Marine Fighter Squadron 113

Marine Fighter Squadron 113, designated VMF-113 and nicknamed the "Whistling Devils," was a United States Marine Corps aviation unit that operated during World War II and later served in the Marine Forces Reserve. It was established on 1 January 1943 at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California, as part of Marine Base Defense Air Group 41. The squadron was equipped with the Vought F4U Corsair, a carrier-capable fighter that became one of the principal American aircraft of the Pacific War. After forming and training in California, VMF-113 departed San Diego for Hawaii on 28 September 1943. The squadron continued its preparation at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa before joining operations connected with the reduction of Japanese positions in the Marshall Islands. In early 1944 it moved through Tarawa and Kwajalein before beginning operations from Engebi on 27 February as part of the 4th Base Defense Air Wing. From the central Pacific, its missions included fighter operations, bomber escort, attacks on Japanese installations, and support for amphibious activity. The squadron recorded its first aerial victories on 26 March 1944 while escorting four North American B-25 bombers on a raid against Ponape. According to the squadron's historical account, VMF-113 pilots destroyed eight Japanese aircraft during that mission. In April, the unit supported the landings at Ujelang, which encountered no significant opposition, and then returned to strikes against Japanese targets in the Marshall Islands for the rest of the year. In 1945, VMF-113 joined the Okinawa campaign. It arrived at Ie Shima on 6 May as part of Marine Aircraft Group 22 and entered combat the following day during a large Japanese kamikaze attack against the American fleet assembled for the invasion. The squadron moved to Okinawa in July and remained there through the end of the war. Over the course of World War II, it was credited with twenty enemy aircraft destroyed. Following Japan's surrender, the squadron relocated to Omura on Kyushu on 20 September 1945. It remained there until late November, returned by sea to the United States, and arrived in San Diego on 5 December. VMF-113 was subsequently based again at MCAS El Toro and was deactivated on 30 April 1947. The unit was reactivated in the Marine Forces Reserve in 1951 at Naval Air Station Olathe, Kansas, alongside VMF-215. Its postwar history reflected the rapid development of Marine fighter aviation. It transitioned to the Grumman F9F Cougar in 1958 and to the Douglas F4D Skyray in 1962. Because reserve aviation faced aircraft shortages, VMF-113 shared aircraft with VMF-215 and two United States Navy reserve squadrons. In 1964, following an aircraft upgrade, it was redesignated VMF(AW)-113. The designation was short-lived: after transitioning to the daytime-only Vought F-8 Crusader in April 1965, the squadron reverted to VMF-113. It was deactivated for the final time on 22 October 1965 and remains inactive.

VMF-113 was commissioned on 1 January 1943 at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro as a component of Marine Base Defense Air Group 41. It received a full complement of twenty-four F4U Corsairs and spent most of 1943 training in preparation for deployment to the Pacific. The squadron sailed from San Diego on 28 September 1943 and continued its operational preparation after reaching Hawaii, where its aircraft and personnel were associated with Marine Corps Air Station Ewa. In January 1944, the squadron was assigned to operations against Japanese garrisons in the Marshall Islands. It moved through Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands and Kwajalein before establishing operations at Engebi on 27 February as part of the 4th Base Defense Air Wing. Its missions included attacks against Japanese positions in the western Caroline Islands and other targets across the central Pacific. On 26 March, while escorting four B-25 bombers during a raid on Ponape, VMF-113 achieved its first recorded aerial victories, claiming eight Japanese aircraft. The squadron also supported the landings at Ujelang in April; because the landing was unopposed, it soon returned to offensive operations in the Marshall Islands. VMF-113's next major combat phase came during the Battle of Okinawa. On 6 May 1945 it landed on Ie Shima with Marine Aircraft Group 22. The following day it fought during a mass kamikaze raid directed at the American fleet gathered for the invasion. In July the squadron relocated to Okinawa, where it remained for the rest of the war. Its World War II record included twenty enemy aircraft shot down. After the war ended, VMF-113 moved to Omura on Kyushu on 20 September 1945. It stayed there until late November, then returned to the United States by sea, arriving in San Diego on 5 December. The squadron was later stationed at MCAS El Toro and was deactivated on 30 April 1947. The unit returned to service in the Marine Forces Reserve in 1951 at Naval Air Station Olathe, Kansas. During the reserve period it operated alongside VMF-215 and dealt with aircraft shortages by sharing aircraft with that squadron and two Navy reserve squadrons. VMF-113 transitioned to the F9F Cougar in 1958 and the F4D Skyray in 1962. In 1964, an aircraft upgrade led to the temporary designation VMF(AW)-113. The unit changed back to VMF-113 after moving to the daytime-only F-8 Crusader in April 1965. It was deactivated on 22 October 1965 and has remained inactive since then.

• 1965

  Final deactivation

  [1]VMF-113en.wikipedia.org

  After transitioning to the F-8 Crusader and reverting to VMF-113, the squadron was deactivated on 22 October.

