PBYs on Guadalcanal 1943

[keith A]

Were VP-12 and VP-54 the only units operating this aircraft in the Solomons in early 1943? I know there was VCS Ringbolt flying SOCs from Tulagi and have seen film of "Black Cats" sharing an airfield with them. Lt George C Duncan claims to have flown PBYs from Guadalcanal on artillery spotting missions (therefore surely daylight?) during bombardment of Munda. He seems to have flown these missions sometime in the period March-April 1943 (Munda was not invaded until July 1943 but perhaps was under fire for weeks before?).

Duncan was hospitalised with malaria c.April 1943 and although he states he was separated from the USS Louisville in May 1943 he had been on detachment from March 1943.

K