Marine Bombing Squadron 443 (VMB-443) "Wildcats"
United States Marine Corps (USMC)

Background
On September 15, 1943 Marine Bombing Squadron 443 (VMB-443) was commissioned at Cherry Point, NC. Nicknamed "Wildcats".

Wartime History
On September 16, 1944 lost PBJ-1D Mitchell 35086 pilot 1st Lt Benjamin G. Kinnick (MIA) with 6 missing.

On September 17, 1944 lost PBJ 35085 pilot 1st Lt. John L Braden Jr. on a mission searching for Japanese shipping approximately 500 miles north of Emirau Island in the area of Paluwat and Pulusuk Atolls, Carolina Islands and ditched into the seas with 2 MIA (Braden and Griffin) with the other four crew rescued by USS Witter (DE-636).

On August 6, 1945 lost PBJ-1D Mitchell 35114 pilot 1st Lt. Charles W. Sieben (MIA) crashed into the sea off Palmyra Island with 8 missing as an operational loss.

Commanding Officers (C.O.)
Lt. Robert C. McConnell (September 15, 1943)
Major Alton D. Gould (September 16, 1943–October 13, 1943)

References
History of Marine Corps in World War II (1952) pages 204 (VMB-443), 205 (VMB-443 A/C Lost), 471 (VMB-443 squadron summary)

Contribute Information
Do you have photos or additional information to add?