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U.S. Marine Corps Aviation Squadrons of WWII
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U.S. Marine Corps Aviation Squadrons of WWII
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U.S.
MARINE CORPS WORLD WAR II ORDER OF BATTLE: Ground and Air Units in
the Pacific War, 1939–1945
by
Gordon L. Rottman
(If you are even the slightest bit interested in how the US Marine Corps was organized during World War II; buy this book. It's a great reference.)
Note on Reliability: By rough count of the squadrons in these charts, there were at least 160 squadrons used by the USMC during WWII of all types. So if you are particularly interested in a specific squadron, use the information here as a guide to lead you to more information such as webpages or books written by squadron members, etc.
Note on Some Missing Squadrons: There are not a few squadrons, such as VMSB-333, which underwent no less than three type redesignations during the war; and some like VMSB-141, which were redesignated to a totally different number (VMSB-134) then back to VMTB-141. I frankly gave up on clearing up those squadrons' lineage.
|
Designation |
Nickname(s) |
Activated |
Deactivated |
Types of Aircraft Flown |
Notes |
|
VMF-111 |
“Devildogs” |
07/01/41 |
11/26/45 |
F4F-3 Wildcat |
|
|
VMF-112 |
“Wolf Pack” |
07/01/37 |
09/10/45 |
|
|
|
VMF-113 |
“Whistling Devils” |
07/01/43 |
04/30/47 |
F4F-3
Wildcat |
|
|
VMF-114 |
“Death Dealers” |
09/15/43 |
Post War |
F4U-1 Corsair |
|
|
VMF-115 |
“Joe's Jokers” |
08/15/43 |
Post War |
F4U-1
Corsair |
|
|
VMF-121 |
|
07/07/41 |
09/09/45 |
F4F-4
Wildcat |
|
|
VMF-122 |
|
02/28/42 |
Post War |
F4F-4
Wildcat |
|
|
VMF-123 |
“Eight Balls” |
09/07/42 |
09/10/45 |
F4F-3P
Wildcat |
|
|
VMF-124 |
“Death's Head” |
09/07/42 |
01/31/46 |
F4U-1
Corsair |
|
|
VMF-155 |
|
01/31/45 |
October 1945 |
|
|
|
VMF-211 |
“Wake Avengers” |
07/01/41 |
Active Postwar |
F2A-3 Buffalo |
|
|
VMF-212 |
“Musketeers” |
03/01/42 |
March 1946 |
F4F-3
Wildcat |
|
|
VMF-213 |
“Hellhawks” |
07/01/42 |
04/24/46 |
F4U-1
Corsair |
|
|
VMF-214 |
“Swashbucklers” |
07/01/42 |
Active Postwar |
FG-1 Corsair |
Pappy Boyington's Squadron. Popularized post-war in TV Show. |
|
VMF-216 |
“Bulldogs” |
01/01/42 |
03/10/45 |
F4F-4
Wildcat |
|
|
VMF-217 |
“Max's Wild Hares” |
09/15/42 |
03/10/46 |
F4U-1 Corsair |
|
|
VMF-218 |
“Hellions” |
09/15/43 |
12/31/49 |
F4U-1D Corsair |
|
|
VMF-221 |
“Fighting Falcons” |
07/11/41 |
09/10/45 |
F2A-3
Buffalo |
|
|
VMF-222 |
“Flying Duces” |
03/01/42 |
March 1946 |
F2A-2
Buffalo |
|
|
VMF-223 |
“Rainbow” |
05/01/42 |
Active Postwar |
F2A-3
Buffalo |
|
|
VMF-224 |
“Fighting Wild Cats” |
05/01/42 |
Active Postwar |
F2A-3
Buffalo |
|
|
VMF-225 |
|
01/01/43 |
Active Postwar |
F4F-3 Wildcat |
|
|
VMF-251 |
