Marine Attack Squadron 141
A former United States Marine Corps aviation squadron that served in the Pacific during World War II, later operated as a Marine Air Reserve unit, and was deactivated in 1969.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Marine Attack Squadron 141, commonly designated VMA-141, was a United States Marine Corps aviation squadron whose lineage began during World War II as Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 141, or VMSB-141. It was commissioned on 1 March 1942 at Camp Kearny in San Diego, California, after being formed largely from personnel associated with VMSB-132. The squadron was created for the Marine Corps's expanding wartime aviation structure and was initially organized for scout-bomber operations. The unit entered combat in the South Pacific in 1942. Its first aircraft echelon reached Henderson Field on Guadalcanal on 23 September 1942, where the squadron joined the Cactus Air Force, the combined Allied air force operating from the island during the Guadalcanal campaign. The squadron flew and supported offensive missions under extremely difficult conditions. During the Japanese naval bombardment of Henderson Field on the night of 13–14 October 1942, VMSB-141 suffered catastrophic losses: 26 of its 29 aircraft were destroyed, and five officers, including the commanding officer and executive officer, were killed. The squadron continued operating on Guadalcanal until 19 November 1942, after which its flight echelon moved to Samoa. Its ground echelon later departed for Efate in the New Hebrides on 19 January 1943. During its Guadalcanal service, 18 of the squadron's 41 officers were killed in action. VMSB-141 remained at Efate until May 1943, then moved to Auckland, New Zealand. It returned to the United States in September 1943 and arrived at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro in California. In January 1944, the squadron moved to Marine Corps Auxiliary Airfield Gillespie near San Diego for intensive training in low-level bombing and strafing using the Vought F4U Corsair. Its designation changed several times as its operational role evolved. On 14 October 1944 it became Marine Fighter Bombing Squadron 141, or VMBF-141. In May 1945 it was redesignated Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 141, or VMTB-141, and served as a training and replacement unit through the end of the war. It was deactivated on 10 September 1945. The squadron was reactivated on 5 July 1946 as part of the Marine Air Reserve at Naval Air Station Livermore. It moved to Naval Air Station Oakland on 15 September 1946 and subsequently operated in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 1949, the unit was commanded by Colonel James Swett, a Medal of Honor recipient. The squadron also saw service during the Korean War, although the available reference material does not provide a detailed account of its specific deployments or missions in that conflict. On 1 July 1962, the squadron moved to Naval Air Station Alameda and was redesignated Marine Attack Squadron 141, adopting the VMA-141 designation by which it is best known. It continued as a Marine Air Reserve attack unit until its final deactivation on 1 September 1969. Because it was a military unit rather than a commercial brand, its principal offering was operational military aviation capability, including scouting, bombing, fighter-bomber, torpedo-bomber, attack, training, and replacement functions across different periods of its history.
