Marine Fighting Squadron 155

Marine Fighting Squadron 155, commonly identified by the designation VMF-155 and the nickname “Ready Teddy,” was a United States Marine Corps aviation unit active during World War II. Although it ultimately carried the VMF designation associated with a Marine fighter squadron, the unit began its wartime existence as Marine Observation Squadron 155, or VMO-155. It was activated on 1 October 1942 as part of Marine Aircraft Group 13 and initially operated from American Samoa. The squadron’s first aircraft included the Curtiss-Wright SBC Helldiver, a biplane dive bomber, and the Grumman J2F-5 Duck amphibious aircraft. In December 1942, most of its personnel were sent to Guadalcanal as replacements. A small cadre remained in the United States and was ordered to Camp Kearny in San Diego to rebuild, re-equip, and train. During early 1943, the unit transitioned toward the F4F-3P Wildcat, a photographic-reconnaissance adaptation of the Wildcat fighter, and began carrier-qualification work. Its most distinctive operational milestone came in April 1943, when a squadron detachment embarked aboard USS Nassau during the invasion of Attu in the Aleutian Islands. This deployment made the detachment the first Marine squadron to operate from an aircraft carrier during World War II. It was also the only Marine squadron to operate in the North Pacific during that conflict. After the Aleutian operation, the detachment returned to the main squadron in June 1943, after which the unit continued training at Marine Corps Air Station El Centro. In February 1944, VMO-155 moved to Midway Atoll to join the local garrison. Four months later it transferred to Marine Corps Air Station Ewa in Hawaii, where its personnel were again divided into separate ground and flight elements. The ground echelon went to Kwajalein, while the flight echelon operated from Roi. From these bases, the squadron supported strikes against Japanese-held positions in the Marshall Islands for the remainder of the war. Its aircraft roster later included the F4U Corsair, reflecting the unit’s evolution from observation and reconnaissance work toward a fighter role. On 31 January 1945, the squadron was redesignated Marine Fighting Squadron 155. The new designation formalized its fighter identity, but the unit remained part of the broader Marine aviation effort in the Pacific. Among its pilots was John Glenn, who later became a distinguished Marine aviator, test pilot, astronaut, and United States senator. VMF-155 was deactivated on 15 October 1945, shortly after the end of hostilities with Japan, and has remained inactive. It is therefore best understood as a historical military aviation unit rather than a commercial brand, with its identity defined by service lineage, aircraft operations, and wartime deployments.

Marine Fighting Squadron 155 originated as Marine Observation Squadron 155, activated on 1 October 1942 within Marine Aircraft Group 13. The unit was initially stationed in American Samoa and received the SBC Helldiver biplane dive bomber and J2F-5 Duck amphibious aircraft. Its early organization was disrupted in December 1942 when most personnel were sent to Guadalcanal as replacements. A smaller cadre of six officers and fifteen enlisted personnel remained associated with the squadron and was sent to Camp Kearny in San Diego, California, to rebuild and prepare for renewed operations. Beginning in January 1943, the squadron trained with the F4F-3P Wildcat, an aircraft configured for photographic reconnaissance. It also undertook carrier qualification. In April, a detachment deployed aboard USS Nassau for the invasion of Attu in the Aleutian Islands. This operation gave the unit a unique place in Marine aviation history: it was the first Marine squadron to operate from an aircraft carrier during World War II and the only Marine squadron to operate in the North Pacific during that war. After the Aleutian operation, the detachment rejoined the squadron in June 1943. The reconstituted unit moved to Marine Corps Air Station El Centro for additional training. In February 1944, it transferred to Midway Atoll and became part of the island’s garrison. After four months at Midway, the squadron relocated to Marine Corps Air Station Ewa in Hawaii. Its personnel were then divided between forward positions: the ground echelon went to Kwajalein and the flight echelon to Roi. From these bases, the squadron participated in strikes against the Marshall Islands through the remainder of the war. The squadron’s aircraft and mission profile developed during this period. It began with observation, reconnaissance, and light attack capabilities, transitioned through the photographic-reconnaissance Wildcat, and later operated the F4U Corsair in a fighter role. On 31 January 1945, the unit was formally redesignated Marine Fighting Squadron 155, or VMF-155. The designation marked its evolution from VMO-155, although its wartime service remained connected to the wider Marine Corps system of reconnaissance, fighter, and strike aviation. One of the squadron’s pilots was Lieutenant John Glenn, who later achieved distinction as a Marine aviator, test pilot, astronaut, and senator. VMF-155 was deactivated on 15 October 1945, soon after the end of the Pacific war. It has not been reactivated and remains an inactive historical squadron.

