VC-5 HISTORY, BY WM. E. "BILL" SCARBOROUGH The atomic-bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II proved the feasibility of the employment of these weapons - and created immediate problems for Naval Aviation! If the U.S. Navy was to continue as the nation's "First Line of Defense", a capability to deliver these weapons was an urgent requirement. There was no carrier-based Naval aircraft in service or on the drawing boards capable of lifting the bombs then in the stockpile. the Mk I "Little Boy" used at Hiroshima or the Mk 3 "Fat Man" dropped at Nagasaki. Either of the weapons grossed some 10,000 pounds and measured about 5 feet in diameter - dimensions far beyond the carrying capability of any carrier-based bomber then in service. But, the Navy did have the record-breaking long-range Lockheed P2V NEPTUNE and recognized this patrol plane as a possible interim solution to the problem of delivering nuclear weapons. If the plane could take off from a carrier, it could reach targets beyond the reach of any land-based aircraft then in service. The P2Vs bomb bay could be modified to accomodate the "Little Boy" weapon and tests conducted aboard CORAL SEA and MIDWAY in 1948 demonstrated the plane's capability, aided by jet-assisted (JATO) units, to takeoff from a carrier. The P2Vs could not land aboard following a mission, but could ditch near her task force if a friendly land base was not within range. With these key elements identified, planning continued at top priority to provide the Navy this new role as soon as possible. Spearheading the project was Captain (later Vice Admiral) John T."Chick" Hayward, with the active support of then-Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral Forrest Sherman. Twelve new P2V-3 aircraft were diverted to the project and, following modification to give them carrier take-off and "Little Boy" carrying capability, were redesignated P2V-3C and delivered to newly-commissioned Composite Squadron Five (VC-5).

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