Marine Fighting Squadron 313 (VMF-313)
"Lily Packin' Hellbirds"
U.S. Marine Corps (USMC)

Background
On October 1, 1943 commissioned as Marine Fighting Squadron 313 (VMF-313) in the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) at El Centro in California. Nicknamed "Lily Packin' Hellbirds"

Wartime History
On March 22, 1944 moves to Ewa Field on Oahu. On April 13, 1944 moves to Midway Airfield. During June 1944 returns to Ewa Field. During September 1944 transfers to Emirau Airfield.

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 1, 1944 the air echelon was alerted to prepare for a move to the Philippines.

On December 2, 1944 at 7:30am the air echelon took off from Emirau Airfield on a flight to Hollandia. While landing at 11:30am, FG-1A Corsair piloted by Lt. Woodroof strike a parked B-24 with his wingtip and damaged his plane and remained behind. At 1:30pm the rest of the air echelon took off from Hollandia on a flight to Owi Airfield where they spent the night.

On December 3, 1944 at 8:00am 21 Corsairs took off from Owi Airfield bound for Peleliu Airfield. After landing at 11:30am one Corsair pilots Lt. Schnorf, Lt. Wolf and Lt. Kime were grounded for engine trouble and mechanical issues and remained behind. At 1:30pm the remaining eighteen Corsairs took off from Peleliu bound for Tacloban Airfield on Leyte arriving at 5:00pm.

On December 13, 1944 at 5:30am six Corsairs plus two Hellcat night fighters from Marine Fighting Squadron (Night) 541 took off from Tacloban Airfield to patrol over a U.S. convoy south of Leyte bound for Mindoro. In the predawn darkness with poor visibility and a low ceiling crashed on take off is FG-1A Corsiar 14531 pilot 1st Lt. William E. Bradley (KIA) and also lost is FG-1A Corsiar 14436 pilot Major Theodore Olsen (KIA).

References
NARA Marine Fighting Squadron 313 (VMF-313) War Diary December 1944
History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II (1952) page 467 (VMF-313)

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