[Amrit1]

Russ

It was VB, not VPB. VPB designation was not used until late 1944.

And:

Location: South coast of Portugal Strike: Yes BUNO: 63931 CAUSE: Lost, fuel exhaustion, pilot attempted a landing on what was thought to be a beach. With landing gear fully extended, flaps set at one-half down, flares released, but did not illuminate. Plane landed on water off shore from the beach at a speed of 125 knots, fuselage broke and pilots compartment shattered. Some personnel were thrown clear and plane sank in eighteen meters of water. Survivors rescued by fishing boat.

Crew:
Pilot Lt Richard Trum USNR/Minor inj,
Lt(jg) John Woodrow Eden/Minor inj,
Rm3c Earl Edgar Bowers/Serious Inj,
Rm3c George Austin Doane/Killed,
Aom3c Donald Eugene Peterson/Killed,
Amm3c Frank William Taylor/Killed,
Amm2c Lyle Gordon VanHook/Minor inj,
Amm3c William Richardson Stultz/Seriously inj,
Amm3c Rex Lee McCoy/Seriously inj,
Aom3c Julian O'Neal Pierce/Minor inj,
Ens.Clarence Arthur Miller/Killed.

http://www.vpnavy.org/vp112_mishap_1940.html

A