VMF-215
Marine Fighting Squadron 215 | |
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Active |
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Country | F6F Hellcat |
Marine Fighting Squadron 215 (VMF-215) was a fighter squadron of the
Following the
History
World War II
The squadron was commissioned on 1 March 1942, as Marine Scout Bomber Squadron 244 (VMSB-244).
The squadron departed the United States on 23 February 1943, and was first sent to
VMF-215 arrived on Espiritu Santo on 1 July 1943, and by the end of the month was taking part in fighter sweeps against Japanese bases in the northern Solomon Islands.[7] On 14 August, an F4U Corsair from VMF-215 was the first plane to arrive at the newly captured Munda airfield where they immediately began operating to cover the landings on Vella Lavella.[8] Shortly thereafter the squadron pulled back to the rear for rest and relaxation.[7]
The squadron’s second combat tour began while they were based at
As action in the Solomons drew to a close the squadron was sent to
Reserve years
VMF-215 was reactivated as squadron in the Marine Forces Reserve on 1 July 1946 at Naval Air Station Olathe in Kansas. The squadron flew the F9F-6 Cougar and later the F9F-8/8Bs. In 1962 it transitioned to the Douglas F4D Skyray.[14] In April 1965, VMF-215 transitioned for the last time to the F-8A Crusader. The squadron was never recalled to active duty and was decommissioned for the last time on 30 January 1970.[3]
Notable former members
- Robert M. Hanson – 25 kills and Medal of Honor recipient
- Donald N. Aldrich – 20 kills
- Harold L. Spears – 15 kills
- Robert G. Owens Jr. – 7 kills, 5 probables
- A. Roger Conant – 6 kills, 3 probables
- Harold A. "Hap" Langstaff Jr. – 3 kills
Unit awards
A unit citation or commendation is an award bestowed upon an organization for the action cited. Members of the unit who participated in said actions are allowed to wear on their uniforms the awarded unit citation. VMF-215 was presented with the following awards:
Ribbon | Unit Award |
Navy Unit Commendation | |
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
| |
World War II Victory Medal | |
National Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Star |
See also
- United States Marine Corps Aviation
- List of active United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons
- List of decommissioned United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons
Notes
- ^ Sherrod 1952, pp. 430.
- ^ Mersky 1993, pp. 35.
- ^ a b c Crowder 2000, pp. 75.
- ^ a b c Sherrod 1952, pp. 461.
- ^ a b Rottman 2002, pp. 442.
- ^ Shettle 2001, pp. 147.
- ^ a b c d Crowder 2000, pp. 74.
- ^ Melson 1993, pp. 25.
- ^ Mersky 1993.
- ^ DeChant 1947, pp. 134.
- ^ Tillman 1979, pp. 63.
- ^ Crowder 2000, pp. 77.
- ^ Tillman 2014, pp. 108.
- ^ Ginter 1989, pp. 6.
References
- Bibliography
- Crowder, Michael J. (2000). United States Marine Corps Aviation Squadron Lineage, Insignia & History – Volume One – The Fighter Squadrons. Paducah, KY: Turner Publishing Company. ISBN 1-56311-926-9.
- DeChant, John A. (1947). Devilbirds – The Story of United States Marine Aviation in World War II. New York: Harper & Brothers.
- Ginter, Stephen (1989). Vought's F-8 Crusader Marine Fighter Squadrons. ISBN 0-942612-18-3.
- Rottman, Gordon L. (2002). U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle – Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War. ISBN 0313319065.
- Sherrod, Robert (1952). History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II. Washington, D.C.: Combat Forces Press.
- Shettle, M. L. (2001). United States Marine Corps Air Stations of World War II. Bowersville, Georgia: Schaertel Publishing Co. ISBN 0-9643388-2-3.
- Tillman, Barrett (1979). Corsair: The F4U in World War II and Korea. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-994-8.
- Tillman, Barrett (2014). US Marine Corps Fighter Squadrons of World War II. Oxford, United Kingdom: Osprey Publishing.
- Web
- Melson, Charles D. (1993). Up the Slot: Marines in the Central Solomons (PDF). Marines in World War II Commemorative Series. Washington, D.C.: Marine Corps Historical Center. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
- Mersky, Peter B. (1993). Time of Aces: Marine Pilots in the Solomons (PDF). Marines in World War II Commemorative Series. Washington, D.C.: Marine Corps Historical Center. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
- VMF-215 squadron history
- "Fighting Squadrons of the USMC in WWII". www.acepilots.com. Retrieved 1 December 2007.
External links
- Information of a wrecked VMF-215 F4u Corsair that has been located
- Images of Capt. Conant and his F4U
- http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/f4u/56260.html Information on lost F4U Corsair on 3 Sept 1944. Pilot 2nd Lt Arthur Patet, USMCR. Aircraft and pilot never found after crash at Lassuk Bay, New Ireland, PNG
- Information from USMC Archives and JPAC. (R.A. Clark, USMC)