Marine Bombing Squadron 423 (VMB-423) "Seahorses"
United States Marine Corps (USMC)

Background
On September 15, 1943 Marine Bombing Squadron 423 (VMB-423) was commissioned at Cherry Point, NC. The squadron was the second U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) to operate the PBJ Mitchell. Nicknamed "Seahorses".

Wartime History
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 April 20, 1944 lost is PBJ-1D Mitchell 35083 pilot 1st Lt. Alden R. Carlson on a night training mission and crashed off Tutuba Island with six Missing In Action (MIA).

On April 22, 1944 lost is PBJ-1D Mitchell 35087 pilot 1st Lt. Laverne A. Lallathin on a night training mission and crashed on Espiritu Santo in rugged terrain at an elevation of 2,600'. Afterwards, the crash site was found and remains of the crew buried at the crash site.

On May 15, 1944 the flight echelon arrives Stirling Airfield to relieve Marine Bombing Squadron 413 (VMB-413) and begins flying combat missions. Meanwhile, the ground echelon remains on Espiritu Santo.

On May 27, 1944 a single PBJ Mitchell from VMB-423 escorted by four F4U Corsairs fly over Rapopo Airfield. They drop their bombs and a 65 foot scroll signed by 35,000 Oklahoma school children, who had raise war bond money to buy a plane. General Mitchell decided a PBJ crew from Oklahoma should drop the scroll on the Japanese at Rabaul. Two Oklahoma natives, SSgt Bill Woolman and Lt. Dick Morgan led the flight, with four other crewmen who became adopted "Okies" for a day. The scroll was attached to a parachute and a burned out 30 cal machine gun barrel, and dropped with their bombs. They observed the scroll landing, but according to post war files, no indication exisits that the scroll was located by the Japanese.

On June 21, 1944 begins operating from Green Island Airfield (Nissan) and are joined by the ground echelon that arrives from Espiritu Santo.

Commanding Officers (C.O.)
Lt. Col John L. Winston (September 15, 1943–July 18, 1944)

References
History of Marine Corps in World War II (1952) pages 203-204 (VMB-423), 205 (VMB-423 A/C Lost), 470 (VMB-423 squadron summary)
Leatherneck Bombers by Alan Carey page 23 (May 27, 1944)

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