VPB-214 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron Two Hundred Fourteen on 18 October 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron Two Hundred Fourteen on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 21 June 1945.
Operational history
18 October 1943 – 8 January 1944: VP-214, a medium seaplane squadron flying the PBM-3S Mariner, was established at NAAS Harvey Point, North Carolina, under the operational control of FAW-5. Training was conducted at Harvey Point through December 1943. On 8 January 1944, the squadron was transferred to NAS Key West, Florida, for shakedown and advanced training in Anti-submarine warfare.
22 January 1944: The squadron’s first loss in training occurred when Lieutenant Francis Mitchell and his crew crashed during a practice drop of live ordnance. The cluster of depth charges exploded upon impact with the water, removing the tail of the aircraft. Four crewmembers were killed.
23 January 1944: VP-214 became operational at NAS Norfolk, Virginia, while based ashore at Breezy Point. Duties included convoy escort and ASW sweeps of the offshore approaches.
12 September 1944: VP-214 was deployed to NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, under the operational control of FAW-11. Duties consisted of convoy escort and ASW sweeps of the approaches to the Caribbean basin.
1 October 1944: The squadron complement of aircraft was reduced from 12 to 9, with a corresponding reduction in personnel.
15 January–April 1945: VPB-214 was transferred to NAS Coco Solo, PanamaCanal Zone, under the operational control of FAW-3. On 18 February the squadron was based aboard the tender at Almirante Bay, Panama, for advanced base operations. The squadron returned to NAS Coco Solo on 1 March. On 1 April the squadron began flying a series of ASW sectors on the Pacific side of the canal from NAS Coco Solo to the Galapagos Islands to Corinto, Nicaragua and back to Coco Solo.
31 May 1945: Orders were received to turn in all of the squadron’s aircraft and assets to HEDRON-3 at NAS Coco Solo and proceed to NAS Norfolk for disestablishment. The squadron personnel were put aboard for return to Norfolk. The squadron’s aircraft were later towed out to sea and used as strafing targets by the Army Air Force fighters.
18 June 1945: VPB-214 was disestablished at NAS Norfolk.
