TORPEDO TRAINING: First Lieutenants Robert W. Jackson and Robert W. Iliff prepare to board MB-164 for torpedo training.  In the bomb bay, the 2,000lb concrete dummy torpedo can be seen.

Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps, Arthur H. Navarre Collection (Courtesy of Diane Hindy)

NAVAL FACILITIES AT KEY WEST: An aerial view of the naval facilities at Key West, Florida.  The airstrip at Boca Chica is at the extreme top right corner of the photograph.

Photograph:  U.S. Navy Historical Archives

NAVAL AIR STATION BOCA CHICA: An aerial view of Naval Air Station Boca Chica with its three runways clearly evident.  The buildings on the right center served as workspaces and quarters for those assigned to the base.

Photograph:  U.S. Navy Historical Archives

LANDING:  A C or D-model PBJ of VMB-613 comes in for a landing at NAS Boca Chica.

Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps, Arthur H. Navarre Collection (Courtesy of Diane Hindy)

LOW-LEVEL PASS: A PBJ dives to make a low-level gunnery run on a target ship.

Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps, Arthur H. Navarre Collection (Courtesy of Diane Hindy)

MB-153: "Mike Baker" 153 was a PBJ-1D used by VMB-613 for anti-shipping training while the squadron was operating from Boca Chica during February and March of 1944.

Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps (Courtesy of Brooks D. Kaufman)

HEADED TO THE FLIGHT LINE: A group of Marines headed to the flight line at NAS Boca Chica.  Seen in the photograph are: Front Row (L-R) Staff Sergeant Frank J. Lukasek Jr., Staff Sergeant Joseph K. Tierney, Technical Sergeant Oscar L. Robinson, Staff Sergeant Paul J. Yanacek, Corporal Alfred J. Zachwieja, and Master Technical Sergeant Donald A. Johnson;  Back Row (L-R) Unidentified, Technical Sergeant Horace H. Hodges, Corporal Maurice L. Pippin, Corporal Francis J. Werz, Corporal George A. Worley, Unidentified, Technical Sergeant Samuel A. Wolfe, Unidentified, Unidentified, Unidentified, Unidentified Staff Sergeant Reino J. Martikainen, and Corporal John A. Peterson.

Photograph: Marine Bombing Squadron Six-Thirteen (Courtesy of Paul J. Yanacek)

READY FOR LIBERTY: A group of squadron members, smartly dressed for liberty call, prepare to board buses at NAS Boca Chica.

Photograph: Marine Bombing Squadron Six-Thirteen (Courtesy of Paul J. Yanacek)

GOOD TIMES IN MIAMI: A group of Marines from VMB-613 and a number of local young ladies smile for the camera in March 1944 at Flagler Gardens in Miami, Florida, while the squadron was based at Boca Chica.  Those pictured around the table are (L-R) - Miss Mitzi Keeler, Technical Sergeant Harry D. Nash, Miss Lola Welsh, Miss Bonnie Welke, Staff Sergeant Edward J. Kreig, Unidentified, Miss Jimmie Bird, Corporal Frank Haddix, Unidentified, Sergeant Ernest H. Prahm, Private First Class Robert H. Fouracre, Miss Cora Keeler, and Staff Sergeant Calvin R. Russell.

Photograph: Marine Bombing Squadron Six-Thirteen (Courtesy of Calvin R. Russell)

AWAITING TRANSPORTATION: Squadron members await assignment the word to board their assigned aircraft for the flight to Cuba.. 

Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps, David Snider Collection (Courtesy of the Manning Brothers)

BOUND FOR HAVANA: A PBJ-1D, piloted by First Lieutenant John "R" Riblet, flies from Boca Chica over the Gulf of Mexico bound for Havana, Cuba.  This particular flight was on March 14, 1944 and was for the purpose of transporting squadron personnel to Havana for liberty.

Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps (Courtesy of Brooks D. Kaufman)

LIBERTY TRANSPORT: Another view of First Lieutenant John "R" Riblet's PBJ-1D en-route to Havana.  Note the ventral radome for the search radar, the antennae for the radar altimeter, and clear tailcone.

Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps (Courtesy of Brooks D. Kaufman)

SEVILLA-BILTMORE HOTEL: Members of VMB-613 enjoy liberty in Havana, Cuba at the Sevilla-Biltmore Hotel.  Trips from NAS Boca Chica to Havana were sanctioned by the Cuban government. 

Photograph: Marine Bombing Squadron Six-Thirteen (Courtesy of Charles F. Knapp)

SLOPPY JOE'S: What would a visit to Havana be without a stop at Sloppy Joe's for a Cuba Libre?  Radio-gunners Staff Sergeant Allen R. Protheroe, Sergeant Eric K. York, and Staff Sergeant Norman A. Crotty visited this historic bar in downtown Havana and had a souvenir  photograph taken in front of the large mahogany liquor cabinets.

Photograph:  Marine Bombing Squadron Six-Thirteen (Courtesy of Allen R. Protheroe)

CUBAN NATIONAL CAPITOL: While on liberty in Havana, Sergeant Nicholas P. Dudo, Sergeant Edward P. Kinsey, and Sergeant Carmine G. Nasta visited the Cuban National Capitol building (Capitolio Nacional de Cuba).

Photograph:  Marine Bombing Squadron Six-Thirteen (Courtesy of Nicholas P. Dudo)

LIBERTY IN HAVANA: A group of Marines from VMB-613 their visit to Sloppy Joe's in Havana, Cuba in March of 1944.  Those pictured are: Front Row (L-R) Unidentified, Staff Sergeant Harold C. Reisman, and Private First Class Arthur P. Hinterburg; Back Row (L-R) Staff Sergeant James J. DeBoth, and Staff Sergeant Paul J. Yanacek.

Photograph: Marine Bombing Squadron Six-Thirteen (Courtesy of Paul J. Yanacek)

SAINT PAUL'S CHURCH: Another famous site in Key West is Saint Paul's Episcopal Church.  The church was constructed in 1912 and still stands today.

Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps, Arthur H. Navarre Collection (Courtesy of Diane Hindy)

KEY WEST: An unidentified location in Key West.  Due to its Boca Chica's proximity to Key West, VMB-613 members were able to visit the sites when they were granted liberty.

Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps, Arthur H. Navarre Collection (Courtesy of Diane Hindy)

LIFE'S A BEACH: First Lieutenant Arthur H. Navarre relaxing on the beach at Key West, Florida.

Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps, Arthur H. Navarre Collection (Courtesy of Diane Hindy)

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