Marine Transport Squadron 216 (VMR-216) was a reserve cargo squadron of the

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines or simply the Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expeditionar ...

that was based out of Washington. Known as the "Bulldogs", VMR-216 started out as a fighter squadron and participated in numerous combat engagements in the Pacific Theater during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

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 21 December 1972.

History

World War II

Marine Fighting Squadron 216 was formed at Marine Corps Air Station El Centro,

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

in January 1943 but was not officially commissioned until 16 September 1943 with Major Rivers J. Morrell, Jr. in command. Initially training in FM-1 Wildcats, the squadron transitioned to the

Vought Vought was the name of several related American aerospace firms. These have included, in the past, Lewis and Vought Corporation, Chance Vought, Vought-Sikorsky, LTV Aerospace (part of Ling-Temco-Vought), Vought Aircraft Companies, and 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 10 December 1943. By this time VMF-216 had at least partially transitioned to the F4U-1A Corsair, featuring a bubble canopy. On 4 August 1944, VMF-216 joined VMF(N)-534, VMF-217, and VMF-225 on

Guam Guam ( ; ) is an island that is an Territories of the United States, organized, unincorporated territory of the United States in the Micronesia subregion of the western Pacific Ocean. Guam's capital is Hagåtña, Guam, Hagåtña, and the most ...

following the invasion of the island by United States forces. Following this, they were based on the Essex Class

aircraft carrier An aircraft carrier is a warship that serves as a seagoing airbase, equipped with a full-length flight deck and hangar facilities for supporting, arming, deploying and recovering carrier-based aircraft, shipborne aircraft. Typically it is the ...

USS Wasp (CV-18) starting in early February 1945. Flying from the ''Wasp'' on 16 February 1945 as part of Task Force 58, VMF-216 took part in fighter sweeps against military airfields in the vicinity of

Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...

. Led by their commanding officer, Maj George E. Dooley, VMF-216 Corsairs strafed and bombed airfields at Yokosuka and Tateyama. 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 13 March 1945, VMF-216 was relieved and began transit back to the United States via

and

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; ) is an island U.S. state, state of the United States, in the Pacific Ocean about southwest of the U.S. mainland. One of the two Non-contiguous United States, non-contiguous U.S. states (along with Alaska), it is the only sta ...

. The squadron was decommissioned on 10 March 1946 at Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara.

Reserve Years

VMF-216 was reactivated on 1 July 1946 at Naval Air Station Seattle, Washington. The squadron was mobilized for a year during the

Korean War The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...

beginning on 22 October 1951. In 1958 it moved to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. On 1 December 1962 the squadron was redesignated as Marine Transport Squadron 216 (VMR-216) and continued training until finally being decommissioned on 21 December 1972.

Citations

References

;Bibliography * * * * ;Web
Memorial website for VMF-216 pilot killed during the war

History of VMF-216

External links