Marine Utility Squadron 253 (VMJ-253)
Marine Transport Squadron 253 (VMR-253)
United States Marine Corps (USMC)

Background
On March 11, 1942 formed as Marine Utility Squadron 253 (VMJ-253) in the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) at Ewa Field on Oahu equipped with the R4D. On June 1, 1942 assigned to Marine Air Group 25 (MAG-25) and was the first utility squadron deployed overseas to the South Pacific (SoPAC).

Wartime History
On September 1, 1942 arrives Tontouta Airfield near Nouméa on New Caledonia. On September 2, 1942 the squadron flies their first mission to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal.

On October 9, 1942 lost is R4D-1 01981 pilot Major Walter F. Kimball crashed into Ousassio Hill near Nouméa on New Caledonia.

On November 13, 1942 lost is R4D-1 4696 pilot 1st Lt. Joseph N. Abel took off from Espiritu Santo bound for Henderson Field. The weather was very bad and crashed while trying to land in a blinding rainstorm and went missing.

On November 15, 1942 lost is R4D-1 01648 pilot unknown on a flight from from Espiritu Santo bound for Henderson Field exploded over Savo Strait with the wreckage falling into the sea.

On June 8, 1943 lost is R4D-1 12406 pilot unknown crashed with 24 personnel.

During early 1944, became the founding component of South Pacific Combat Air Transport (SCAT). On June 15, 1944 became part of Transport Air Group (TAG) in the Central Pacific. On July 30, 1944 redesignated Marine Transport Squadron 253 (VMR-253). On August 18, 1944 the first flight echelon arrived on Guam but due to inadequet facilities later departed for Apamama Airfield. On August 19, 1944 the second flight echelon arrived on Tinian. On September 4, 1944 the squadron moved to Tarawa Airfield on Tarawa. On October 10, 1944 the flight echelon and ground echelon were reunited on Guam.

During February 1945 until March 1944 conducts evacuation flights of wounded from Iwo Jima. During April 1945 began flying to Okinawa until the end of the Pacific War.

Postwar
On July 18, 1946 reassigned to MAG-25 at MCAS El Toro.

Commanding Officers (C.O.)
Lt. Col. Perry K. Smith (March 11, 1942–May 31, 1942)
Major Harold A. Johnson (June 1, 1942–October 11, 1942)
Maj. Freeman H. Williams (October 15, 1943–November 3, 1943)
Maj. Douglas E. Keeler (November 4, 1943–January 23, 1944)
Maj. James F. Moran (January 24, 1944 last squadron C.O. under SCAT)

References
NARA Marine Utility Squadron Two Fifty Three War Diary February 1, 1943 to February 28, 1943
History of Marine Corps in World War II (1952) page 467 (VMR-253 squadron summary)

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