In World War Two, the United States Marine Corps organized 61 fighting and night-fighting squadrons. Twenty of those those squadrons counted at least one ace on its pilot roster. Those 20 squadrons are profiled here.

Marine squadrons were designated by letters and numbers that identified the squadron's role and organization, in a pre-war numbering scheme shared with the U.S. Navy. The first letter "V" stood for "Heavier-than-air,", as opposed to "Z" stood for Lighter-than-air, i.e. dirigibles, which figured into the scheme when it was designed in the inter-war period. The second letter "M" meant Marine Corps. No 2nd letter, by omission, meant Navy; thus VF-17 was a Navy Fighting Squadron. The third (and possible fourth) letters indicated the purpose of the squadron.

"F" = Fighting
"SB" = Scout Bombing
"TB" = Torpedo Bombing
"O" = Observation
"J" = Transport & Photographic

Marine Fighting Squadrons were identified by "VMF," and night fighting squadrons by "VMF(N)"

Typical Squadron History

Like the Navy, the Marine Corps constantly shuffled men and reorganized squadrons. But there was a general pattern. A squadron would be organized at a stateside Marine Air Base - maybe Ewa, Cherry Point, or El Centro. After spending a few months there learning its equipment and assignment, it would go overseas for its first six-week combat tour. Following a short period of R&R, the squadron (less any casualties or men transferred out) would return to a rear area base, say Efate or Espiritu Santo to integrate the new men and perhaps learn new techniques or equipment. Then it would embark on a second six-week combat tour. After another R&R, replacements would come in, and the squadron would fly a third combat tour. But any one pilot was only obligated to fly two combat tours; fliers on the sick or injured list during the first or second tours would fly the third tour.

At the completion of the third combat tour, i.e after about 8 months of front line service, the squadron would be broken up. The combat veterans would return to the Z.I. (Zone of the Interior) for training, staff, or test duty. The free squadron number would be recycled. A new group of men would comprise the new squadron, and they would repeat the process.

As sketched out here, this was general pattern; the demands of the war frequently interrupted or altered this.

The following information was summarized from Robert Sherrod's excellent History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II. Any errors or over-simplifications are my mistakes, not the author's.

Short Summaries of all 20 Squadrons on this page Longer Articles on a Few Squadrons
Click on the links to go there.

VMF-112 - "Wolf Pack"

VMF-121 - Cactus, 208 aerial victories

VMF-122 - Cactus

VMF-124 - first Corsair Squadron

VMF-211

VMF-212 - Cactus

VMF-213

VMF-214 - "Black Sheep"

VMF-215

VMF-221

VMF-222

VMF-223 - Cactus

VMF-224 - Cactus

VMF-311

VMF-312

VMF-321

VMF-323 - "Death Rattlers"

VMF-441

VMF(N)-542

VMF-214 - "Black Sheep"

VMF-323 - "Death Rattlers"

VMF(N)-533

Short Summaries of all 20 Squadrons on this page	Longer Articles on a Few Squadrons Click on the links to go there.
VMF-112 - "Wolf Pack" VMF-121 - Cactus, 208 aerial victories VMF-122 - Cactus VMF-124 - first Corsair Squadron VMF-211 VMF-212 - Cactus VMF-213 VMF-214 - "Black Sheep" VMF-215 VMF-221	VMF-222 VMF-223 - Cactus VMF-224 - Cactus VMF-311 VMF-312 VMF-321 VMF-323 - "Death Rattlers" VMF-441 VMF(N)-542	VMF-214 - "Black Sheep" VMF-323 - "Death Rattlers" VMF(N)-533

Cactus Squadrons: Guadalcanal, Aug. 1942 - Feb. 1943

VMF-223

The first fighter squadron in the Solomons, arriving on August 20, 1942. After heroic service with the Cactus Air Force, the squadron left for home on Oct. 16. In 1944, VMF-223 participated in the aerial siege of Rabaul; in Jan. 1945 it participated in the liberation of the Philippines.

VMF-223 was credited with downing 132 Japanese planes.

