Marine Fighter Squadron 121 (VMF-121) "Green Knights"
United States Marine Corps (USMC)

Background
On June 24, 1941 activated as Marine Fighter Squadron 121 (VMF-121). Nicknamed “Green Knights”.

Wartime History
On October 9, 1942 the squadron's twenty F4F-4 Wildcats took off from USS Copahee (CVE-12) on a 3.2 hour ferry flight to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal relieve Marine Fighting Squadron 223 (VMF-223) and the next day begin flying combat missions.

On October 17, 1942 took off on a mission at 9:35am intercepts Japanese carrier planes and shoot down three B5N2 Kates and damage two others. Lost is F4F Wildcat 5122 pilot Lt. Wiley H. Craft (MIA) shot down by escorting Zeros.

On October 25, 1942 lost is F4F Wildcat 02055 pilot Lt. Oscar Mortimer Bate, Jr. (bailed out, survived).

On November 7, 1942 took off piloting F4F Wildcat 02147 as one of twenty-one F4F Wildcats from VMF-121 escorting a formation of SBD Dauntless from VMSB-132, TBF Avengers from VT-8 and P-39 Airacobras from 67th Fighter Squadron (67th FS) armed with bombs against a "Tokyo Express" convoy of eleven destroyers bound for Guadalcanal. Approaching the convoy, the Wildcats engage the air cover including six A6M2-N Rufes from 802 Kōkūtai (802 Air Group) and four F1M2 Petes from Kamikawa Maru and are joined by the P-39s after they jettison their bombs. During the air combat, Foss claims a Rufe and two Petes but was shot down by floatplane's rear gunner and lands in the sea. Using his parachute to remain afloat, at dusk a local canoe approaches from Malaita and rescues him. The next day, rescued by a PBY Catalina and returned to Guadalcanal. In total, the fighters claim ten Petes shot down (five by the Wildcats and five by the P-39s). In fact, only one Pete is lost.

On November 12, 1942 lost is F4F Wildcat 5172 pilot Lt. Oscar Mortimer Bate, Jr. (bailed out, survived).

On December 23, 1942 lost is F4F Wildcat 03534 pilot Captain David C. "Dave" Andre (survived).

During 1943 began operating the F4U Corsair.

On June 30, 1943 the squadron participated in dawn to dusk "Rendova Patrol" missions to provide air cover over the U.S. landing on Rendova Island. Lost F4U Corsair 02453 pilot Lt. Foxworth (MIA), F4U Corsair 02628 pilot Captain Gordon (MIA) and F4U Corsair 02580 pilot Captain Baron (survived).

On July 18, 1943 the squadron participated in an escort mission for B-24 Liberators bombing Kahilli Airfield on southern Bougainville. Lost is F4U Corsair pilot Lt(jg) William C. Rhodes (MIA).

References
Note, some sources list CVE-12 delivery of VMF-121 as October 11, 1942 in fact, the flight was October 9, 1942 per Joe Foss logbook]
History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II (1952) page 456 (VMF-121)
Stars & Bars (1995) pages 69-70 (VMF-121)
Thanks to Barrett Tillman for additional information

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