• 1964

  Temporary VMF(AW) designation

  [1]VMF-113en.wikipedia.org

  Following an aircraft upgrade, the unit was redesignated VMF(AW)-113.

• 1951

  Reserve reactivation

  [1]VMF-113en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron was reactivated at Naval Air Station Olathe, Kansas, as a Marine Forces Reserve unit.

• 1947

  First postwar deactivation

  [1]VMF-113en.wikipedia.org

  VMF-113 was deactivated on 30 April after returning from Japan and being based at MCAS El Toro.

• 1945

  Okinawa campaign

  [1]VMF-113en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron arrived at Ie Shima on 6 May with MAG-22 and later moved to Okinawa in July.

• 1944

  Marshall Islands operations begin

  [1]VMF-113en.wikipedia.org

  VMF-113 moved through Tarawa and Kwajalein and began operating from Engebi on 27 February.

• 1944

  First recorded aerial victories

  [1]VMF-113en.wikipedia.org

  On 26 March, the squadron escorted four B-25 bombers over Ponape and claimed eight Japanese aircraft destroyed.

• 1943

  Squadron commissioned

  [1]VMF-113en.wikipedia.org

  VMF-113 was commissioned on 1 January at MCAS El Toro as part of Marine Base Defense Air Group 41 and equipped with F4U Corsairs.

• 1943

  Deployment to Hawaii

  [1]VMF-113en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron departed San Diego on 28 September and continued combat preparation at MCAS Ewa.

A Marine Corps fighter squadron organized for Pacific air defense, offensive fighter operations, escort, and support of amphibious campaigns.

• World War II fighter aircraft · 1943

  Vought F4U Corsair

  The Corsair was VMF-113's principal aircraft during its World War II formation and Pacific combat operations. The squadron received twenty-four aircraft and used them for fighter sweeps, bomber escort, attacks on Japanese positions, base defense, and support of amphibious operations.

• Postwar reserve jet fighter · 1958

  Grumman F9F Cougar

  VMF-113 transitioned to the F9F Cougar in 1958 during its Marine Forces Reserve period. The change marked the squadron's movement from piston-engine Corsairs to postwar jet fighter operations.

• Postwar reserve jet fighter · 1962

  Douglas F4D Skyray

  The squadron began operating the F4D Skyray in 1962. Aircraft availability was constrained in the reserve system, leading VMF-113 to share aircraft with VMF-215 and two Navy reserve squadrons.

• Day fighter aircraft · 1965

  Vought F-8 Crusader

  VMF-113 transitioned to the daytime-only F-8 Crusader in April 1965. The aircraft change accompanied the return from the temporary VMF(AW)-113 designation to VMF-113 before the squadron's final deactivation.

• 1945Battle of Okinawa

  Ie Shima · Okinawa

  As part of Marine Aircraft Group 22, VMF-113 arrived at Ie Shima in May 1945 and engaged during a major kamikaze raid. It moved to Okinawa in July and supported operations until the end of the war.

  Outcome. The squadron remained in the Okinawa area through Japan's surrender and was credited with twenty enemy aircraft destroyed during World War II.

  Source
• 1944Marshall Islands operations

  Marshall Islands · Western Caroline Islands

  VMF-113 operated from Engebi after moving through Tarawa and Kwajalein. It conducted fighter and strike missions against Japanese positions and supported operations connected with the reduction of remaining Japanese garrisons.

  Outcome. The squadron continued operations through 1944 and recorded its first aerial victories during a March bomber-escort mission over Ponape.

  Source

• 1965

  Transition to the F-8 CrusaderGeneration change

  Background

  The squadron's aircraft modernization continued during its final year of reserve service.

  Action taken

  In April, VMF(AW)-113 moved to the daytime-only F-8 Crusader and resumed the VMF-113 designation.

  Aftermath

  The squadron was deactivated several months later, on 22 October 1965.

  Source

• 1964

  Redesignation as VMF(AW)-113Other

  Background

  The unit received an aircraft upgrade during its reserve service.

  Action taken

  VMF-113 was temporarily redesignated VMF(AW)-113.

  Aftermath

  The designation was later reversed after the squadron transitioned to the F-8 Crusader.

  Source

• 1962

  Transition to the F4D SkyrayGeneration change

  Background

  VMF-113 operated in the Marine Forces Reserve during a period of aircraft shortages affecting reserve aviation.

  Action taken

  The squadron moved to the F4D Skyray and shared aircraft with other reserve units.

  Aftermath

  Aircraft pooling continued with VMF-215 and two Navy reserve squadrons.

  Source

• 1958

  Transition to the F9F CougarGeneration change

  Background

  The reactivated reserve squadron continued modernizing its aircraft after returning to service in 1951.

  Action taken

  VMF-113 replaced its earlier reserve fighter equipment with the F9F Cougar.

  Aftermath

  The transition began the squadron's sequence of postwar jet-fighter changes.

  Source

1. 1VMF-113en.wikipedia.org