Noted Commanding Officers

Capt. John L. Smith, May - Dec. 1942

Aces

Marion Eugene Carl, 18.5 aerial victories
Kenneth D. Frazier, 12.5
Fred E. Gutt, 8
Charles Kendrick, 5
Hyde Phillips, 5
Zenneth A. Pond, 6
Orvin H. Ramlo, 5
Capt. John L. Smith, 19
Eugene A. Trowbridge, 12

VMF-224

The other early-arriving fighter squadron of the Cactus Air Force, landing at Henderson Field Aug. 30, 1942. It had been organized on May 1, in the post-Pearl Harbor expansion of Marine air. 224 fought at Guadalcanal for two months, rotating home on Nov. 1. After some time stateside, VMF-224 returned to the Pacific, attacking the by-passed Japanese held Marshalls in 1944.

VMF-224 claimed the aerial destruction of 115 enemy aircraft.

Noted Commanding Officers

Maj. Robert Galer, May - Dec. 1942
Maj. Darrell Irwin, Dec. 1942 - Aug. 1944
Maj. Howard York, Aug. - Dec. 1944
Maj. James Poindexter, Dec. 1944 - May 1945

Aces

John Francis Dobbin, 8 aerial victories
Robert E. Galer, 13
George L. Hollowell, 8
Charles Murphy Kunz, 8
Joseph P. Lynch, 5.5 (also scored with 2 other squadrons)

VMF-212

Operated out of Guadalcanal Sep. - Nov. 1942. Eight of its pilots flew on Temporary Attached Duty with VMF-223, starting on Aug.30. The squadron was commissioned Mar. 1, 1942 at Ewa, and moved up to Efate (the front line at the time) in four weeks. After completing its stint at Guadalcanal in Nov. 1942, VMF-212 returned to the West Coast. By August, 1943, it was back in the Solomons, now flying Corsairs. They covered the landings on Bougainville, and a month later its ground crew was operating out of Torokina.

It remained in the Solomons through the end of 1944.

VMF-212 claimed the aerial destruction of 132 Japanese planes.

Noted Commanding Officers

Maj. Harold W. Bauer, Mar. - Nov. 1942
Maj. Frederick R. Payne, Nov. 1942 - Feb, 1943
Capt. Robert F. Stout, Feb. - Apr. 1943
Maj. Richard Hughes, Apr. - May 1943
Maj. Stewart B. O'Neill, Jr., Jun. - Dec. 1943
Maj. Hugh McJ. Elwood, Jan. - Apr. 1944

Aces

Harold W. Bauer, 11 aerial victories
William A. Carlton, 5
Jack E. Conger, 10
Philip Cunliffe De Long, 11.2
Frank C. Drury, 6
Hugh McJ. Elwood, 5.2
Loren D. Everton, 12
Henry B. Hamilton, 7
John McManus, 6
Donald C. Owen, 5
Frederick R. Payne, 7.5
Francis E. Pierce Jr., 6
George H. Poske, 5
Robert F. Stout, 6

VMF-121

Commissioned at Quantico in mid-1941. Four days after Pearl Harbor, the squadron headed for the West Coast.

The forward flight echelon touched down at Guadalcanal in late September; all pilots arrived by Oct. 9, 1942. VMF-121 scored 160+ victories in Wildcats (the most of any USMC or Navy squadron) before transitioning to F4U Corsairs in June, 1943. After serving three combat tours in the Solomons, the squadron was re-organized. The new VMF-121 served at Peleliu from Sept. 1944 until the end of the war, including strikes against Yap.

VMF-121 was credited with downing 208 Japanese planes.

Noted Commanding Officers

Capt. Leonard K. Davis, Mar. - Dec. 1942
Maj. Donald K. Yost, Jan. - Mar. 1943
Maj. Joseph N. Renner, Mar. 1943
Maj. Ray Vroome, Mar. - May 1943

Aces

Robert M. Baker, 7 aerial victories
Leonard K. Davis, 5
Cecil J. Doyle, 5
Kenneth Ford, 5
Joe Foss, 26
William B. Freeman, 6
Roger A. Haberman, 7
Gregory Loesch, 8.5
Herbert Long, 3
Thomas Mann, 10
William Marontate, 13
Joseph Narr, 8
Robert Bruce Porter, 3
Frank H. Presley, 6
Hunter Reinburg, 7
Perry L. Shuman, 6
Donald Yost, 6

VMF-112

First echelon landed at Henderson Field Nov. 3, 1942.

VMF-112 was credited with downing 140 enemy aircraft. Transitioned to Corsairs by May 19.

