was assigned to a flight crew as second radioman with John Carlson AL1 as First Radio. The squadron had PB4Y2's at that time.

From May 1949 until Jan 1950, VP-21 kept one plane and crew at NAS Boca Chica, Key West, FL., as a liaison for other VP squadrons who would come to Key West for ASW, working with the Sub Base there. "A plane was supposed to rotate every month but John Carlson and I never rotated, just changed crews during the entire time". Some of the pilots who also did not rotate were LCDR Phil Fisher, and Lieutenants Bogan and Wheeler.

On returning to Patuxent, Roy remained on PB4Y2 aircrew until July 1950 when he was assigned to P4M1 aircrew on HC-4. HC-4 had Campbell: ADC, Plane Captain; Jim Frese: AL1, First Radio; George Fallon: AO1, First Ordnance. "I remained as Second Radio on HC-4 until June 1951. Our regular pilot was LCDR McNeal".

In July 1951 Roy became First Radio on HC-2. John (Tiny) Linendoll AD1 was PC, Red Ruch was Second Mechanic, Mark Baker AL3 was Second Radio, Smith AO1 was First Ordnance, and Gene Wolski, AO3, was Second Ordnance.

In Sept 1951, VP-21 deployed to Port Lyautey, French Morocco. HC-2 pilot during the deployment was LCDR Miegs. "We had the privilege of sleeping four to a tent during our deployment. Guess you could say they were good tents because they had wooden floors".

"I went home in April 1952 and married Patricia Felder and was transferred to Cory Field, Pensacola, FL. After one year was sent to AT ”B” school in Memphis. Made AT1 and was transferred to CAG-10 Staff, NAS Cecil Field. Made one Med. Cruise as CAG Staff onboard the USS Coral Sea (CVA-43). Made a second Med. Cruise on the Coral Sea in VF-11 (Red Rippers)". Roy departed the Navy in March 1957 after nine years of honorable service.

"After leaving the Navy I worked for Bendix Aviation and Bendix Missile for nine years. Hired on with Control Data Corporation in 1966 doing maintenance on large computer mainframes at Lawrence Livermore Labs and the Sandia Corporation in Livermore CA. I was hired by the Amdahl Corporation in 1977 and moved to the Chicago area as Field Engineer, Hardware Specialist, and Technical Support Manager for the Midwest Region". Roy retired in 1992.

"My fondest memories are from the time that I spent in VP-21. I'm glad to renew acquaintances with some of my old (and I mean old) shipmates".


1948, NATTC Memphis	2002, Patricia & Roy 50th. Wedding Anniversary