Background
On July 1, 1943 organized as Marine Fighting Squadron 218 (VMF-218) in U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) in Mojave, California. On September 15, 1943 commissioned as a squadron. During December 1943 embarked aboard USS Barnes (CVE-20) and transported across the Pacific to Espiritu Santo.
operated the F4U Corsair in the South Pacific (SOPAC) during World War II.
Wartime History
On January 20, 1944 the ground echelon departs for Bougainville. On February 1, 1944 the flight echelon arrives Piva North Airfield (Piva Uncle).
On February 6, 1944 Corsairs from VMF-218 took off from Piva Uncle on a mission over Rabaul. Lost is F4U Corsair 55916 pilot 2nd Lt. Robert S. Thompson (MIA).
On February 10, 1944 Corsairs from VMF-218 took off from Piva Uncle on a mission to escort for B-25 Mitchells on a bombing mission against Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul. The formation included other escorting USN, USAAF and RNZAF fighters. Lost is F4U Corsair 02566 pilot 2nd Lt. Jack G. Morris bailed out and landed safely.
On February 15, 1944 covers the landings at Nissan (Green
Island).
On February 18, 1944 pilot 2nd Lt. Jack G. Morris who bailed out eight days earlier was rescued by Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Catalina NZ4013.
On February 21, 1944 sixteen F4U Corsairs took off as high roving cover for SBD Dauntless dive bombers, TBF Avengers and B-24 Liberators on a bombing mission over Lakunai Airfield near Rabaul. Inbound, two F4Us aborted the mission due to mechanical issues. Returning, ditched is F4U Corsair
56132 pilot Major H. A. Pehl who was later rescued by RNZAF PBY Catalina NZ4014.
On March 19, 1944 the flight echelon moves to Espiritu Santo.
On April 27, 1944 the squadron is flow aboard SCAT transports from Espiritu Santo to Nissan Airfield (Green).
On April 28, 1944 the squadron begins flying patrols from Nissan Airfield (Green).
PARTIAL HISTORY
On September 17, 1944 Corsairs from VMF-218 took off from Nissan Airfield (Green) each armed with a 1,000 pound bomb on a strike against Rabaul. Lost is F4U Corsair 56045 (MIA) pilot 1st Lt. Glenn W. Rosenboom.
On September 24, 1944 lost is FG-1A Corsair 14011 pilot 14011 (survived) due to bad weather over Green Island Lagoon.
On November 26, 1944 a request by General Douglas MacArthur was made to Admiral Chester W. Nimitz to loan a U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) night fighter squadron for the defense of Leyte in exchange for a P-61 night fighter squadron. On the recommendation of Admiral Halsey, Nimitz also offered Marine Aircraft Group 12 (MAG-12).
On December 3, 1944 F4U Corsairs the squadron plus Marine Air Group 12 (MAG-12) led by a PBJ Mitchell arrived flying via Hollandia and Peleliu arrive at Tacloban Airfield on Leyte. Their ground personnel were transported aboard 5th Air Force C-47 Skytrains.
During January 1945 the entire squadron is reunited at Tacloban Airfield and fly convoy cover, strikes on Iloilo and ground support missions on Cebu. On March 10, 1945 covers landings at Zamboanga with the forward echelon landing with the U.S. Army. For the remainder of the month close air support missions at Capisan and preinvasion strikes on Bongao and Jolo. In April 1945 covers the landing at Jolo and later in the month landings at Cotabato-Parang-Malabang. Until the end of the Pacific War, strikes targets on Mindanao.
References
NARA VMF-218 War Diary December 1944
History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II (1952) page 462 (VMF-218)
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