• 1945

  Redesignation as VMF-155

  [1]VMF-155en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron was redesignated Marine Fighting Squadron 155 on 31 January.

• 1945

  Deactivation

  [1]VMF-155en.wikipedia.org

  VMF-155 was deactivated on 15 October after the end of hostilities with Japan.

• 1944

  Move to Midway Atoll

  [1]VMF-155en.wikipedia.org

  VMO-155 moved to Midway Atoll in February and served as part of the island garrison.

• 1943

  Wildcat reconnaissance training

  [1]VMF-155en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron began training with the F4F-3P Wildcat and undertook carrier qualifications.

• 1943

  Aleutian deployment

  [1]VMF-155en.wikipedia.org

  A detachment operated from USS Nassau during the invasion of Attu, becoming the first Marine squadron to operate from an aircraft carrier during World War II.

• 1942

  Activation as VMO-155

  [1]VMF-155en.wikipedia.org

  Marine Observation Squadron 155 was activated on 1 October 1942 as part of Marine Aircraft Group 13 and based initially in American Samoa.

• 1942

  Personnel sent to Guadalcanal

  [1]VMF-155en.wikipedia.org

  In December, most squadron personnel were assigned to Guadalcanal as replacements while a smaller cadre remained in the unit for rebuilding and training.

A World War II United States Marine Corps aviation squadron whose wartime identity developed from observation and reconnaissance toward fighter operations in the Pacific.

• Dive bomber

  SBC Helldiver

  The squadron’s initial aircraft complement included the SBC Helldiver, a biplane dive bomber used during the unit’s early observation and attack phase.

• Amphibious aircraft

  J2F-5 Duck

  The J2F-5 Duck amphibious biplane formed part of the squadron’s original equipment and supported its early observation-oriented mission.

• Photographic-reconnaissance fighter · 1943

  F4F-3P Wildcat

  Beginning in January 1943, the squadron trained on the F4F-3P Wildcat, a photographic-reconnaissance version of the Wildcat fighter. The aircraft supported the unit’s transition toward carrier-qualified reconnaissance and fighter operations.

• Fighter aircraft

  F4U Corsair

  The F4U Corsair was among the fighter aircraft operated by the squadron later in the war as its mission profile developed beyond observation and reconnaissance.

• 1944Marshall Islands strikes

  Marshall Islands · Central Pacific

  After the squadron’s personnel were divided between Kwajalein and Roi, its aircraft participated in strikes against Japanese-held positions in the Marshall Islands for the rest of the war.

  Source
• 1943Invasion of Attu

  Aleutian Islands · North Pacific

  A squadron detachment deployed aboard USS Nassau for the invasion of Attu. The operation represented the squadron’s principal carrier-based deployment and gave it a distinctive role in the Aleutian campaign.

  Outcome. The detachment later rejoined the squadron in June 1943.

  Source

• 1945

  Redesignation from VMO-155 to VMF-155Strategy

  Background

  The squadron’s aircraft and duties had developed from observation and photographic reconnaissance toward fighter operations during the Pacific war.

  Action taken

  On 31 January 1945, the unit was redesignated Marine Fighting Squadron 155.

  Aftermath

  The squadron retained its Pacific wartime role until it was deactivated later in 1945.

  Source

• 1945

  Postwar deactivationOther

  Background

  The squadron’s wartime service ended shortly after hostilities with Japan ceased.

  Action taken

  VMF-155 was deactivated on 15 October 1945.

  Aftermath

  The unit remains inactive.

  Source

1. 1VMF-155en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Marine Fighting Squadron 155 reference recordkb.osu.edu