Martin PBM-5A Mariner

VR-24's mission sometimes included delivering passengers, cargo, and mail to units of the U.S. Sixth Fleet in locations remote from usable airfields. The Martin PBM-5A "Mariner" was seen by some in the U.S. Navy as the answer. VR-24's PBMs were amphibian transport variants of the Mariner, originally a seaplane bomber. These large amphibians were capable of picking up and delivering passengers, cargo, and mail to and from locations ashore or afloat. Although reported to be in use by VR-24 in 1951, limited information is available at this time on the Mariner's service history with the squadron.