Noted Commanding Officers

Maj. Paul J. Fontana, May 1942 - Mar. 1943
Capt. Robert B. Fraser, Mar. - Jul. 1943
Maj. Herman Hansen, July 1943
Maj. Gregory Boyington, Jul. - Aug. 1943
Maj. Herman Hansen, Aug. 1943 - Aug. 1945

Aces

Jefferson J. DeBlanc, 9 aerial victories
Archie Glenn Donahue, 14
Paul John Fontana, 5
Robert B. Fraser, 6
Wayne W. Laird, 5
Joseph P. Lynch, 5.5, also 2 other sqns
John B. Maas Jr., 5.5, also VMF-322
Donald C. Owen, 5, also VMF-212
Gilbert Percy, 6
Wallace E. Sigler, 5.3, also VMF-124
Stanley T. "Chief" Synar, 5, also VMF-124
Franklin C. Thomas Jr., 9

VMF-122

Some pilots landed at Henderson Field Nov. 13, 1942, for duty with VMF-121. The squadron operated in the Solomons from Nov. 1942 to July, 1943; it switched over to Corsairs by mid-June. After re-organizing at El Centro, it returned to Emirau and flew strikes against the Palaus in late 1944.

VMF-122 claimed 35 Japanese airplanes.

Noted Commanding Officers

Capt. Elmer Brackett, Mar. 1942 - Apr. 1943
Maj. Gregory Boyington, Apr. - Jun. 1943
Maj. Herman Hansen, Jun. - Jul. 1943
Maj.. Robert B. Fraser, Jul. - Aug. 1943
Maj. Joseph Hunter Reinburg, Aug. 1943 - Jan. 1945
Maj. Francis E. Pierce, 1945 - Mar. 1945

Aces

Herman Hansen Jr., 5.5 kills
Ernest A. Powell, 5

Solomons Squadrons: Feb. 1943 - Jan. 1944

VMF-221

The original VMF-221, under the command of Major Floyd Parks, was wiped out at Midway. The re-organized squadron arrived at Guadalcanal in Feb. 1943. It earned a Presidential Unit Citation for its heroic sacrifice at Midway. Transitioned to Corsairs by May 19, 1943.

VMF-221 claimed the aerial destruction of 185 enemy aircraft, the second highest-scoring VMF.

Noted Commanding Officers

Maj. Floyd B. Parks, May - Jun. 1942

Maj. Nathan T. Post, Aug. 1943 - Oct. 1944

Aces

Donald Luther Balch, 5 enemy planes shot down
Frank B. Baldwin, 5
Dean Caswell, 7
Eugene Dillow, 6
Albert C. Hacking Jr., 5
Jack Pittman Jr., 7
Nathan T. Post, 8
Harold E. Segal, 12
William N. Snider, 11.5
James E. Swett, 15.5

VMF-124

First Corsair-equipped squadron, arrived Guadalcanal on Feb. 12, 1943, and escorted a rescue mission before lunch. Remained in the Solomons until Sept. 1943. Reorganized and trained at Mojave until Sept. 1944. In Jan. 1945 supported Philippine landings and struck Japan and Okinawa in early 1945.

VMF-124 was credited with downing 78 Japanese airplanes.

Noted Commanding Officers

Maj. William E. Gise, Sep. 1942 - May 1943
Maj. William H. Pace, Jun. - Jul. 1943
Maj. William A. Millington, Jul. 1943 - Mar. 1945

Aces

William E. Crowe, 7 Jap planes destroyed
Howard J. Finn, 6
Wallace E. Sigler, 5.3, also VMF-112
Kenneth A. Walsh, 21

VMF-213

Squadron left for Espiritu in Feb. 1943 and promptly transitioned to F4U Corsairs. It moved up to Guadalcanal in April. Its CO, Major Britt, was killed in a take-off accident that month. In June, it relieved VMF-124 in the Russells. Continued flying in the Solomons until Dec. 43. Re-formed at Mojave and trained at Ewa in 1944. In Jan. 1945 supported Philippine landings and struck Japan and Okinawa in early 1945.

VMF-213 was credited with downing 117 enemy aircraft.

