VMA-217
Encyclopedia
Marine Attack Squadron 217 (VMA-217) was a fighter squadron of the United States Marine Corps
that was activated and fought during World War II
. Known as “Max’s Wild Hares”, they fought in many areas of the Pacific War
including the Battle of Iwo Jima
. Following the surrender of Japan
, the squadron was deactivated on March 10, 1946. They were briefly reactivated as part of the Reserves but were again deactivated in 1964 and remain in an inactive status today.
on September 15, 1942. The squadron did the majority of its training on the F4F Wildcat
as there was a shortage of F4U Corsairs. They remained there and trained until December 12, 1943 when they went to Naval Air Station North Island
, only to be embarked on the USS Barnes (CVE-20)
a week later for transit to the Pacific Theater
. The squadron arrived on Espiritu Santo
on January 5, 1944, and soon moved to Bougainville
on January 28, 1944. Two days later the squadron began striking the bypassed Japanese
garrison at Rabaul
. The flight echelon returned to Espiritu Santo on March 19, 1944 and remained until June 1, 1944 when they embarked on the USS Santee (CVE-29)
, USS Cetus (AK-77)
and a few other ships for a voyage to Guam
.
The successful conclusion of the Solomon Islands campaign
and the neutralization of Rabaul
meant that there was an excess of Marine Fighter Squadrons available in the Pacific at this time.
Beginning on August 7, 1944, the squadron commenced strikes against the island of Rota
. All personnel from VMF-217 were ashore on Guam by August 20, 1944.
On February 16, 1945, the squadron took part in a raid on Tokyo
as part of Task Force 58. Taking off from the USS Wasp (CV-18)
they, along with their sister squadron VMF-216
, participated in an attack on the airfields at Yokosuka and Tateyama
. After the Tokyo bombing, the squadron went to Iwo Jima
to provide close air support
for the Marines on the ground during the battle
.
In May 1945, the squadron returned to the United States, Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara
, California, for reorganization and training for escort carrier duty. It was here that the squadron began training on the F6F Hellcat
because all of the available F4U Corsairs were needed for anti-Kamikaze
duty. At the time of the surrender of Japan
they were attached to Marine Carrier Group 7 (MCVG-7) aboard the USS Point Cruz (CVE-119)
and were preparing for another deployment. The squadron was deactivated at Naval Air Station San Diego on March 10, 1946.
VMF-217 was briefly reactivated from 1953 to 1964 in the Marine Forces Reserve, flying the A-4 Skyhawk
at Naval Air Station South Weymouth
, Massachusetts
. In 1955, they were redesignated VMA-217. After deactivation, its assets were transferred to VMA-322
.
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
that was activated and fought during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Known as “Max’s Wild Hares”, they fought in many areas of the Pacific War
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
including the Battle of Iwo Jima
Battle of Iwo Jima
The Battle of Iwo Jima , or Operation Detachment, was a major battle in which the United States fought for and captured the island of Iwo Jima from the Empire of Japan. The U.S...
. Following the surrender of Japan
Surrender of Japan
The surrender of Japan in 1945 brought hostilities of World War II to a close. By the end of July 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy was incapable of conducting operations and an Allied invasion of Japan was imminent...
, the squadron was deactivated on March 10, 1946. They were briefly reactivated as part of the Reserves but were again deactivated in 1964 and remain in an inactive status today.
History
VMF-217 was activated at Marine Corps Air Station El Centro, CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
on September 15, 1942. The squadron did the majority of its training on the F4F Wildcat
F4F Wildcat
The Grumman F4F Wildcat was an American carrier-based fighter aircraft that began service with both the United States Navy and the British Royal Navy in 1940...
as there was a shortage of F4U Corsairs. They remained there and trained until December 12, 1943 when they went to Naval Air Station North Island
Naval Air Station North Island
Naval Air Station North Island or NAS North Island is located at the north end of the Coronado peninsula on San Diego Bay and is the home port of several aircraft carriers of the United States Navy...
