Marine Fighting Squadron 132
Marine Fighting Squadron 132 was a United States Marine Corps aviation squadron that served as a dive-bomber and torpedo-bomber unit in the Pacific during World War II.
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Overview
Marine Fighting Squadron 132, commonly identified by the designation VMF-132 and historically known by the nickname “The Crying Red Asses,” was a United States Marine Corps aviation unit whose lineage extended through several changes in designation and mission. Although its final designation was Marine Fighting Squadron 132, much of its World War II service was performed as Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 132, or VMSB-132, and later as Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 132, or VMTB-132. It should therefore be understood as a military aviation organization rather than a commercial brand. The squadron was established in San Diego in 1932 as Marine Bombing Squadron 6, or VB-6M. It was briefly deactivated in 1933 and reactivated in January 1935. On 1 July 1937, it became Marine Bombing Squadron 1, VMB-1. Another redesignation on 1 July 1941 created Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 132. At the beginning of the Pacific War, the unit was based at Marine Corps Air Station Quantico, Virginia, as part of Marine Aircraft Group 11. It operated Douglas SBD-1 Dauntless dive bombers and, under Major A. D. Cooley, had 19 aircraft available when the United States entered the war. The squadron departed San Diego aboard the transport Lurline on 13 October 1942. Its personnel reached Nouméa, New Caledonia, on 28 October and arrived at Henderson Field on Guadalcanal two days later. There it joined the Cactus Air Force, the composite Allied air force defending Guadalcanal. From October through December 1942, its aircraft conducted dive-bombing and close-support missions under difficult conditions against Japanese positions, ships, and airfields. The squadron was relieved by VMSB-233 in December. Its pilots and gunners left Guadalcanal on 24 December and reached Sydney, Australia, at the end of the month for rest and reorganization. After retraining and reunion with its ground echelon at Espiritu Santo, the unit joined the Thirteenth Air Force Strike Command. From this base it attacked Japanese bases and shipping and provided support to Allied forces in the Solomon Islands area. It returned to Guadalcanal in June 1943 and continued operations there until departing for the United States on 26 October 1943. In 1944 the squadron was reorganized and trained at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro as part of Marine Base Defense Air Group 41. On 14 October 1944, it was redesignated Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 132. The unit began receiving Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bombers in November and conducted further training at Marine Corps Air Station Mojave from 15 December 1944 to 16 January 1945. It remained in training before embarking aboard USS Cape Gloucester on 21 May 1945. The squadron reached Leyte on 29 June and operated over the East China Sea during July and August 1945. Following Japan’s defeat, the squadron moved to Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Hawaii, where it was decommissioned on 9 November 1945. It was later reactivated in the Marine Air Reserve at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, New York, and was decommissioned again sometime after 1958. The unit received the Presidential Unit Citation for its Guadalcanal-Tulagi service from 7 August through 9 December 1942. Among its notable personnel were Major Joseph Sailer Jr., who received the Navy Cross for actions during the Guadalcanal fighting, and Second Lieutenant Frank Christen, who was posthumously recognized after being lost and captured during a night attack in the Solomon Islands.
History
The unit’s lineage began in San Diego in 1932, when Marine Bombing Squadron 6 was formed. After a short deactivation in 1933, it returned to service in January 1935. The squadron became Marine Bombing Squadron 1 on 1 July 1937 and was redesignated Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 132 on 1 July 1941. At the opening of World War II in the Pacific, the squadron was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11 and based at Marine Corps Air Station Quantico. It flew Douglas SBD-1 Dauntless dive bombers. In October 1942, the squadron sailed from San Diego to the South Pacific, reaching Nouméa on 28 October and Henderson Field on Guadalcanal on 30 October. As part of the Cactus Air Force, it participated in the Guadalcanal campaign through December, carrying out attacks and air-support missions despite severe operational conditions. The squadron was relieved by another Marine scout-bomber unit and departed Guadalcanal on 24 December. After rest and reorganization in Australia, the unit moved to Espiritu Santo and joined the Thirteenth Air Force Strike Command. Its missions included strikes against Japanese bases and shipping and support for Allied forces. It returned to Guadalcanal in June 1943 and continued flying from there until returning to the United States in October. The squadron entered a new training phase in 1944 at El Toro. On 14 October it was redesignated Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 132 and began converting to Grumman TBF Avengers. Training continued at Mojave through early 1945. After embarking aboard USS Cape Gloucester in May, the squadron reached Leyte in June and conducted operations in the East China Sea during July and August 1945. The postwar unit moved to Ewa, Hawaii, and was decommissioned on 9 November 1945. It was subsequently reactivated as a Marine Air Reserve squadron at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn. The reserve incarnation was decommissioned sometime after 1958. The unit’s World War II service was recognized with the Presidential Unit Citation for Guadalcanal-Tulagi, covering 7 August through 9 December 1942.