Noted Commanding Officers

Maj. Wade H. Britt, Oct. 1942 - Apr. 1943
Maj. Gregory J. Weissenberger, Apr. - Aug. 1943
Maj. James R. Anderson, Aug. - Oct. 1943
Capt. Leonard W. McCleary, Oct. - Nov. 1943
Maj. Stanley R. Bailey, Nov. 1943
Capt. James R. Wallace, Nov. - Dec. 1943

Aces

James N. Cupp, 13 planes downed
Sheldon O. Hall, 6
John L. Morgan Jr., 8.5
Edward O. Shaw, 13
Wilbur J. Thomas, 18.5
Milton N. Vedder, 6
Gregory J. Weissenberger, 5

VMF-214 Longer VMF-214 Squadron History

Original "Swashbucklers" squadron, flying F4F Wildcats, operated from Guadalcanal from March to May, 1943. It was one of the last VMF's to changeover from Wildcats to Corsairs, doing so by June 19, 1943. Boyington's famous "Black Sheep" squadron began combat in Sept. 1943. It earned a Presidential Unit Citation for its actions in the Solomons. After reorganization, VMF-214 served on Franklin when it was hit by a kamikaze in March, 1945.

VMF-214 claimed the aerial destruction of 127 Japanese planes.

Noted Commanding Officers

Capt. George F. Britt, Jul. 1942 - Jun. 1943

Maj. Gregory Boyington, Sep. - Dec. 1943

Maj. Stanley R. Bailey, Apr. 1944 - Jun. 1945

Aces

Pappy Boyington, 22 kills
Jack Bolt, 6
Bill Case, 8
Don Fisher, 6
Alvin J. Jensen, 7
Chris Magee, 9
Hank McCartney, 5
Bob McClurg, 7
Paul Mullen, 6.5
Ed Olander, 5
Hartwell V. Scarborough, 5

VMF-215

Originally a Scout Bombing squadron, it was redesignated at a fighter squadron in Sept. 1942. Passed thru Hawaii and Midway in early 1943, on its way to the Solomons. While still based at Espiritu, began combat missions over the Solomons in late July, 1943. Moved its base progressively forward: to Munda, Vella Lavella, then Torokina. Reorganized in March, 1944 and returned to Bougainville. After Oct. 1944, served stateside as a replacement training squadron.

VMF-215 was credited with downing 137 enemy aircraft.

Noted Commanding Officers

Capt. James L. Neefus, Jul, 1942 - Sep. 1943
Lt. Col. Herbert H. Williamson, Oct. - Dec. 1943
Maj. Robert G. Owens, Dec. 1943 - Feb. 1944
Maj. James K. Dill, Feb. - Jun. 1944
Maj. Benjamin S. Hargrave, Jun. - Aug. 1944

Maj. William P. Boland, Nov. 1944 - Feb. 1945

Aces

Donald N. Aldrich, 20
Richard Lane Braun, 5
Creighton Chandler, 6
Arthur Roger Conant, 6
Robert Murray Hanson, 25
Edwin James Hernan Jr., 8
Robert G. Owens Jr., 7
George H. Poske, 5, also VMF-212
Harold L. Spears, 15
Arthur T. Warner, 8
Gerard M.H. Williams, 7

VMF-222

Commissioned in March, 1942 at Midway. Flight echelon to Guadalcanal on Sept. 3, 1943. Participated in Solomons campaign and reduction of Rabaul until Jan. 1945. To Okinawa in May 1945.

VMF-222 shot down 53 Japanese planes.

Noted Commanding Officers

Capt. Max J. Volcansek, Sep. 1942 - Nov. 1943

Maj. Roy T. Spurlock, Apr. 1944 - Apr. 1945

Aces

Charles David Jones, 6 aerial victories
Donald H. Sapp, 11

VMF-211

One of the oldest Marine Fighting Squadrons, redesignated from VMF-2 in July, 1941, the flight echelon of the squadron was wiped out at Wake Island in December, 1941. Immediately re-built, the squadron went to Palmyra for base defense duty. In Oct. 1943, flight echelon moved to Russells. From late 1943 through 1944, it was based in the Solomons.

VMF-211 claimed the aerial destruction of 91 enemy aircraft.