“Lucifer's Messengers” |
01/03/45 |
06/01/45 |
|
|
|
VMF-311 |
“Hell's Belles” |
12/01/42 |
Active Postwar |
F4U-1 Corsair |
|
|
VMF-312 |
“Days' Knights” |
06/01/43 |
Active Postwar |
F4U-1D Corsair |
|
|
VMF-313 |
“Lily Packin' Hellbirds” |
10/01/43 |
06/01/45 |
F4U-1 Corsair |
|
|
VMF-314 |
“Bob's Cats” |
10/01/43 |
04/03/47 |
F4U-1 Corsair |
|
|
VMF-321 |
“Hell's Angels” |
02/01/43 |
01/28/46 |
F4U-1 Corsair |
|
|
VMF-322 |
“Fighting Cocks” |
07/01/43 |
11/30/49 |
F4U-1 Corsair |
|
|
VMF-323 |
“Death Rattlers” |
08/01/43 |
Active Postwar |
F4U-1 Corsair |
|
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VMF-324 |
|
10/01/43 |
10/15/45 |
F4U-1 Corsair |
|
|
VMF-351 |
|
February 1945 |
11/09/45 |
|
|
|
VMF-422 |
“Flying Buccaneers” |
01/01/43 |
04/30/47 |
FM-1
Wildcat |
|
|
VMF-441 |
“Black Jacks” |
10/01/42 |
07/11/46 |
F4F-4 Wildcat |
|
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VMF-451 |
“Blue Devils” |
02/15/44 |
09/10/45 |
F3A-1 Corsair |
|
|
VMF-452 |
“Sky Raiders” |
02/15/45 |
12/31/49 |
FG-1 Corsair |
|
|
VMF-461 |
|
03/15/44 |
02/28/50 |
F4U-1 Corsair |
Designated RTU on 16 November 1944. |
|
VMF-462 |
|
09/15/44 |
09/10/45 |
F4U-1 Corsair |
Replacement Training Unit |
|
VMF-471 |
|
05/15/44 |
09/10/45 |
FG-1 Corsair |
Created from start as RTU. |
|
VMF-472 (1st) |
|
06/01/44 |
10/10/44 |
|
|
|
VMF-472 (2d) |
“Flying Seahorses” |
03/01/45 |
12/24/45 |
F6F-3
Hellcat |
|
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VMF-481 (1st) |
|
04/05/44 |
10/10/44 |
F3A-1
Corsair |
Fighter Pilot Training Unit |
|
VMF-481 (2d) |
|
08/01/45 |
09/10/45 |
F3A-1
Corsair |
Carrier Training Unit |
|
VMF-482 |
|
04/07/44 |
10/10/44 |
F3A-1
Corsair |
Created from start as RTU. |
|
VMF-511 |
|
01/01/44 |
03/10/46 |
F6F-5 Hellcat |
|
|
VMF-512 |
|
02/15/44 |
03/10/46 |
F4U-1 Corsair |
|
|
VMF-513 |
|
08/15/44 |
Active Post War |
F3A-1 Corsair |
Re-designated VMF(N)-513 postwar. |
|
VMF-514 |
“Whistling Death” |
02/20/44 |
12/09/45 |
F4U-1
Corsair |
|
|
VMF-521 |
|
04/01/44 |
09/10/45 |
F4U-1 Corsair |
Designated RTU on 16 October 1944. |
|
VMF-522 |
|
04/01/44 |
09/10/45 |
F4U-1 Corsair |
Designated RTU on 16 October 1944. |
|
VMF-523 |
|
05/05/44 |
10/15/45 |
F4U-1 Corsair |
Designated RTU on 16 October 1944. |
|
VMF-524 |
|
05/10/44 |
10/15/45 |
F4U-1 Corsair |
Designated RTU on 16 October 1944. |
|
VMF-911 |
“Devil Cats” |
06/25/44 |
See Note |
FG-1
Corsair |
Designated RTU on 16 October 1944. Re-designated VMF-212 Postwar. |
|
VMF-912 |
|
07/10/44 |
See Note |
FG-1
Corsair |
Designated RTU on 16 October 1944. Re-designated VMF-222 Postwar. |
|
VMF-913 |
|
07/15/44 |
January 1946 |
F4U-1 Corsair |
Designated RTU on 16 October 1944. |
|
VMF-914 |
|
08/14/44 |
01/31/46 |
F4U-1 Corsair |
Designated RTU on 16 October 1944. |
|
VMF-921 |
|
08/21/44 |
10/10/44 |
