Caribbean Naval Bases

You better start it; don't know how!

Moderator Edit
What do you mean, Jerome? You created a good thread. I couldn't have done better myself.

Sorry about the delay. I didn't see the above comment last night. I was a day late but not a dollar short.

Here's your new thread. Thanks for the good additions.

 

Trinidad Sector: The following USN sqns were based here

US Navy Squadrons that operated the PBY Catalina from Chaguaramas NAS ​

VP- 34, VP – 81​

VP – 53, VP – 92​

VP – 94.​

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US Navy Sqadrons that operated the PBM Mariner from Chaguaramas NAS​

VP – 32, VP – 74, VP – 83, VP – 94​

VP – 203, VP – 204, VP – 205, VP – 211​

VP – 212, VP – 213.​

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Chaguaramas NAS also operated single engine OS2N Kingfisher seaplanes of ​

VS – 4, VS – 45, VS – 62 AND us Marine Corps VMS 3 along with Grumman Goose twin engined seaplanes on communications duties. ​

U Boats Sunk by USN Squadrons in the Caribbean Theatre

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Squadrons U Boats

VP – 32 U 159, U 759 , U 359
VP – 53 U 156

VP – 74 U 158, U 128 S, U 199 S, U 513, U 161
VP – 94 U 590, U 662
VP – 83 U 164, U 507
VP – 204 U 572 S, U 615 S
VP – 205 U 572 S, U 615 S

(S) – Shared

 

I am attaching 4 maps showing U Boat dispositions in the Caribbean theatre as per heading 0091 -1943; 0092 - 1942; 0093 - U Boat losses (U 166 sunk in Gulf of mexico not shown -page too long!) and 0094 - shipping losses in the Caribbean sector. Please remember that the history books talk about the Battle of the Atlantic (and which includes the Caribbean Sector).
Trinidad was also a convoy terminus and the convoy codes were: TB/BT BAHIA; TJ/JT RIO; TE Eastward; TF/FT FREETOWN; TO/OT NORTH AFRICA; TM GIBRALTER; CU/UC UK; TAG/GAT ARUBA.

 

Timeline of USN Sqns :
Wartime Squadrons in NAS Chaguaramas

May 1942 – July 1942 A detachment of OS2N Kingfishers from VS62
January 1942 – September 1942 A Det of 4 PBY Catalinas from VP92
September 1942 - September 1943 USMC VMS 3 with 12 OS2N Kingfishers
September 1942 – November 1944 VS-45 with 18 OS2N Kingfishers
September 1942 – September 1943 VP-53 with 12 PBY Catalinas
September 1942 – November 1942 VP-74 with 14 PBM Mariners
December 1942 – January 1943 VP-81 with 12 PBY Catalinas
January 1943 – May 1943 VP-34 with 11 PBY Catalinas
June 1943 – December 1943 VP-204 with 14 PBM Mariners – Det at Esequibo River
January 1943 – July 1944 VP-205 with 15 PBM Mariners – Det at Esequibo
January 1944 – March 1944 VP-204 with 8 PBM Mariners
March 1944 – December 1944 VP-212 with 12 PBM5 Mariners (Amphibians)
December 1944 – May 1945 VP-213 with 12 PBM5 Mariners (Amphibians)
May 1945 – May 1947 VP-215 with 8 PBM5 Mariners (Amphibians)

 

The Air Bases
There were four main airbases and ten subsidiary runways or operating areas. The first of these was Chaguaramas Naval Air Station. This held mainly combat flying boats and amphibians. They specialized in patrolling the sea-lanes, convoy escort and actually attacking any U-Boat that they caught. There were up to sixty of the aeroplanes of various types at this base on a regular basis.


The second big base was Piarco that operated a combination of more than two hundred Royal Navy single and twin-engined aircraft in the training roles. Most of these were operational British carrier aircraft, but they were part of HMS Gashawk – which was the Fleet Air Arm’s Observer and Air Gunner School. Also at Piarco was the Empire Air Training School – training locals to fly for the RAF. Alongside the two training establishments, the airlines KLM, Pan Am and BWIA operated with occasional long-range RAF Training flights. Even with its enormous traffic congestion, Piarco was also an overflow base for Waller Field, as well as for aircraft transiting Trinidad for the South Atlantic route. Piarco had three runways and extensive parking ramps.


The third major airbase was Waller Field. It was stuck in the middle of the US Army Fort Read base. Originally, Waller Field was intended to have four runways, but the two southern ones were cancelled due to the nature of the ground. It was built to be the premier US combat airbase in Trinidad, but events overtook the plan. The South Atlantic Air Route to Europe quickly developed and became the most often used method of getting aircraft to the African and European theatres of war. In addition, the first faltering start of the world-girdling giant that became Military Airlift Command used Waller Field. The congestion became so acute that the combat aircraft, the bombers actually confronting the U-Boats had to be moved out to Edinburgh (Carlsen) when it was completed. Originally, Edinburgh Field had been intended solely as an overflow facility – but it became much more. The only combat machines that stayed at Waller Field were the fighter and reconnaissance squadrons. Waller Field became the overnight base for thousands of aeroplanes transiting for the South Atlantic route. However, as the Allies gained the upper hand in the war against the U-Boats, and many combat squadrons were transferred elsewhere, those remaining moved back to Waller Field, until they too were moved out. Despite this, Waller Field’s big event was still to come when, in 1945, Project Green was initiated which made it the world’s largest and busiest airbase.


The fourth of these major airbases started as a tiny grass-covered training airfield at Edinburgh. It was earmarked to take the overflow from Waller Field and construction began. Eventually, it grew into an enormous sprawling complex with two major runways and an Airship operating area that made it physically larger than all the other airbases in Trinidad. From 1942, it took all the bomber squadrons operating against the U-Boats as the principal combat land based airbase in Trinidad – with a complex of runways and taxiways that surpassed even Waller Field. This lasted until the end of 1943 when, under the new name Carlsen Field, it became a purely US Navy facility for carrier aircraft.

 

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO AIRFIELDS

WORLD WAR TWO​

PIARCO RNAS GOSHAWK - Combat / Transport / Training Base
Three crossing paved runways – 5000 x 150 plus 2 x 2500 x 75

12 large hangers and ramp space for parking
RN Observer and Air Gunner School - 4 Squadrons – 300 aircraft.
Also used by RAF, BWIA, KLM, Pan Am, Empire Air Training School and Military Airlift Command.
Defended by Trinidad Volunteers Infantry and US Army AA

WALLER FIELD Combat and Transport Base
Two parallel paved runways 6000 x 200ft. and 4000 x 150ft.
10 Miles of taxiways with dispersed camouflaged parking bays and large ramp for transports.
US Army Air Corps Fighter and Bomber Squadrons
Main Transit base on the South Atlantic route to Africa.
Also used by RAF, USN and Military Airlift Command
Defended by US Army Fort Read Infantry and AA Units.

CARLSEN FIELD Originally Edinburgh / Xeres base
Three parallel paved runways – 5000 x 150ft / 5000 x 150ft / 2000 x 300ft.
Extensive taxiways with dispersed camouflaged parking and Airship Mooring ramps.
Principal combat base for US Army Air Corps bombers ad Airships as well as USN fighter and bomber base. Also used by the RAF Defended by US Army infantry and AA units.

NAS CHAGUARAMAS Naval and Marine Corps Seaplane Base
Water To/Landing and anchorage with extensive ramp & 3 large hangers.
USN 3 Multi engined and 2 single engine float plane squadrons – 60 aircraft.
Defended by US Marine Corps and AAA

CAMDEN FIELD Auxiliary Air Base
One paved 3000 x 150ft runway with extensive taxiways and dispersed camouflaged parking bays for USAAC. USN and RN.
Defended by US Army infantry and AAA units.

CROWN POINT Auxiliary Air Base
(Tobago) One grass airstrip 3000 x 100ft with dispersed parking bays.
Principal User RN Fleet Air Arm – Also used by US Army Air Corps, USN and BWIA.

POINT FORTIN Auxiliary Field
One paved runway 1500 x 75ft
Communications aircraft
Defended by Trinidad Volunteers Infantry and AA

MAYARO FIELD Auxiliary Field
One paved runway 1500 x 75ft, small ramp
Communications aircraft.

TOCO AIRFIELD Auxiliary Field
One paved runway 1500 x 75ft.
Communications aircraft and Emergency Field for RN
Defended by US Army infantry and AAA units.

UNION PARK Auxiliary Field
One grassed runway 1500 x 75 ft
Communications aircraft and Emergency Field.

MUCURAPO FIELD Auxiliary Field
One grass runway 3000 x 100ft.
Taxiway with four large hangers
Communications aircraft primarily US Army Air Corps
Defended by US Army Infantry and AA units.

 

I recently came across this photo of Eleanor Roosevelt taken in 1943 at Chaguaramas

 

do you have the names of those air force fighter squadrons stationed in trini? ive only found bombers and airlift

 

Jerome

May I ask you where the detailed maps come from ?

also your last map shows all Allied losses to variety of causes of the KM or just U-boots ?

E ~ thanks

 

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Sterling: Will reply tomorrow re the fighter sqns. Have to check my database back at the museum:

Erich: The maps are from Gaylord Kelshall's Book "The U-Boat War in the Caribbean". He compiled these from the sinking reports, both allied and U-boat. Losses are all by U-Boat, and again Gaylord compiled them from both German sources and US sources. One sloop "Island Queen" was lost mysteriously. There were no u-boat claims during that period by the boats known to be operating at that time. It was presumed lost due to mines. Conspiracy theorists here believe it was sunk by a British destroyer - the Devonshire I think!! Mines remain the most likely cause.

 

Jerome thank you, will look for that title, sounds like a good one

 

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Sterling: found a paper on my laptop. 32nd Fighter Sqn flying P-39 & P-40. Mention is also made of carrier base a/c operating out of Carlsen Field. Will do a detailed check and post tomorrow.
Erich: It may be out of print - though second hand copies might be available on amazon.

 

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Sterling: Did a check and other than what I posted yesterday re 32nd, we have no other info on other fighter squadrons permanently based here.

 

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The attached has nothing to do with Caribbean naval bases, but found it in a local 1943 newspaper , The Trinidad Guardian; thought it might amuse!

 

In these pages are information very detailed and maps -in spanish- about the submarine warfare in the Caribbean Zone: Biblioteca Luis Ángel Arango



Jan.

 

Anyone knows the actual location of the Mayaro Field?

 

[FONT=&quot]MAYARO FIELD[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]History:-[/FONT][FONT=&quot] Originally established in 1942 by the US Army Air Corps to service garrisons at Pt. Galeota, Mayaro and Manzanilla.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Location[/FONT][FONT=&quot]:- [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Alongside the Rio Claro/Mayaro Road – one mile outside of Pierreville Village (Mayaro).[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Operational:[/FONT][FONT=&quot]-[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] The field was originally a fifteen hundred foot long, fifty-foot wide grass field made by the US Army by cutting down the jungle, grading and rolling the land on the south side of the road. They used it for Light Communications Aircraft and as an emergency field in southeast Trinidad. It would be handled by troops quartered outside Mayaro Village – when required. However, it saw only limited use in wartime – probably by L 4/6 aircraft.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Postwar:-[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] After the war, when the oil industry began to expand in the southeast jungle area and offshore, Shell paved the fifteen hundred foot strip and used it extensively with their fleet of private aircraft. By the 1960’s, the advent of the helicopter caused the closure of this strip. By the 1980’s, the trees had closed in and smaller growth was coming though the paving, making it totally unusable. Today, it would be very difficult to identify.[/FONT]

 

whilst searching through old 1943 newspapers this week, I came across this newspaper article on the fight between the PBM Mariners stationed here at Chaguaramas and the airship from carlsen field vs U615. I photographed the actual article, so there will be overlaps, and there are 5 pics in all. Hope you find an actual wartime report interesting.

 

3rd of 5



4th of 5

and the last

 

Wow Jerome we need to talk cuz i have some ideas i wanna put forth. Ive located the majority of the original airfields or whats left of them but really interesed to find Mayaro field. I saw it listed on an old map but cant find it anymore. U have a contact?