Noted Commanding Officers

Maj. Paul A. Putnam, Nov. - Dec. 1941
Maj. Luther "Sam" Moore, Dec. 1941 - Aug. 1942
Maj. Radford C. West, Aug. - Oct. 1942
Maj. Charles N. Endweiss, Oct. 1942 - Apr. 1943
Maj. Harold J. Mitchener, Apr. - Jul. 1943
Maj. Robert A. Harvey, Jul. 1943 - Jan. 1944

Aces

John C. Hundley, 6
Julius W. Ireland, 5.3

VMF-321

Flight echelon to Barakoma (New Georgia group) Dec. 24, 1943.

VMF-321 was credited with downing 39 Japanese planes.

Noted Commanding Officers

Maj. Gordon H. Knott, Feb. - Sep. 1943
Maj. Edmund F. Overend, Oct. 1943 - Oct. 1944
Maj. Justin M. Miller, Oct. 1944 - Mar. 1945
Maj. William P. Boland, Mar. 1945 - date of surrender

Aces

Edmund F. Overend, 3 (plus 5.3 with AVG)
Robert Byron See, 5

Okinawa Squadrons: 1944 - Aug. 1945

VMF-323 Longer VMF-323 Squadron History

Commissioned in Aug. 1943. Forward echelon at Okinawa on Apr. 2, 1945

VMF-323 was credited with downing 124 Japanese planes, tops among Marine squadrons operating in 1945.

Noted Commanding Officers

Maj. George C. Axtell, Aug. 1943 - Jun. 1945

Aces

Stuart C. Alley Jr., 5
George C. Axtell, 6
Joseph V. Dillard, 6.3
Jefferson D. Dorroh, 6
Charles W. Drake, 5
Dewey F. Durnford, 6.3
William L. Hood, 5.5
Jeremiah J. O'Keefe, 7
John W. Ruhsam, 7
Francis A. Terrill, 6.1
Robert Wade, 7
Albert P. Wells, 5

VMF-441

Organized Oct. 1942 at Samoa. To the Marshalls in Feb. 1944. After flying suppression missions against by-passed Wotje and Maloelap in mid-1944, to Okinawa's Yontan airfield Apr. 7, 1945

VMF-441 was credited with downing 49 enemy aircraft, mostly kamikazes.

Noted Commanding Officers

Maj. Daniel W. Torrey, Oct. - Dec. 1942
Capt. Walter J. Meyer, Dec. 1942 - Sep. 1943
Maj. James B. Moore, Oct. 1943 - Apr. 1944
Maj. Grant W. Metzger, Apr. 1944 - Jan. 1945
Maj. Robert O. White, Jan. 1945 - Jun. 1945

Aces

Floyd C. Kirkpatrick, 5.5
Selva E. McGinty, 5

VMF(N)-542

A night fighting squadron commissioned in March, 1944 at Cherry Point. Trained till the end of 1944, when it shipped out for the Pacific. Landed April 8, 1945 at Okinawa.

VMF(N)-542 claimed the aerial destruction of 18 Japanese planes.

Noted Commanding Officers

Maj. William C. Kellum, Mar. 1944 - May. 1945
Maj. Robert Bruce Porter, May - Aug. 1945

Aces

Robert Bruce Porter, 5, includes 3 with VMF-121

VMF-311

Arrived Kwajalein, Marshalls in Feb. 1944. To Okinawa's Yontan airfield Apr. 7, 1945

VMF-311 was credited with downing 71 enemy aircraft.

Noted Commanding Officers

Maj. Harry Hooper, Sep. 1943 - Oct. 1944
Maj. Charles M. Kunz, Oct. 1944 - Feb. 1945
Maj. Perry L. Shuman, Feb. - Jun. 1945
Maj. Michael R. Yunck, Jun. - Sep. 1945

Aces

William Perry Brown Jr., 7
Michael R. Yunck, 5

VMF-312

To Okinawa's Yontan airfield Apr. 6, 1945

VMF-312 was credited with downing 59 Japanese planes, mostly kamikazes.

Noted Commanding Officers

Maj. Richard M. Day, Jun. 1943 - May 1945

Aces

William Farrell, 5
Herbert J. Valentine, 6

VMF(N)-533

Flew to Yontan airfield, Okinawa on May 14, 1945.

VMF(N)-533 claimed the aerial destruction of 35 enemy aircraft, the most for any Marine nightfighting squadron.

Noted Commanding Officers

Maj. Marion M. Magruder, Oct. 1943 - Jul. 1945

Aces

Robert Baird, 6

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