|
|
|
VMF-922 |
|
08/21/44 |
10/10/44 |
|
|
|
VMF-923 |
|
09/15/44 |
10/10/44 |
|
|
|
VMF-924 |
|
04/10/44 |
10/10/44 |
|
|
|
Designation |
Nickname(s) |
Activated |
Deactivated |
Types of Aircraft Flown |
Notes |
|
VMF(N)-531 (1st) |
“Gray Ghosts” |
11/16/42 |
09/03/44 |
SB2A-4
Buccaneer |
|
|
VMF(N)-531 (2d) |
“Gray Ghosts” |
10/09/44 |
Active Postwar |
SB2A-4
Buccaneer |
|
|
VMF(N)-532 |
“Night Fighters” |
04/01/43 |
05/31/47 |
F6F-3N Hellcat |
|
|
VMF(N)-533 |
“Black Mac's Killers” |
10/01/43 |
Active Postwar |
F6F-3N
Hellcat |
|
|
VMF(N)-534 |
|
10/01/43 |
05/31/47 |
F6F-3N Hellcat |
|
|
VMF(N)-541 |
“Bat Eyes” |
02/15/44 |
04/30/46 |
F6F-3N
Hellcat |
|
|
VMF(N)-542 |
|
03/06/44 |
Active Post War |
F6F-3N
Hellcat |
|
|
VMF(N)-543 |
“Night Hawks” |
04/15/44 |
04/11/46 |
F6F-3N
Hellcat |
|
|
VMF(N)-544 |
|
05/01/44 |
04/20/46 |
F6F-3N
Hellcat |
|
|
Designation |
Nickname(s) |
Activated |
Deactivated |
Types of Aircraft Flown |
Notes |
|
VMB-413 |
“Flying Nightmares” |
03/01/43 |
11/30/45 |
PBJ-1 Mitchell |
First USMC Medium Bomber Unit. |
|
VMB-423 |
“Seahorses” |
09/15/43 |
11/30/45 |
PBJ-1D Mitchell |
|
|
VMB-433 |
|
09/15/43 |
11/30/45 |
PBJ-1 Mitchell |
|
|
VMB-443 |
|
09/15/43 |
11/30/45 |
PBJ-1 Mitchell |
|
|
VMB-453 (1st) |
|
06/25/44 |
02/20/45 |
|
|
|
VMB-453 (2nd) |
|
06/01/45 |
03/20/46 |
|
|
|
VMB-463 |
|
07/20/44 |
02/28/45 |
|
|
|
VMB-473 |
|
07/25/44 |
03/15/45 |
PBJ-1 Mitchell |
|
|
VMB-483 |
|
08/26/44 |
03/15/45 |
PBJ-1 Mitchell |
|
|
VMB-611 |
|
10/01/43 |
11/30/45 |
PBJ-1 Mitchell |
|
|
VMB-612 |
“Cram's Rams” |
10/01/43 |
03/15/46 |
PBJ-1 Mitchell |
First USMC unit to use Tiny Tim Rockets, 21 July 1945. |
|
VMB-613 |
|
10/01/43 |
10/21/45 |
PBJ-1 Mitchell |
|
|
VMB-614 |
“Ruptured Ducks” |
10/01/43 |
12/28/45 |
PBJ-1 Mitchell |
|
|
VMB-621 |
|
04/10/44 |
01/31/45 |
PBJ-1 Mitchell |
Redesignated VMTB on 31 January 1945. |
|
VMB-622 |
|
05/10/44 |
01/31/45 |
PBJ-1 Mitchell |
Redesignated VMTB-622 on 31 January 1945. |
|
VMB-623 |
|
05/15/44 |
02/10/45 |
PBJ-1 Mitchell |
Redesignated VMTB-623 on 10 February 1945. |
|
VMB-624 |
|
06/20/44 |
02/10/45 |
PBJ-1 Mitchell |
Redesignated VMTB-624 on 10 February 1945. |
|
Designation |
Nickname(s) |
Activated |
Deactivated |
Types of Aircraft Flown |
Notes |
|
VMTB-131 |
|
06/01/43 |
11/16/45 |
TBF-1
Avenger |
|
|
VMTB-132 |
“Crying Red Asses” |
10/14/44 |
11/09/45 |
TBM-3E Avenger |
|
|
VMTB-134 |
“Rockettes” |
06/01/43 |
04/30/46 |
TBF-1 Avenger |
First USMC unit to use 5” Rockets. |
|
VMTB-143 |
“Rocket Raiders” |
|
03/10/46 |
TBF-1
Avenger |
|
|
VMTB-144 |
“Hensagliska” |
10/14/44 |
12/09/45 |
TBM-3E Avenger |
|
|
VMTB-151 |
|
06/30/45 |
03/20/46 |
|
|
|
VMTB-232 |
“Red Devils” |
06/01/43 |
11/16/45 |
TBF-1 Avenger |
|
|
VMTB-233 |
“Rainbow” |
06/13/43 |
03/10/46 |
|
|
|
VMTB-234 |
|
10/14/44 |
