Marine Scout Bomber Squadron 144 (VMSB-144)
Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 144 (VMTB-144)
"Hensagliska"
United States Marine Corps (USMC)

Background
Marine Scout Bomber Squadron 144 (VMSB-144) was commissioned on September 7, 1942 at NAS San Diego. The squadron's nickname was "Hensagliska", Sioux American Indian word meaning "Little Warrior, Brave Warrior" with a motif of a young Indian holding an aerial bomb under one arm with his fist raised and leg pointed forward. Equipped with the SBD Dauntless dive bomber.

Wartime History
During early 1943, sent overseas to the South Pacific (SoPAC) based at Noumea and Efaté where the ground echelon remained. On February 5, 1943 the flight echelon arrived at Henderson Field on Guadalcanal and began flying combat missions until March 12, 1943 then returned to Efaté.

On June 15, 1943 and June 16, 1943 the squadron flew their SBDs or aboard SCAT R4Ds from Espiritu Santo north to Henderson Field for their second tour of duty.

On June 18, 1943 six SBDs from the 1st Division fly an anti-submarine mission over Santa Isabel and Malaita without any sightings.

On June 20, 1943 eighteen SBDs took off on a dive bombing and strafing mission each armed with a 1,000 pound bomb against anti-aircraft gun positions at Vila Airfield on Kolombangara with 18 TBF Avengers escorted by 12 F4F Wildcats and 14 P-40 Warhawks. Over the target, considerable anti-aircraft fire was experienced. Returning, SBD pilot Lt. Carr landed in the Russell Islands but then returned to Henderson Field. Three SBDs returned with minor damage.

At the start of July 1943, the squadron had 34 officers, 266 enlisted men equipped with 22 SBD-4 Dauntless dive bombers. The flight echelon was temporarily attached to Marine Air Group 11 (MAG-11) operated from the Banika Field (North Field) in the Russell Islands with their SBDs on standby for any dive bombing mission that may be required. Meanwhile, the ground echelon remained attached to MAG-12 (MAG-12) at Henderson Field.

On July 5, 1943 twelve SBDs took off at 12:24pm on a dive bombing mission mission each armed with a 1,000 pound bomb against gun emplacements at Munda. Approaching the target area, a heavy front was encountered south of Gatukai and the formation attempted to fly around it and were vectored to attack two barges but they could not be found. While attempting to strike the original target, bad weather and rain prevented any bombing and the planes returned with two jettisoning their bombs because they were low on fuel and all planes landed safely.

On July 23, 1943 seventeen SBDs from the squadron mission each armed with a 1,000 pound bomb flew a dive bombing mission against anti-aircraft guns at Gurasai near Munda. Damaged by anti-aircraft fire, SBD-4 Dauntless 10348 pilot Lt. James Wilson Dougherty (survived) ditched into Rendova Harbor.

Afterwards, returned to Henderson Field, the back to Efaté for rest and recuperation.

On October 15, 1943 the fight echelon moves to Munda Airfield for their third tour of duty and during the Bougainville campaign provided close air support until January 1944.

On January 12, 1944 departed by ship across the Pacific to California and were based at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. On October 14, 1944 redesignated Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 144 (VMTB-144).

Postwar
On December 9, 1945 deactivated. Reactivated in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves (USMCR) as Marine Attack Squadron 144 (VMA-144) based at NAS Jacksonville and NAS Cecil Field. Decommissioned October 31, 1965.

References
NARA VMSB-144 War Diary July 1943
History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II (1952) pages XXX (VMSB-144 squadron summary)

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