Background
On January 1, 1943 Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 236 (VMSB-236) in the U.S. Marine Corps (UMSC) was formed at Marine Corps Air Station Mojave in California. Nicknamed "Black Panthers" operated the SBD Dauntless dive bomber in the South Pacific (SoPAC).
Wartime History
On July 17, 1943 the squadron took off on training missions to practice instrument flying and dive bombing. Lost is SBD-5 Dauntless 10918 pilot Captain Leonard Mailloux (MIA) gunner Pfc Rosario Macone bailed out and survived.
On November 16, 1943 the flight echelon of VMSB-236 was transfered to Marine Air Wing 1 (MAW-1), Marine Air Group 14 (MAG-14).
On December 1, 1943 sixteen SBDs from the squadron took off on a bombing and strafing mission against Ballale Airfield on Ballale Island and Kara Airfield on Bougainville. Lost is SBD-5 Dauntless 11002 pilot Major Earl P. Paris, Jr. (MIA) and SBD-5 Dauntless 35976 pilot 1st Lt. Earle Bunch Whiteley (MIA).
On December 16, 1943 the squadron conducts a strike against Sohano Island and Bonis Airfield on Bougainville. Returning, SBD Dauntless 1st Lt. W. A. Monfort (survived) suffered an engine failure and accidentally crashed into SBD Dauntless 35968 pilot 1st Lt. Richard C. Oughton (survived). Shot down by anti-aircraft fire over the target is SBD Dauntless pilot Lt. Quinlan (survived).
On January 10, 1944 the squadron took off with four divisions led by Major Mc Daniel on a bombing mission against Rabaul. Lost inbound due to an engine failure was SBD 06738 pilot Collins (rescued) ditched off Ghizo Island. Over the target, Rabaul was covered by clouds that prevented bombing and returning the formation instead bombed their secondary target Cape Saint George on the southeast of New Ireland.
On January 14, 1944 36 SBD Dauntless from VMSB-341 and VMSB-236 plus 18 TBF Avengers on a strike against Rabaul. The bombers were escorted by 73 fighters including F4U Corsairs and F6F Hellcats. This was the first full scale attack by land based light bombers against Rabaul. Lost is SBD Dauntless 35971 pilot 1st Lt. Billy Ray Ramsey (MIA) gunner Sgt Charlie J. Sciara (POW, died in captivity).
On May 17, 1944 the squadron flew a bombing mission against Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul.
During January 1945 part of Marine Air Group 24 (MAG-24).
On February 1, 1945 nine planes bombed and strafed supply dumps and troop concentrations at Umingan.
On February 2, 1945 in the morning, nine planes bonbed ammunition dumps at Romas and San Isidro. At 12;10am, the squadron flew their first "air alert" mission, direct support for U.S. Army forces on the ground, with the planes orbiting until assigned a target via radio by an air-ground liason officer with the front line troops on the ground. The missions assigned may be reconnaissance, bombing or strafing, or a combination of any or all. A secondary target was designated if the liason officer had no target. On this first air alert, nine planes were on air alert, then hit the secondary target, Romas.
On February 3, 1945 nine planes were on air alert and hit the secondary target, Santiago. That same day, nine planes were on air alert to fly a reconnaissance mission over Plaridel. Over the target, SBD-6 Dauntless 54769 piloted by Captain Schluckebier had a radio failure and turned over the flight to Lt. Ronk. Next, his plane suffered an ignition failure, possibly from small arms fire and force landed wheels up in a rice paddy and was immediately rescued by U.S. Army soldiers in the vicinity and flown by Piper Cub to Guimba then by truck back to mangaldan Airfield at noon. That same day, nine planes on air alert hit the secondary target, Lal Lo.
On February 4, 1945 no missions due to bad weather. On February 5, 1945 the runway was muddy from the rain and flying suspsended. The squadron's pilots and gunners attended a lecture on escape and evasion on Formosa (Taiwan).
On February 6, 1945 nine planes bombed and strafed a supply and bivouac area at Gusing.
On February 7, 1945 eighteen planes bombed and strafed a supply area and troop concentrations along the Sacobia River. The rest of the day, missions were cancelled due to bad weather. At 9:00pm an air raid alert was sounded.
PARTIAL HISTORY
On February 12, 1945 ten planes bombed and strafed fuel dumps and oher installations at San Fernando.
On February 13, 1945 nine planes bombed and strafed personnel and supply areas at Digdig. The same day, ten planes bombed and strafed personnel and supply areas at Cauringen. One plane performed a test hop mission.
On February 14, 1945 nine planes bombed and strafed targets of opportunity at Montalban. That same day, nine planes flew an air alert bombing and strafing mission against troop concentrations and supplies at Bayanbayanen. Finally, nine planes flew an air alert and bombed troop concentrations and supplies in the Fort Mckinley area.
On February 15, 1945 squadron became part of
Marine Air Group 32 (MAG-32)..In the morning, nine planes flew an air alert mission and bombed artillery positions in the vicinity of Antipolo. That same day, nine planes flew an air alert mission and bombed and strafed artillery positions in the vicinity of Bayanbayanan. Later, ten planes bombed and strafed personnel and supply areas in the vicinity of Pentay.
During late March 1945 moves from Luzon to Zamboanga on Mindanao.
References
NARA Marine Scout Bombing Squadron Two Thirty Six (VMSB-236) War Diary January 1944
NARA Marine Scout Bombing Squadron Two Thirty Six (VMSB-236) War Diary January 1945
NARA Marine Scout Bombing Squadron Two Thirty Six (VMSB-236) War Diary February 1945
History of Marine Corps in World War II page XXX (VMSB-236 squadron summary)
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