03/20/46 |
TBM-3E Avenger |
|
|
VMTB-242 |
|
09/15/43 |
11/23/45 |
TBM-3E Avenger |
|
|
VMTB-332 |
|
03/01/45 |
11/13/45 |
TBF-1 Avenger |
|
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VMTB-454 |
|
10/14/44 |
01/28/46 |
TBM-3 Avenger |
|
|
VMTB-464 |
|
05/31/45 |
03/10/46 |
|
|
|
VMTB-473 |
|
08/01/45 |
03/20/46 |
TBM-3 Avenger |
Aircraft Carrier Training Unit. |
|
VMTB-621 |
|
01/31/45 |
03/10/45 |
|
|
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VMTB-622 |
|
01/31/45 |
01/31/46 |
TBM-3E Avenger |
|
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VMTB-623 |
|
02/10/45 |
03/20/46 |
TBM-1C Avenger |
|
|
VMTB-624 |
|
02/10/45 |
03/10/46 |
TBF-1C Avenger |
|
|
VMTB-943 |
|
11/20/44 |
01/31/46 |
TBF-1 Avenger |
Replacement Training Unit. |
|
Designation |
Nickname(s) |
Activated |
Deactivated |
Types of Aircraft Flown |
Notes |
|
VMSB-131 |
|
07/01/41 |
06/01/43 |
SB2U-3 |
Redesignated VMTB-131 on 1 June 1943. |
|
VMSB-132 |
|
07/01/41 |
10/14/44 |
SBD-1 Dauntless |
Redesignated VMTB-132 on 14 October 1944. |
|
VMSB-132 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
VMSB-133 |
“Flying Eggbeaters” |
05/01/43 |
08/01/45 |
SBD-5 Dauntless |
|
|
VMSB-134 |
|
06/01/43 |
06/01/43 |
SBD-3 Dauntless |
Redesignated VMTB-134 on 1 June 1943. |
|
VMSB-142 |
“Wild Hares” |
03/01/42 |
09/21/45 |
SBD-4 Dauntless |
|
|
VMSB-143 |
“Devildog Avengers” |
09/07/42 |
|
|
Redesignated VMTB-143 |
|
VMSB-144 |
|
09/07/42 |
10/14/44 |
SBD-3 Dauntless |
Redesignated VMTB-144 on 14 October 1944. |
|
VMSB-151 |
|
09/15/42 |
06/30/45 |
|
Redesignated VMTB-151 on 30 June 1945. |
|
VMSB-232 |
|
07/01/41 |
06/01/43 |
SBD-3 Dauntless |
Redesignated VMTB-232 on 1 June 1943. |
|
VMSB-233 |
“Rainbow” |
05/01/42 |
06/13/43 |
|
Redesignated VMTB-233 on 13 June 1943 |
|
VMSB-234 |
|
05/01/42 |
10/14/44 |
SBD-1 Dauntless |
Redesignated VMTB-234 on 14 October 1944. |
|
VMSB-235 |
|
01/01/43 |
11/10/44 |
SBD-5 Dauntless |
|
|
VMSB-236 |
“Black Panthers” |
01/01/43 |
08/01/45 |
SBD-3 Dauntless |
|
|
VMSB-241 |
“Sons of Satan” |
03/01/42 |
07/16/45 |
SBD-2 Dauntless |
|
|
VMSB-243 |
“Flying Goldbricks” |
06/01/42 |
09/21/45 |
SBC-4 |
|
|
VMSB-244 |
“Flying Circus” |
09/14/42 |
06/10/46 |
|
|
|
VMSB-245 |
“Red Mousie” |
09/15/43 |
11/17/45 |
SBD-3 Dauntless |
|
|
VMSB-332 |
|
08/01/43 |
03/01/45 |
SBD-4 Dauntless |
Redesignated VMTB-332 on 1 March 1945. |
|
VMSB-334 |
|
08/01/43 |
10/10/44 |
SBD-5 Dauntless |
|
|
VMSB-341 |
“Torpid Turtles” |
02/01/43 |
09/13/44 |
SBD-4 Dauntless |
|
|
VMSB-342 |
“Bats from Hell” |
07/01/43 |
10/10/44 |
SBD-5 Dauntless |
|
|
VMSB-343 |
“Gregory's Gorillas” |
08/01/43 |
06/10/46 |
SBD-5 Dauntless |
|
|
VMSB-344 |
|
01/01/44 |
10/10/44 |
SB2C-1 Helldiver |
|
|
VMSB-454 |
“Helldivers” |
03/01/44 |
10/14/44 |
SB2C-1 Helldiver |
