Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 244 (VMSB-244) "Bombing Banshees"
United States Marine Corps (USMC)

Background
On March 1, 1942 organized as Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 242 (VMSB-242) at Midway Airfield. On April 11, 1942 moves to Ewa Field on Oahu. On May 20, 1942 moves to Santa Barbara. On September 14, 1942 redesignated as Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 244 (VMSB-244). Nicknamed "Bombing Banshees".

Wartime History
On January 7, 1943 departs San Diego via Ewa Field on Oahu. On March 20, 1943 returns to Midway Airfield. On August 18, 1943 splits into two echelon and transfers back to Hawaii then deploys to the South Pacific (SoPAC). By October 1943 both echelons are reunited on Espritu Santo as part of Marine Air Grooup 24 (MAG-24).

On February 19, 1944 lost is SBD-4 Dauntless 10350 pilot 1st Lt. Hobart Kemp took off on an artillery spotting mission and returning was accidentally shot down by U.S. Army anti-aircraft fire.

On May 17, 1944 the squadron took off from Nissan Airfield (Green Island Airfield) on the first strike of their third tour of duty, led by Captain Richard Belyen on a dive bombing mission against Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul. Returning lost is SBD-5 Dauntless 28161 pilot Captain John A. Anderson (MIA).

References
NARA Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 244 (VMSB-244) War Diary 1 February 1944 to 29 February 1944
NARA Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 244 (VMSB-244) War Diary 1 May 1944 to 31 May 1944
History of Marine Corps in World War II (1952) page 466 (VMSB-244 squadron summary)

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