Saw a painting of the P5M-2 at the NAS museum in Pensacola and would love to have a copy for my husband who sered in that plane. Anyone know if and where it might be available.

VP 45 out of Bermuda 1956/58 asRadar/Radio/ECM operated
as Flight electrician. Lot of time at Guantamo, and many places in the Carribean in the Cold War era. Was in flight crew #1
and flew hundreds of hours in the two years with the squadron.

Hello all,

My father, Jack Steinmeyer, flew in VP-44 as a radio operator in the early 1950s. He passed away in 2010, and I'm trying to find any information about his service. I think he was on the P5M, and he mentioned a deployment to the Med at one time. Did any of you know him, or would you have any crew rosters from this time period that might have him listed? Many thanks, Pete Steinmeyer

It was a real pleasure to read the posting by Gerald Smith
and John Pendleton about VP-50. I was also a VP-50 Blue Dragon from 1958-1962. In fact, Gerald Smith I were both
members of crew 9. I still have many pleasant memories of
flying out of Iwakuni, Japan and having over a thousand hours in the P5M.

My father LCDR Donald R McGarrigle was the last person to fly this plane. He flew it to the museum in Pensacola. This was the most favorite plane he ever flew. I use to live in Florida and drove to the museum to ask them if they would put his name back on it after it was repainted and restored but they would not.

My Dad, John, served in VP46 from 1951-1953. His crew was BD and I believe it was BD5 (Baker Dog). He's 80 now and he still tells me stories of his time on the PBM5 with such fondness. Would love to hear from anyone that was part of his crew and get you guys connected!

I was a white striper RM and flew with VP40 '58-59' out of Sangley, loved it! The "greenie's" didn't like me too much but we were a crew and stood for each other.

I was a member of VP40 1953/1954 and flew as 2nd radioman in crew no.11. Had many wonderful days with that squadron and had the pleasure of making friends with so many super Navy airman. I would love to hear from anyone that I may have served with.

PC Crew 5 VP-47 Great A/C T tail was just to high think they changed to another model number but can't remember What it was SB5D I think
61to64

I am putting together a history of VP-45 and all of the aircraft we flew, from the PBY and, soon, the P-8. Send me an idea of your experiences in our squadron and maybe I can include your story in the book. Any and all help will be most appreciated and acknowledged in the book.

I WAS A FIRST MECH ON 3 OR 4 BOATS IN VP 44 FROM 1955 TO 1957. WENT TO SAN JUAN, BERMUTA, CUBA, PANAMA FLORDIA WHEN WE WORKED WITH REFUELING OFF A SUB & LOTS OF FLIGHTS LOOKING FOR & OPERATEING WITH SUBS. JUST LOVED THE JATO TAKEOFFS & THE NITES ABOARD THE PLANE ANCHORED OUT WHEN IN SAN JUAN. MOVED ON TO A NAVEL AIR BASE IN HUTCHINSON, KANSAS.CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT.

Served as an AT in VP-44 at Norfolk during 1953-56. Crewed 1st and 2nd Tech on CC-7, 9 and 10. Many memories good and not so good. 10 hour flights at night chasing subs (our own), war games out of San Juan in the winter, the USS Currituck, getting struck by lightning on the way to San Juan (wiped out the MAD), hear our homing torpedo hit the sub during the games, hearing VP-56's P5 hit the seawall in Norfolk in the middle of the night (very bad), smell of steaks grilling in the galley, Med cruise in 1954, the great P5M seaplane, all those hours in a flight suit, all the shipmates and crewmates, many whose name I can't remember...and on and on. What memories! What a time.

If any of you are looking for pictures of those days most of my stuff is on the VP-44 website. Mostly in the Photos/P5M section. Also posted the 1954 Med Cruise Book, 1956 Squadron Book plus photos of VP-44 Memories, photos of the '54 Med Cruise, the last P5M (Pensacola). It is all at vp44goldenpelicans.com. Go Navy.

I was the only metalsmith that served was as plane captain in the early '60s in VP-48 North Island. Got out on a medical in '63. Never forget those days. Madson was the skipper. Got out and was denied all benefits except VA

Aircrewman with VP-47 1950-53 BA-8.

Served with VP-42 out of North Island 60-62. Was a AT with crew 8 and 9. Lost a few friends with the crews in Alaska and off the coast of California. When dischared they were starting to replace the Martins with P3V's. Have visited the last P5M I know of at the museum in Pensacola sure brings back a lot of memories.

How sad it is for all of us seaplane aficionados that the beautiful high-performance P6M from Martin just never made it through initial test flights. It was truly a beautiful airplane...but so were the Marlin and the Mariner, right?

I was electrician on 6 boat vp-49 59-61 nob bermuda, the best time of my life

I served in VP-45 in Bermuda from 11/56 to 11/58 as an AT on crew 1 and crew 10. Went to Operation Springboard in Puerto Rico in '57 and '58 once on the Currituck and the second time on the Albamarle. Was in Gitmo on LN-10 in '58 on the Currituck when there was talk then of decommissioning her.
We lost the starboard engine on LN-10 300 mi. from Norfolk. Our P5M-2 could not maintain altitude on one engine without jettisoning most fuel and all electronic equipment except for an ARC-27 radio for communications.

I would like to talk to Ron Harrison, as I was in VP 49 NAS bermuda on EA3 54 56.

VP-49, NOB Bermuda, 3-54 to 9-55. Flew as radioman on EA-6 for several months. I love to hear civilians talk about the dangers of the Bermuda Triangle. That was the greatest flying and the greatest duty in the world. I only regret never getting a 2nd assignment to VP-49.