, only to be embarked on the USS Barnes (CVE-20)
USS Barnes (CVE-20)
USS Barnes was an escort carrier in the United States Navy. She was the second ship to carry her name.Barnes was laid down under a Maritime Commission contract; transferred to the United States Navy on 1 May 1942; launched on 22 May 1942 by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding, Tacoma, Washington;...
a week later for transit to the Pacific Theater
Pacific Ocean theater of World War II
The Pacific Ocean theatre was one of four major naval theatres of war of World War II, which pitted the forces of Japan against those of the United States, the British Commonwealth, the Netherlands and France....
. The squadron arrived on Espiritu Santo
Espiritu Santo
Espiritu Santo is the largest island in the nation of Vanuatu, with an area of . It belongs to the archipelago of the New Hebrides in the Pacific region of Melanesia. It is in the Sanma Province of Vanuatu....
on January 5, 1944, and soon moved to Bougainville
Bougainville Island
Bougainville Island is the main island of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville of Papua New Guinea. This region is also known as Bougainville Province or the North Solomons. The population of the province is 175,160 , which includes the adjacent island of Buka and assorted outlying islands...
on January 28, 1944. Two days later the squadron began striking the bypassed Japanese
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
garrison at Rabaul
Rabaul
Rabaul is a township in East New Britain province, Papua New Guinea. The town was the provincial capital and most important settlement in the province until it was destroyed in 1994 by falling ash of a volcanic eruption. During the eruption, ash was sent thousands of metres into the air and the...
. The flight echelon returned to Espiritu Santo on March 19, 1944 and remained until June 1, 1944 when they embarked on the USS Santee (CVE-29)
USS Santee (CVE-29)
The second USS Santee was launched on 4 March 1939 as Esso Seakay under a Maritime Commission contract by the Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company at Chester, Pennsylvania, sponsored by Mrs...
, USS Cetus (AK-77)
USS Cetus (AK-77)
The USS Cetus was a Crater-class cargo ship in the service of the United States Navy in World War II. Named after the equatorial constellation Cetus, it was the only ship of the Navy to bear this name....
and a few other ships for a voyage to Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
.
Solomon Islands campaign
The Solomon Islands campaign was a major campaign of the Pacific War of World War II. The campaign began with Japanese landings and occupation of several areas in the British Solomon Islands and Bougainville, in the Territory of New Guinea, during the first six months of 1942...
and the neutralization of Rabaul
Rabaul
Rabaul is a township in East New Britain province, Papua New Guinea. The town was the provincial capital and most important settlement in the province until it was destroyed in 1994 by falling ash of a volcanic eruption. During the eruption, ash was sent thousands of metres into the air and the...
meant that there was an excess of Marine Fighter Squadrons available in the Pacific at this time.
Beginning on August 7, 1944, the squadron commenced strikes against the island of Rota
Rota (island)
Rota also known as the "peaceful island", is the southernmost island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the second southernmost of the Marianas Archipelago. It lies approximately 40 miles north-northeast of the United States territory of Guam...
. All personnel from VMF-217 were ashore on Guam by August 20, 1944.
On February 16, 1945, the squadron took part in a raid on Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
as part of Task Force 58. Taking off from the USS Wasp (CV-18)
USS Wasp (CV-18)
USS Wasp was one of 24 s built during World War II for the United States Navy. The ship, the ninth US Navy ship to bear the name, was originally named Oriskany, but was renamed while under construction in honor of the previous , which was sunk 15 September 1942...
they, along with their sister squadron VMF-216
VMF-216
Marine Fighting Squadron 216 was a fighter squadron of the United States Marine Corps during World War II. Known as the “Bulldogs”, they flew the F4U Corsair and participated in numerous combat engagements in the Pacific Theater...
, participated in an attack on the airfields at Yokosuka and Tateyama
Tateyama, Chiba
is a city located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of September 2010, the city had an estimated population of 49,315 and the population density of 447 persons per km². The total area was 110.21 km²...