- 1945
East China Sea operations
[1]After reaching Leyte, the squadron operated in the East China Sea during July and August.
- 1945
Postwar decommissioning
[1]The squadron was decommissioned at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Hawaii, on 9 November.
- 1944
Conversion to torpedo bombing
[1]The unit was redesignated VMTB-132 on 14 October and began receiving TBF Avenger aircraft in November.
- 1943
Return to the United States
[1]After operations from Guadalcanal and the Solomon Islands, the squadron returned to the United States on 26 October.
- 1942
Arrival at Guadalcanal
[1]VMSB-132 reached Henderson Field on 30 October and joined the Cactus Air Force during the Guadalcanal campaign.
- 1941
Redesignated VMSB-132
[1]On 1 July, the unit became Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 132.
- 1937
Redesignated VMB-1
[1]On 1 July, the unit became Marine Bombing Squadron 1.
- 1935
Reactivation
[1]The squadron was reactivated in January.
- 1933
Initial deactivation
[1]The newly formed squadron was deactivated shortly after its establishment.
- 1932
Squadron lineage begins
[1]Marine Bombing Squadron 6 was formed in San Diego, establishing the lineage that later became associated with VMF-132.
Products and positioning
A frontline United States Marine Corps aviation squadron focused first on scout-bomber and dive-bomber operations, later transitioning to torpedo-bomber missions in the Pacific Theater during World War II.
Dive bomber
Douglas SBD-1 Dauntless
The squadron’s principal aircraft at the start of World War II was the Douglas SBD-1 Dauntless. VMSB-132 used these carrier-derived scout bombers for dive attacks, reconnaissance-related missions, anti-shipping strikes, and close air support during the Guadalcanal and Solomon Islands campaigns.
Torpedo bomber · 1944
Grumman TBF Avenger
After its October 1944 conversion to Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 132, the unit began receiving Grumman TBF Avengers. The larger torpedo bomber supported the squadron’s later training and operational role, including missions conducted from the western Pacific and over the East China Sea in 1945.
Marketing campaigns
- 1945East China Sea operations
Leyte · East China Sea
After conversion to the torpedo-bomber role and deployment aboard USS Cape Gloucester, the squadron reached Leyte and flew missions in the East China Sea during July and August.
Outcome. Operations ended with the conclusion of the Pacific War, followed by the unit’s postwar move to Hawaii.
- 1943Central Solomon Islands operations
Central Solomon Islands · Espiritu Santo · Guadalcanal
Following rest and reorganization, the squadron joined the Thirteenth Air Force Strike Command and attacked nearby Japanese bases and shipping while providing air support to Allied forces.
Outcome. The squadron returned to Guadalcanal in June and completed its overseas operations before returning to the United States in October.
- 1942Battle of Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal · Tulagi · South Pacific
As VMSB-132, the squadron operated from Henderson Field as part of the Cactus Air Force from 30 October through December 1942. It conducted dive-bombing and support missions against Japanese forces during the Guadalcanal campaign.
Outcome. The squadron was relieved in December and received the Presidential Unit Citation for the Guadalcanal-Tulagi period from 7 August through 9 December 1942.
Brand decisions
1944
Conversion from scout bombing to torpedo bombingGeneration changeBackground
The squadron was reorganized during a broader wartime transition in mission and aircraft type.
Action taken
On 14 October, it was redesignated Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 132 and began receiving TBF Avengers in November.
Aftermath
The unit trained through early 1945 and later operated from Leyte in the East China Sea area.
Sources1 sources
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