History
Marine Attack Squadron 141 traces its organizational history to Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 141, which was commissioned at Camp Kearny in San Diego on 1 March 1942. The squadron was formed during the rapid expansion of Marine Corps aviation and drew personnel from VMSB-132, including personnel associated with Marine Corps Air Facility Quantico. Its original mission centered on scout-bomber aviation. The squadron deployed to the South Pacific in August 1942. Its first aircraft arrived at Henderson Field on Guadalcanal on 23 September, placing the unit within the Cactus Air Force. The airfield was a critical Allied base during the Guadalcanal campaign and was repeatedly attacked by Japanese aircraft and naval forces. On the night of 13–14 October, the Japanese battleships Kongō and Haruna shelled the Henderson Field area from approximately 16,000 yards. The bombardment destroyed 26 of VMSB-141's 29 aircraft and killed five officers, including the commanding officer and executive officer. Despite the losses, the squadron remained engaged on Guadalcanal until 19 November 1942. Its flight echelon then transferred to Samoa, while the ground echelon moved to Efate in the New Hebrides in January 1943. The squadron's Guadalcanal losses included 18 of its 41 officers killed in action. VMSB-141 stayed at Efate until May 1943 and then relocated to Auckland, New Zealand. In September it returned to the United States, arriving at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro in California. The unit was sent in January 1944 to Marine Corps Auxiliary Airfield Gillespie near San Diego, where it conducted demanding low-level bombing and strafing training with the Vought F4U Corsair. As Marine aviation doctrine and aircraft employment changed, the squadron received new designations. It became Marine Fighter Bombing Squadron 141, VMBF-141, on 14 October 1944. In May 1945 it became Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 141, VMTB-141. In that final wartime configuration, it served as a training replacement squadron until the end of World War II. The unit was deactivated on 10 September 1945. The postwar Marine Air Reserve reactivated the squadron at Naval Air Station Livermore on 5 July 1946. It moved to Naval Air Station Oakland on 15 September of that year and operated in the San Francisco Bay Area. Colonel James Swett, a Medal of Honor recipient, commanded the squadron in 1949. The unit also saw service during the Korean War, but the available reference does not specify the dates, locations, aircraft, or individual operations involved. On 1 July 1962, the squadron moved to Naval Air Station Alameda and was redesignated Marine Attack Squadron 141. The VMA designation reflected its attack-aviation role in the Marine Air Reserve. The squadron remained associated with the Bay Area until it was finally deactivated on 1 September 1969. VMA-141 was therefore not a commercial brand or airline, but a decommissioned Marine Corps aviation organization whose identity changed repeatedly in response to mission and force-structure requirements.
- 1969
Final deactivation
[1]VMA-141 was deactivated on 1 September.
- 1962
Adoption of the VMA-141 designation
[1]The unit moved to Naval Air Station Alameda and was redesignated Marine Attack Squadron 141 on 1 July.
- 1946
Marine Air Reserve reactivation
[1]The squadron was reactivated at Naval Air Station Livermore on 5 July and moved to Naval Air Station Oakland in September.
- 1945
Torpedo-bomber redesignation and deactivation
[1]It became VMTB-141 in May and was deactivated on 10 September after serving as a training replacement squadron.
- 1944
Fighter-bomber redesignation
[1]The unit became Marine Fighter Bombing Squadron 141 on 14 October.
- 1943
Move to New Zealand
[1]After service at Efate, the squadron moved to Auckland in May.
- 1942
Squadron commissioned
[1]Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 141 was commissioned on 1 March at Camp Kearny in San Diego, California.
- 1942
Deployment to Guadalcanal
[1]The squadron's first aircraft echelon reached Henderson Field on 23 September and joined the Cactus Air Force.
- 1942
Henderson Field bombardment
[1]A Japanese naval bombardment on 13–14 October destroyed most of the squadron's aircraft and killed five officers.
Products and positioning
A United States Marine Corps aviation unit whose role changed from World War II scout-bomber and fighter-bomber operations to postwar reserve and attack aviation. The squadron was distinguished by its participation in the Cactus Air Force during Guadalcanal and by its long postwar association with Marine Air Reserve facilities in Northern California.
Military aviation capability · 1942
Scout-bomber aviation
The squadron was initially organized as a Marine scout-bombing unit. Its early wartime mission combined aerial observation and offensive bombing support, particularly during the Guadalcanal campaign. The reference material identifies the unit's VMSB designation but does not provide a complete aircraft inventory for this period.
Fighter-bomber aviation · 1944
Vought F4U Corsair operations and training
In 1944, the squadron conducted intensive low-level bombing and strafing training using the Vought F4U Corsair. This training supported its transition into a fighter-bomber organization and formed part of the unit's preparation for changing Marine aviation requirements.
Training and replacement aviation · 1945
Torpedo-bomber replacement training
Following its May 1945 redesignation as VMTB-141, the squadron served as a training replacement squadron through the end of World War II. The available source does not identify a specific aircraft type associated with this phase.