. After the Tokyo bombing, the squadron went to Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
to provide close air support
Close air support
In military tactics, close air support is defined as air action by fixed or rotary winged aircraft against hostile targets that are close to friendly forces, and which requires detailed integration of each air mission with fire and movement of these forces.The determining factor for CAS is...
for the Marines on the ground during the battle
Battle of Iwo Jima
The Battle of Iwo Jima , or Operation Detachment, was a major battle in which the United States fought for and captured the island of Iwo Jima from the Empire of Japan. The U.S...
.
In May 1945, the squadron returned to the United States, Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara
Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara
'Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara was a United States Marine Corps air station that was located in Goleta, California north of Los Angeles during World War II...
, California, for reorganization and training for escort carrier duty. It was here that the squadron began training on the F6F Hellcat
F6F Hellcat
The Grumman F6F Hellcat was a carrier-based fighter aircraft developed to replace the earlier F4F Wildcat in United States Navy service. Although the F6F resembled the Wildcat, it was a completely new design powered by a 2,000 hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800. Some tagged it as the "Wildcat's big...
because all of the available F4U Corsairs were needed for anti-Kamikaze
Kamikaze
The were suicide attacks by military aviators from the Empire of Japan against Allied naval vessels in the closing stages of the Pacific campaign of World War II, designed to destroy as many warships as possible....
duty. At the time of the surrender of Japan
Surrender of Japan
The surrender of Japan in 1945 brought hostilities of World War II to a close. By the end of July 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy was incapable of conducting operations and an Allied invasion of Japan was imminent...
they were attached to Marine Carrier Group 7 (MCVG-7) aboard the USS Point Cruz (CVE-119)
USS Point Cruz (CVE-119)
USS Point Cruz was a of the United States Navy.Named Trocadero Bay until 5 June 1944, was laid down on 4 December 1944 by Todd-Pacific Shipyards Incorporated, Tacoma, Washington; launched on 18 May 1945, sponsored by Mrs. Earl R. DeLong; and commissioned on 16 October 1945, with Captain Douglas T...
and were preparing for another deployment. The squadron was deactivated at Naval Air Station San Diego on March 10, 1946.
VMF-217 was briefly reactivated from 1953 to 1964 in the Marine Forces Reserve, flying the A-4 Skyhawk
A-4 Skyhawk
The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a carrier-capable ground-attack aircraft designed for the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. The delta winged, single-engined Skyhawk was designed and produced by Douglas Aircraft Company, and later McDonnell Douglas. It was originally designated the A4D...
at Naval Air Station South Weymouth
Naval Air Station South Weymouth
Naval Air Station South Weymouth, or SOWEY as it is sometimes known, was an operational United States Navy airfield from 1942 to 1997. It was first established as a regular Navy blimp base during World War II...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. In 1955, they were redesignated VMA-217. After deactivation, its assets were transferred to VMA-322
VMA-322
Marine Attack Squadron 322 was a fighter squadron in the United States Marine Corps. The squadron, also known as the “Fighting Gamecocks”, fought in World War II and later became a part of the Marine Forces Reserve based out of Naval Air Station South Weymouth, Massachusetts.-History:Marine...
.
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. VMA-217 has been presented with the following awards:| Ribbon | Unit Award |
 |
Navy Unit Commendation Navy Unit Commendation The Navy Unit Commendation of the United States Navy is an award that was established by order of the Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal on 18 December 1944... |
 |
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal is a service decoration of the Second World War which was awarded to any member of the United States military who served in the Pacific Theater from 1941 to 1945 and was created on November 6, 1942 by issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The medal was... |
 |
World War II Victory Medal World War II Victory Medal The World War II Victory Medal is a decoration of the United States military which was created by an act of Congress in July 1945. The decoration commemorates military service during World War II and is awarded to any member of the United States military, including members of the armed forces of... |
 |
National Defense Service Medal National Defense Service Medal The National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower... with one Bronze Star |
See also
- United States Marine Corps AviationUnited States Marine Corps AviationUnited States Marine Corps Aviation is the air component of the United States Marine Corps. Marine aviation has a very different mission and operation than its ground counterpart, and thus, has many of its own histories, traditions, terms, and procedures....
- List of active United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons
- List of inactive United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons