Marine Bombing Squadron 413 (VMB-413)
"Flying Nightmares / Night Hecklers / Shamrocks"
United States Marine Corps (USMC)

Background
On March 1, 1943 Marine Bombing Squadron 413 (VMB-413) was commissioned at Cherry Point, NC as a unit of the 4th Marine Base Defense Aircraft Wing, temporarily attached to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (3rd MAW) for training purposes. Assigned to Commanding Officer (C.O.) Captain Robert B. Cox.

The cadre of the squadron were a few prewar aviators but most were new graduates from flight training and aviation schools. As the first U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) squadron to operate the PBJ Mitchell, the squadron spent a year in training and to develop syllabus for subsequent squadrons. On July 1, 1943 assigned to Commanding Officer (C.O.) Lt. Col. Ronald D. Salmon.

On December 3, 1943 ordered to the west coast to prepare for deployment overseas. On January 3, 1944 departs NAS North Island across the Pacific bound for the South Pacific (SOPAC). On January 27, 1944 arrives Espiritu Santo and underwent six more weeks of training. Nicknamed "Flying Nightmares / Night Hecklers / Shamrocks". The squadron motif was a green clover with "13" inside. During their initial overseas deployment, VMB-413 was attached to Marine Air South Pacific (MarAirSoPac).

First Tour of Duty
On March 7, 1944 departs for Stirling Airfield and Green Island Airfield (Nissan) flying night heckler missions against Japanese occupied areas on Bougainville and New Britain targeting the Rabaul area.

On March 22, 1944 two PBJs were lost: PBJ 35124 pilot Major James K. Smith (MIA) and PBJ 35117 pilot 1st Lt. W. D. Graul (MIA).

On February 6, 1944 assigned to Commanding Officer (C.O.) Lt. Col. Andrew B. Galatian.

On April 1, 1944 lost is PBJ-1D 35134 crashed out of fuel flying to Stirling Airfield, 6 killed.

On May 5, 1944 five PBJs led by Lt. Col. Andrew B. Galatian (C.O. VMB-413) with Green, Goddard, Gordon, Smith and Bratton took off on a bombing mission against Tobera Airfield supply areas with unobserved results. Lost is PBJ-1D Mitchell 35143 pilot 1st Lt. Glenn Willard Smith (MIA) hit by anti-aircraft fire that damged engine. Another bomber in the same formation photographed PBJ Mitchell with the damaged left engine. Moments later, crashed in flames three miles west of the runway into a Japanese camp area killing the entire crew of seven. Postwar, their remains were recovered and buried in a group burial at Arlington National Cemetery section 34 site 4900 with passenger Bleier at section 34 site 3768.

On May 15, 1944 relieved by Marine Bombing Squadron 423 (VMB-423) "Seahorses" and returned to Espiritu Santo.

On June 29, 1944 PBJ-1D 35141 hit a tree and crashed upside down with 6 killed while landing at Nissan Airfield (Green).

Second Tour of Duty
During July 1944 began their second tour of duty at Munda Airfield on New Georgia flying missions against Japanese occupied areas on Bougainville, Shortlands and Choiseul.

On October 3, 1944 PBJ-1D 35132 landing accident Nissan Airfield (Green).

On October 18, 1944 moves to Emirau Airfield and flew missions against Japanese forces on New Ireland.

On November 11, 1944 PBJ-1D 35130 nosed over in a ditch at Nissan Airfield (Green).

On December 20, 1944 twenty-seven PBJ Mitchells (nine from VMB-413 and eighteen from VMB-433) led by Lt. Col. Adams conduct a low level bombing and strafing mission against Balgai Airfield and drop 1,000 pound bombs. No specific damage could be observed and photographic coverage failed to indicate any results but estimated 29 bombs fell on the runway and the remainder in the vicinity.

During August 1945 after Japan surrendered, the squadron ceased combat missions and moves to Malabang Airfield on Mindanao in the Philippines.

Commanding Officers (C.O.)
Captain Robert B. Cox (March 1, 1943–June 30, 1943)
Lt. Col. Ronald D. Salmon (July 1, 1943–February 5, 1944)
Lt. Col. Andrew B. Galatian (February 6, 1944–August 13, 1944)
Lt. Col Stewart W. Ralston (August 13, 1944–November 7, 1944)
Lt. Col. Roswell B. Burchard, Jr. (November 7, 1944–December 31, 1944)
Lt. Col Robert B. Cox (January 1, 1945–August 16, 1945)
Major Arthur C. Lowell (August 17, 1945–September 2, 1945)

References
NARA Wing General Order Number 7-1943 Comissioning Marine Bombing Squadron 413, March 1, 1943 by order Col. Larkin
History of Marine Corps in World War II (1952) pages 203-204 (VMB-413), 205 (VMB-413 A/C Lost), 470 (VMB-413 squadron summary)
Facebook - Marine Bombing Squadron 413 - VMB413 this page was created to commemorate VMB-413. The hope is that this page can serve as a central hub for photos, stories, and conversations related to these men and their service to our country

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