VMF-216

Marine Fighting Squadron 216 (VMF-216) was a reserve fighter squadron of the United States Marine Corps that was based out of Washington. Known as the “Bulldogs”, VMF-216 participated in numerous combat engagements in the Pacific Theater during World War II to include the Battle of Guam and the Battle of Iwo Jima. The squadron was decommissioned shortly after the end of the war but was reactivated in 1946 as part of the Marine Air Reserve. The squadron remained in the Reserve until being decommissioned on December 21, 1972.

Marine Fighting Squadron 216
VMF-216 insignia
Active
  • Sep 16, 1943 - Mar 10, 1946
  • Jul 1, 1946 - Dec 21, 1972
CountryUnited States
AllegianceUnited States of America
BranchUnited States Marine Corps
TypeFighter squadron
RoleAir interdiction
Part ofInactive
Nickname(s)Bulldogs
EngagementsWorld War II
* Battle of Guam
* Battle of Iwo Jima
Aircraft flown
FighterF4F Wildcat
F4U Corsair
Grumman F6F Hellcat

History

World War II

Marine Fighting Squadron 216 was formed at Marine Corps Air Station El Centro, California in January 1943 but was not officially commissioned until September 16, 1943 with Major Rivers J. Morrell, Jr. in command.[1] Initially training in FM-1 Wildcats, the squadron transitioned to the Vought F4U-1 Corsair and operated roughly 18 of these aircraft at any one time.

VMF-216 was the first squadron to land at the recently opened Torokina Airfield on December 10, 1943.[2] By this time VMF-216 had at least partially transitioned to the F4U-1A Corsair, featuring a bubble canopy.

On August 4, 1944, VMF-216 joined VMF(N)-534, VMF-217, and VMF-225 on Guam following the invasion of the island by United States forces. Following this, they were based on the Essex Class aircraft carrier USS Wasp (CV-18) starting in early February 1945. Flying from the Wasp on February 16, 1945 as part of Task Force 58, VMF-216 took part in fighter sweeps against military airfields in the vicinity of Tokyo. Led by their commanding officer, Maj George E. Dooley, VMF-216 Corsairs strafed and bombed airfields at Yokosuka and Tateyama.[3] Following the carrier raids on Tokyo, the squadron provided close air support for Marine assault forces during the Battle of Iwo Jima. The squadron remained aboard until Wasp retired to the west coast for overhaul of battle damage. On March 13, 1945, VMF-216 was relieved and began transit back to the United States via Guam and Hawaii.[4] The squadron was decommissioned on March 10, 1946 at Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara.[5]

Reserve Years

VMF-216 was reactivated on July 1, 1946 at Naval Air Station Seattle, Washington. The squadron was mobilized for a year during the Korean War beginning on October 22, 1951. In 1958 it moved to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and continued training until finally being decommissioned on December 21, 1972.[2]

See also


Citations
  1. Sherrod 1952, pp. 462.
  2. Tillman 2014, pp. 109.
  3. Condon 1998, pp. 27–28.
  4. Condon 1998, pp. 49.
  5. Rottman 2002, pp. 442.

References
Bibliography
  • Condon, John Pomeroy (1998). Corsairs and Flattops - Marine Carrier Air Warfare, 1944-45. Annapolis Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-127-0.
  • Rottman, Gordon L. (2002). U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle - Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War, 1939 - 1945.’’. Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-31906-5.
  • Sherrod, Robert (1952). History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II. Washington, D.C.: Combat Forces Press.
  • Tillman, Barrett (2014). US Marine Corps Fighter Squadrons of World War II. Oxford, United Kingdom: Osprey Publishing.
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