Marine Bombing Squadron 433 (VMB-433) "Fork-Tailed Devils"
United States Marine Corps (USMC)

Background
On September 15, 1943 Marine Bombing Squadron 443 (VMB-443) was commissioned at Cherry Point, NC. Nicknamed "Fork-Tailed Devils". The squadron was trained at CP and Camp Lejeune. On January 27, 1944 assigned to MarFAirWest and continued training at El Centro before deployment with PBJ-1D Mitchells to the South Pacific.

Wartime History
On May 26, 1944 the ground echelon departed overseas bound for the South Pacific (SOPAC) arriving at Espiritu Santo. On May 27, 1944 the flight echelon departs for Ewa Field then overseas via Palmyra Airfield, Canton, Funafuni, Espiritu Santo and finally Green Island Airfield (Nissan) for temporary duty with attached to Marine Air Group 14 (MAG-14).

During August 1944, fifteen PBJs and 21 flight crews were stationed at Green Island Airfield (Nissan) and began flying night heckling missions with VMB-423 over Rabaul and New Britain. Six PBJs remained behind at Ewa Field and were flown across the Pacific to join the rest of the squadron by the end of the month.

Meanwhile, the ground echelon remained at Espiritu Santo and were embarked aboard USS Naos (AK-105) bound for Emirau Island arriving August 20, 1944. By the end of the month the entire squadron was assembled on Emirau Island. Assigned to Marine Air Group 61 (MAG-61) the squadron began operating from Emirau Airfield.

On September 2, 1944 lost PBJ-1D Mitchell 35106 pilot 1st Lt. Charles Leland Ingels (MIA) with 6 missing.

On December 20, 1944 twenty-seven PBJ Mitchells (eighteen from VMB-433 and nine from VMB-413) 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. PBJ 35089 (311) from VMB-433 suffered an operational hydraulic system failure but landed safely.

The squadron remained at Emirau Airfield flying missions until Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945. Afterwards, VMB-443 moved to Malabang Airfield on Mindanao in the Philippines.

Commanding Officers (C.O.)
Major Boyd O. Whitney (May 24, 1945–July 16, 1945)
Major Andrew G. Smith, Jr. (July 17, 1945–August 15, 1945)

References
History of Marine Corps in World War II (1952) pages 204 (VMB-433), 205 (VMB-443 A/C Lost), 470 (VMB-443 squadron summary)

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