Redesignated VMTB-454 on 14 October 1944. |
|
VMSB-464 |
“Spanish Flies” |
11/15/44 |
05/31/45 |
SB2C-1 Helldiver |
Started as Training unit, designated RTU on 16 October 1944. Redesignated VMTB-464 on 31 May 1945. |
|
VMSB-474 |
|
04/10/44 |
09/10/45 |
SB2C-1 Helldiver |
Scout Bomber RTU. |
|
VMSB-484 |
|
04/10/44 |
09/10/45 |
SBD Dauntless |
Scout Bomber RTU. |
|
VMSB-933 |
|
06/20/44 |
09/10/45 |
SB2C-4 Helldiver |
|
|
VMSB-934 |
|
07/25/44 |
10/15/45 |
SB2C-4 Helldiver |
|
|
VMSB-941 |
|
07/15/44 |
10/10/44 |
SB2C-4 Helldiver |
|
|
VMSB-942 |
|
08/24/44 |
10/10/44 |
SB2C-4 Helldiver |
|
|
VMSB-943 |
|
07/01/44 |
11/20/44 |
SB2C-4 Helldiver |
Redesignated VMTB-943 on 20 November 1944. |
|
VMSB-944 |
|
04/10/44 |
10/10/44 |
SBD-3 Dauntless |
|
|
Designation |
Nickname(s) |
Activated |
Deactivated |
Types of Aircraft Flown |
Notes |
|
VMO-1 |
|
07/07/41 |
07/01/41 |
|
Redesignated VMO-151 on 1 July 1941. |
|
VMO-151 |
|
07/01/41 |
09/15/42 |
|
Redesignated VMSB-151 on 15 September 1942. |
|
VMO-155 |
|
07/01/42 |
01/31/45 |
|
Redesignated VMF-155 on 31 January 1945. |
|
VMO-251 |
|
12/01/41 |
01/03/45 |
|
Was redesignated VMF-251 on 3 January 1945. |
|
VMO-351 |
|
03/01/43 |
February 1945 |
|
Redesignated VMF-351 in February 1945. |
|
VMO-951 |
|
09/20/44 |
10/10/44 |
F6F-3P Hellcat |
|
|
Designation |
Nickname(s) |
Activated |
Deactivated |
Types of Aircraft Flown |
Notes |
|
VMD-354 |
|
07/01/43 |
12/08/49 |
R4D Dakota |
Redesignated VMP-354 on 15 November 1946. |
|
VMD-954 |
|
09/25/44 |
03/28/45 |
|
Begun as Replacement Training Unit. Redesignated VMD-254 on 28 March 1945. |
|
VMD-254 |
|
03/28/45 |
11/30/49 |
|
Redesignated VMP-254 in November 1946. |
|
Designation |
Nickname(s) |
Activated |
Deactivated |
Types of Aircraft Flown |
Notes |
|
VMJ-2 |
|
07/01/37 |
06/13/41 |
R3D-2 (DC-5) |
Redesignated VMJ-252 on 13 June 1941. |
|
VMJ-152 |
|
07/07/41 |
Active Postwar |
R3D (DC-5) |
Redesignated VMR-152 on 3 June 1944. |
|
VMJ-153 |
|
03/01/42 |
Active Postwar |
R4D Dakota |
Redesignated VMR-143 on 3 June 1944. |
|
VMJ-252 |
|
06/13/41 |
06/03/44 |
R3D-2 (DC-5) |
Redesignated VMR-252 on 3 June 1944. |
|
VMJ-253 |
|
03/01/42 |
May 1947 |
R3D (DC-5) |
Redesignated VMR-253 on 20 July 1944. |
|
VMJ-352 |
|
04/01/43 |
Active Postwar |
R4D Dakota |
Redesignated VMR-352 on 10 June 1944. |
|
VMJ-353 |
|
03/15/43 |
02/15/46 |
R4D Dakota |
Redesignated VMR-353 on 15 July 1944. |
|
VMJ-952 |
|
06/15/43 |
05/31/47 |
R4D Dakota |
Redesignated VMR-952 on 4 July 1944. |
|
VMJ-953 |
“Puss-in-Boots” |
02/01/44 |
05/31/47 |
R4D Dakota |
Redesignated VMR-953 on 17 July 1944. |
|
VMR-252 |
|
06/03/44 |
Active Post-War |
R3D-2 (DC-5) |
|
|
Designation |
Nickname(s) |
Activated |
Deactivated |
Types of Aircraft Flown |
Notes |
|
VML-711 |
|
05/01/42 |
05/24/43 |
|
Developed USMC Glider Program. |
