VMF-313

Marine Fighting Squadron 313 (VMF-313) was a reserve fighter squadron in the United States Marine Corps. They were a part of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing and stationed at Naval Air Station New York. Also known as the “Lily Packin' Hellbirds” and the "Lilly Packin' Death Falcons", they fought in World War II mainly during the Philippines Campaign, 1944-45. The squadron was decommissioned in the 1950s.

Marine Fighting Squadron 313
VMF-313 Insignia
ActiveOctober 1, 1943 – June 1, 1945
N/A - 1950s
CountryUnited States
AllegianceUnited States of America
BranchUnited States Marine Corps
TypeFighter squadron
RoleAir interdiction
Close air support
Part ofInactive
Nickname(s)Lily Packin' Hellbirds AKA Lily Packin' Death Falcons
EngagementsWorld War II
* Philippines Campaign, 1944-45

History

World War II

VMF-313 was commissioned at Marine Corps Air Station El Centro on October 1, 1943.[1] They trained there until May 1944 when they moved to Midway Island in the Pacific Ocean. There they continued to train including training with Charles Lindbergh in April 1944. In July 1944, the squadron flew to Emirau in the Solomon Islands and began to attack Japanese shipping in the area around Kavieng.

They arrived at Tacloban Airfield on Leyte on December 3, 1944 as part of Marine Aircraft Group 12. During the Philippines Campaign, 1944-45 the squadron lost 16 of its Vought F4U Corsairs.[2] In one notable incident while in the Philippines, Major Theodore Olsen, took off in a plane that had over 300 patches from earlier missions. The plane failed while airborne and Olsen was killed after he hit the tail while bailing out.[3]

During the War, VMF-313 was credited with destroying nine enemy aircraft in aerial combat.[4]

1950

The squadron was reactivated following World War II becoming part of the Marine Forces Reserve and were based out of New York state. They were decommissioned during the 1950s.

Unit awards

A unit citation or commendation is an award bestowed upon an organization for the action cited. Members of the unit who participated in said actions are allowed to wear on their uniforms the awarded unit citation. VMF-313 was presented with the following awards:

RibbonUnit Award
Presidential Unit Citation
Navy Unit Commendation
  Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
National Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Star

See also

Notes
  1. 3d MAW General Order 23-1943 Commissioning nine squadrons on 1 October 1943
  2. Sherrod, USMC WWII OOB, p. 467.
  3. Astor, Semper Fi, p.300.
  4. Crowder, USMC - Aviation Squadron Lineage, Insignia & History’’, p. 123.

References
Bibliography
  • Astor, Gerald (2005). Semper Fi in the Sky - The Marine Air Battles of World War II. New York: Random House. ISBN 0-89141-877-6.
  • Crowder, Michael J. (2000). United States Marine Corps Aviation Squadron Lineage, Insignia & History - Volume One - The Fighter Squadrons. Paducah, KY: Turner Publishing Company. ISBN 1-56311-926-9.
  • 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.
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