Information on Catalina Seaplane Base in Manila in June 1945.

[Bowie]

My father was attached to Catalina 42 Squadron and was posted to Jinamoc and refuelled at Lingayen in the Philippines in May 1945.

His movement record shows - Proceeded to Northern Detachment (MANILA) by air on 6/6/45 and returned on 8/7/45, however, there is no additional information on his personnel record or Details of Operation forms for 42 Squadron.

Can anyone advise me where to locate details of the detachment and the seaplane base in Manila.

Thank you.

 

[Wildcat]

Jinamoc Island (Northern tip of Leyte Gulf) was the site of an Allied flying boat base. RAAF Catalina squadrons used it for mine laying missions against the Chinese coast, Hong Kong, Hainan and Bankga Straits amongst other targets.

 

[Bowie]

Thanks for that. He was posted at the American seaplane base at Jinamoc in May 45 and was aircrew on 42 Squadron Catalina A24-102 which flew from there on mine laying missions in Hong Kong Harbour. His next northern detachment was Manila in June and July 45, and I have difficulty in finding any information concerning that posting.

 

[EwenS]

The USN had Fleet Air Wings (FAW) 10 & 17 operating from a number of locations in the Philippines in the May-Aug 1945 period. On 16 June for example VPB-28 was distributed between bases at Jinamoc, Lingayen (north of Manila) as well as Manila itself. There was a mix of flying boat (PBY & PBM) squadrons as well as land based units (PV-1/2 & PB4Y-1/2). The flying boat units were supported by a number of seaplane tenders of varying size, such as the AV-8 USS Tangier.

You can see the location of these units in the regular USN reports.

https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/naval-aviation-history/involvement-by-conflict/world-war-ii/location-of-us-naval-aircraft-world-war-ii/1945.html

There was also a USN base at Subic Bay (NW of Manila Bay) which became a submarine base for amongst others, HMS Maidstone and the RN 8th Submarine Flotilla from May/June 1945.

 

[Bowie]

Thanks. I will look up the references. I thought that they may have been posted at Sangley Point in Cavite City on Manila Bay, which had a seaplane base. In October 1945, after the war, RAAF Catalinas transported POWs from Manila to Darwin I am not aware where they were based at that time.