VMF-155
Encyclopedia
Marine Fighting Squadron 155 (VMF-155) was a fighter squadron of the United States Marine Corps
in World War II
. During the war, they flew the SBC Helldiver
and, after reconstitution in 1943, the F4F Wildcat
. The squadron, also known as “Ready Teddy” was deactivated shortly after the war and is still inactive.
. The squadron was initially based in American Samoa
and its first personnel came from VMSB-151. Their first complement of aircraft were SBC Helldiver
biplane dive bomber
and the J2F-5 Duck amphibious biplane. In December 1942, the bulk of the squadrons personnel were sent to Guadalcanal
where they were assigned as replacements
. A small cadre of six officers and fifteen enlisted men were retained in the squadron and ordered to Camp Kearny
in San Diego, California
to re-equip and train.
Beginning in January of 1943, VMO-155 began training on the F4F-3P Wildcat
, a fighter specifically designed for photographic reconnaissance. During this time they also began receiving their carrier qualifications. In April 1943, with their training complete, a detachment from the squadron was ordered aboard the USS Nassau (CVE-16)
to participate in the invasion of Attu
in the Aleutian Islands. This operation made them the first Marine squadron to operate from an aircraft carrier
during World War II and the only Marine squadron to operate in the North Pacific.
Following the Operation in the Aleutians, the detachment rejoined the squadron in June 1943 and quickly moved to Marine Corps Air Station El Centro for further training. In February of 1944, VMO-155 moved to Midway Atoll
and became part of the local garrison. After four months on Midway, they were sent to Marine Corps Air Station Ewa
, Hawaii
. From MCAS Ewa, the squadron was again split up. This time the ground echelon was sent to Kwajalein
and the flight echelon went to Roi
. From these locations, for the rest of the war, the squadron took part in strikes against the Marshall Islands
.
On January 31, 1945, VMO-155 was redesignated Marine Fighting Squadron 155 (VMF-155). The squadron was deactivated on October 15, 1945, shortly after the cessation of hostilities with Japan
.
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...
in 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...
. During the war, they flew the SBC Helldiver
SBC Helldiver
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Andrade, John. U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Hinckley, UK: Midland Counties Publications, 1979. ISBN 0-904597-22-9....
and, after reconstitution in 1943, 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...
. The squadron, also known as “Ready Teddy” was deactivated shortly after the war and is still inactive.
History
Marine Observation Squadron 155 (VMO-155) was activated on October 1, 1942 as part of Marine Aircraft Group 13Marine Aircraft Group 13
Marine Aircraft Group 13 is a United States Marine Corps aviation unit based at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma that is currently composed of four AV-8B Harrier squadrons and a maintenance and logistics squadron...
. The squadron was initially based in American Samoa
American Samoa
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa...
and its first personnel came from VMSB-151. Their first complement of aircraft were SBC Helldiver
SBC Helldiver
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Andrade, John. U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Hinckley, UK: Midland Counties Publications, 1979. ISBN 0-904597-22-9....
biplane dive bomber
Dive bomber
A dive bomber is a bomber aircraft that dives directly at its targets in order to provide greater accuracy for the bomb it drops. Diving towards the target reduces the distance the bomb has to fall, which is the primary factor in determining the accuracy of the drop...
and the J2F-5 Duck amphibious biplane. In December 1942, the bulk of the squadrons personnel were sent to Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal is a tropical island in the South-Western Pacific. The largest island in the Solomons, it was discovered by the Spanish expedition of Alvaro de Mendaña in 1568...
where they were assigned as replacements
Cactus Air Force
Cactus Air Force refers to the ensemble of Allied air power assigned to the island of Guadalcanal from August 1942 until December 1942 during the early stages of the Guadalcanal Campaign, particularly those operating from Henderson Field...
. A small cadre of six officers and fifteen enlisted men were retained in the squadron and ordered to Camp Kearny
Camp Kearny
Camp Kearny was a U.S. military base in San Diego, California, on the site of the current Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. It operated from 1917 to 1946.-Establishment and early years:...
in San Diego, California
California
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...
to re-equip and train.
Beginning in January of 1943, VMO-155 began training on the F4F-3P 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...
, a fighter specifically designed for photographic reconnaissance. During this time they also began receiving their carrier qualifications. In April 1943, with their training complete, a detachment from the squadron was ordered aboard the USS Nassau (CVE-16)
USS Nassau (CVE-16)
The USS Nassau was laid down 27 November 1941 by the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation of Tacoma, Washington, as M.C. Hull No. 234; launched 4 April 1942; sponsored by Mrs. G. H...
to participate in the invasion of Attu
Attu
Attu may refer to:*A common name for the Dosa in Telugu*Attu Island in Alaska*The Battle of Attu, the primary land battle in the Aleutian Islands campaign of World War II, which took place on Attu Island in May 1943....
in the Aleutian Islands. This operation made them the first Marine squadron to operate from an aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
during World War II and the only Marine squadron to operate in the North Pacific.
Following the Operation in the Aleutians, the detachment rejoined the squadron in June 1943 and quickly moved to Marine Corps Air Station El Centro for further training. In February of 1944, VMO-155 moved to Midway Atoll
Midway Atoll
Midway Atoll is a atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, near the northwestern end of the Hawaiian archipelago, about one-third of the way between Honolulu, Hawaii, and Tokyo, Japan. Unique among the Hawaiian islands, Midway observes UTC-11 , eleven hours behind Coordinated Universal Time and one hour...
and became part of the local garrison. After four months on Midway, they were sent to Marine Corps Air Station Ewa
Marine Corps Air Station Ewa
Marine Corps Air Station Ewa was a United States Marine Corps air station that was located west of Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. The base was hit during the attack on Pearl Harbor, and later served as the hub for all Marine aviation units heading into combat in the Pacific Theater...
, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. From MCAS Ewa, the squadron was again split up. This time the ground echelon was sent to Kwajalein
Kwajalein
Kwajalein Atoll , is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands . The southernmost and largest island in the atoll is named Kwajalein Island. English-speaking residents of the U.S...
and the flight echelon went to Roi
Roi-Namur
Roi-Namur is an island in the northern part of the Kwajalein atoll in the Marshall Islands.Occupied by Japanese forces prior to World War II, it was the target of the U.S. 4th Marine Division in the Battle of Kwajalein, in February 1944....
. From these locations, for the rest of the war, the squadron took part in strikes against the Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
.
On January 31, 1945, VMO-155 was redesignated Marine Fighting Squadron 155 (VMF-155). The squadron was deactivated on October 15, 1945, shortly after the cessation of hostilities with Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
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