ONE EVENING, Pillsbury Sound which separates the Virgin Islands of St. Thomas and St. John, was disturbed only by sports fishermen. By sunset of the next day, the U. S. Navy had established there a remote, self supporting base of operations, and the P5M Mar/ins of VP-45 had arrived.
The operation began in the morning hours with the arrival of the tender Albemarle (AV-5), commanded by Capt. V. P. duPoix. By noon two sea lanes, their marker buoys anchored, were ready.
At 1500 the first of the Bermuda- based Mar/ins arrived and were guided into the new seadrome on practice "tender controlled approaches." Those landing were maneuvered into position for refueling astern. Rearming, maintenance and personnel boats were shuttling from the tender to the "buoy patch." Training was in full swing.
During the excellent flying weather, VP-45, under Cdr. H. M. Durham, ranged the Caribbean from Trinidad to Guantanamo. Instrument flying was conducted in the San Juan area. Rocket tactics, low altitude bombing, and radar mining were conducted in the target area east of San Juan.
When VP-45 returned to Bermuda, they had flown a total of 440 hours in 10 days, experienced open-sea technique, and demonstrated once again the mobility of the tender-seaplane team.
