1 September 1936: VP-15F was established at NAF Annapolis, Maryland, under the operational control of Base Force with six P3M-2 aircraft.
Shortly thereafter, the squadron relocated to NAF Norfolk, Virginia.
USS Owl provided tender support.
Over the next three years, the squadron flew to Annapolis in June and remained over the summer months, providing midshipman aviation training.
The squadron returned to its permanent home base at NAF Norfolk each September.

1 October 1937: VP-15F was redesignated VP-15 when the Patrol Wing concept was established.
Under this concept patrol squadrons were organized under Patrol Wings and VP-15 came under the operational control of PatWing-5.

October 1938: VP-15 received twelve P2Y-2 aircraft from VP-10 when the latter was refitted with newer replacement aircraft.

April 1939: The squadron received the upgraded P2Y-3
4 September 1939: President Roosevelt inaugurated the Neutrality Patrols in response to the German Invasion of Poland in August.
Patrol squadrons 51, 52, 53 and 54 of PatWing-5 and VP-33 of PatWing-3 supported Battleship Division 5, Cruiser Division 7, 40 destroyers and 15 submarines in conducting the Neutrality Patrol.
VP-53 teamed up with VP-52 and a group of destroyers to cover the waters adjacent to Norfolk.

1 November 1939: VP-53 replaced its P2Y-3s with a mixed bag of spare PBY-1, 2 and 3 seaplanes from other squadrons for commencement of the Neutrality Patrols.
There were not enough PBYs to replace all of the P2Ys, so two of the P2Y-3s were retained and flown alongside the PBYs.

February 1940: VP-53 was relocated to NAS Key West, Florida, remaining there until April 1941, when it returned to NAS Norfolk and exchanged its older model aircraft for the newer model PBY-5.

24 May 1941: VP-53 was relocated to NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island, to await the completion of the base under construction at Argentia, Newfoundland.
On 9 June 1941, a detachment of six aircraft deployed to NAS Argentia, supported by tender USS Albemarle.
The detachment returned on 25 June, after VP-52 had moved ashore and assumed responsibility for patrols.

1 July 1941: VP-53 was redesignated VP-73 after the reorganization of the fleet patrol squadrons, and placed under PatWing-7, Support Force.
Detachments of VP-71, 72, 73 and 74 began a rotation program to exchange deployed aircrews at NAS Argentia and Reykjavik back to their home ports at NAS Quonset Point and NAS Norfolk.

6 August 1941: Six aircraft of VP-73 and five PBMs of VP-74 arrived at Skerja Fjord, near Reykjavik.
USS Goldsborough provided tender support to the squadrons operating out of Reykjavik.
Convoys were covered up to 500 miles (800 km) from base and Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) coverage of the Denmark Strait between Iceland and Greenland was provided.
The combined air strength of the British and U.S. forces in Iceland consisted of 48 British aircraft and 42 American planes.
Crews operating in theextreme conditions of the Arctic Circle became known as “blue noses.”

15 January 1942: Winter in Iceland was the worst enemy of the patrol squadrons.
The British withdrew their PBY squadron, feeling that the weather was too extreme for operation of the slow patrol aircraft.
On the 15th gales reaching 133 mph struck the area, sinking three of VP-73’s Catalinas and two of VP-74’s PBMs.

20 August 1942: While on convoy escort in Skerja Fjord, near Reykjavik, Lieutenant (jg) Robert B. Hopgood and crew attacked and sank U-464.
Hopgood and his crew pressed home the attack even though the crew of the submarine elected to remain on the surface and fight it out with the lightly armed Catalina.
HMS Castleton rescued 53 survivors.
Returning to base, Hopgood sent the following message: “Sank Sub Open Club.”
Lieutenant (jg) Hopgood was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroic action.

28 August 1942: Lieutenant (jg) John E. Odell and crew claimed a U-boat kill while on convoy escort near Reykjavik.
Postwar examination of German records does not indicate any losses on that date.