Reserve military aviation · 1962
Marine Air Reserve attack aviation
After reactivation in 1946 and redesignation as VMA-141 in 1962, the unit provided Marine Air Reserve attack-aviation capability from facilities in the San Francisco Bay Area. It remained an operational military unit until its deactivation in 1969.
Marketing campaigns
- 1942Guadalcanal campaign
Guadalcanal · South Pacific
As VMSB-141, the squadron operated from Henderson Field as part of the Cactus Air Force. It remained on Guadalcanal from September to November 1942 and endured major aircraft and personnel losses during the Japanese naval bombardment of the airfield.
Outcome. The flight echelon transferred to Samoa in November 1942, while the ground echelon later moved to Efate. The squadron continued its wartime service despite severe losses.
- Korean War service
Korean War theater
The squadron is recorded as having seen service during the Korean War. The available reference does not provide enough detail to identify its deployment dates, base, aircraft, or specific missions.
Brand decisions
1962
Redesignation as Marine Attack Squadron 141Generation changeBackground
The unit's mission and organizational designation were aligned with Marine attack aviation.
Action taken
On 1 July 1962, the squadron moved to Naval Air Station Alameda and became Marine Attack Squadron 141, VMA-141.
Aftermath
It continued as a Marine Air Reserve attack squadron until its final deactivation in 1969.
1946
Reactivation in the Marine Air ReserveStrategyBackground
The postwar Marine Corps re-established reserve aviation units after the squadron's wartime deactivation.
Action taken
VMTB-141 was reactivated on 5 July 1946 at Naval Air Station Livermore and later relocated to Naval Air Station Oakland.
Aftermath
The squadron resumed service as a reserve aviation organization in the San Francisco Bay Area.
1945
Conversion to a torpedo-bomber training and replacement unitStrategyBackground
Marine aviation reorganized the squadron's role during the final months of World War II.
Action taken
In May 1945, the unit was redesignated Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 141 and assigned a training replacement function.
Aftermath
It retained this role until the end of the war and was deactivated on 10 September 1945.
1944
Transition to fighter-bomber operationsGeneration changeBackground
The squadron undertook low-level bombing and strafing training with the Vought F4U Corsair after returning to California.
Action taken
On 14 October 1944, it was redesignated Marine Fighter Bombing Squadron 141, or VMBF-141.
Aftermath
The redesignation marked a shift from the earlier scout-bomber identity toward fighter-bomber employment.
Recent events
- 1969
VMA-141 is deactivated[1]
Other
The Marine Air Reserve attack squadron was deactivated on 1 September 1969, ending its recorded organizational existence.
- 1962
VMTB-141 is redesignated Marine Attack Squadron 141[1]
Product generation
After moving to Naval Air Station Alameda on 1 July 1962, the squadron adopted the VMA-141 designation.
- 1946
Postwar Marine Air Reserve reactivation[1]
Leadership change
The squadron was reactivated on 5 July 1946 at Naval Air Station Livermore as part of the Marine Air Reserve and moved to Naval Air Station Oakland later that year.
- 1945
VMBF-141 becomes VMTB-141[1]
Product generation
In May 1945, the unit adopted the Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 141 designation and served in a training and replacement role through the end of World War II.
- 1944
VMSB-141 is redesignated VMBF-141[1]
Product generation
The squadron changed from its scout-bombing designation to Marine Fighter Bombing Squadron 141 on 14 October 1944.
- 1942
VMSB-141 joins the Cactus Air Force on Guadalcanal[1]
Other
The squadron's first aircraft echelon reached Henderson Field on Guadalcanal in September 1942 and became part of the Allied Cactus Air Force during the Guadalcanal campaign.
- 1942
Japanese bombardment causes severe VMSB-141 losses[1]
Other
The overnight bombardment of Henderson Field on 13–14 October destroyed 26 of the squadron's 29 aircraft and killed five officers, including its commanding and executive officers.
Sources1 sources
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