5 October 1942: Aircraft 73-P-12 of VP-73 attacked and sank U-582, while on convoy es
1 September 1936: VP-15F was established at NAF Annapolis, Maryland, under the operational control of Base Force with six P3M-2 aircraft. Shortly thereafter, the squadron relocated to NAF Norfolk, Virginia. USS Owl provided tender support. Over the next three years, the squadron flew to Annapolis in June and remained over the summer months, providing midshipman aviation training. The squadron returned to its permanent home base at NAF Norfolk each September.
1 October 1937: VP-15F was redesignated VP-15 when the Patrol Wing concept was established. Under this concept patrol squadrons were organized under Patrol Wings and VP-15 came under the operational control of PatWing-5.
October 1938: VP-15 received twelve P2Y-2 aircraft from VP-10 when the latter was refitted with newer replacement aircraft.
April 1939: The squadron received the upgraded P2Y-3
4 September 1939: President Roosevelt inaugurated the Neutrality Patrols in response to the German Invasion of Poland in August. Patrol squadrons 51, 52, 53 and 54 of PatWing-5 and VP-33 of PatWing-3 supported Battleship Division 5, Cruiser Division 7, 40 destroyers and 15 submarines in conducting the Neutrality Patrol. VP-53 teamed up with VP-52 and a group of destroyers to cover the waters adjacent to Norfolk.
1 November 1939: VP-53 replaced its P2Y-3s with a mixed bag of spare PBY-1, 2 and 3 seaplanes from other squadrons for commencement of the Neutrality Patrols. There were not enough PBYs to replace all of the P2Ys, so two of the P2Y-3s were retained and flown alongside the PBYs.
February 1940: VP-53 was relocated to NAS Key West, Florida, remaining there until April 1941, when it returned to NAS Norfolk and exchanged its older model aircraft for the newer model PBY-5.
24 May 1941: VP-53 was relocated to NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island, to await the completion of the base under construction at Argentia, Newfoundland. On 9 June 1941, a detachment of six aircraft deployed to NAS Argentia, supported by tender USS Albemarle. The detachment returned on 25 June, after VP-52 had moved ashore and assumed responsibility for patrols.
1 July 1941: VP-53 was redesignated VP-73 after the reorganization of the fleet patrol squadrons, and placed under PatWing-7, Support Force. Detachments of VP-71, 72, 73 and 74 began a rotation program to exchange deployed aircrews at NAS Argentia and Reykjavik back to their home ports at NAS Quonset Point and NAS Norfolk.
6 August 1941: Six aircraft of VP-73 and five PBMs of VP-74 arrived at Skerja Fjord, near Reykjavik. USS Goldsborough provided tender support to the squadrons operating out of Reykjavik. Convoys were covered up to 500 miles (800 km) from base and Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) coverage of the Denmark Strait between Iceland and Greenland was provided. The combined air strength of the British and U.S. forces in Iceland consisted of 48 British aircraft and 42 American planes. Crews operating in theextreme conditions of the Arctic Circle became known as “blue noses.”
15 January 1942: Winter in Iceland was the worst enemy of the patrol squadrons. The British withdrew their PBY squadron, feeling that the weather was too extreme for operation of the slow patrol aircraft. On the 15th gales reaching 133 mph struck the area, sinking three of VP-73’s Catalinas and two of VP-74’s PBMs.
20 August 1942: While on convoy escort in Skerja Fjord, near Reykjavik, Lieutenant (jg) Robert B. Hopgood and crew attacked and sank U-464. Hopgood and his crew pressed home the attack even though the crew of the submarine elected to remain on the surface and fight it out with the lightly armed Catalina. HMS Castleton rescued 53 survivors. Returning to base, Hopgood sent the following message: “Sank Sub Open Club.” Lieutenant (jg) Hopgood was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroic action.
28 August 1942: Lieutenant (jg) John E. Odell and crew claimed a U-boat kill while on convoy escort near Reykjavik. Postwar examination of German records does not indicate any losses on that date.
5 October 1942: Aircraft 73-P-12 of VP-73 attacked and sank U-582, while on convoy es
VP-34