Marine Fighting Squadron 213

Marine Fighting Squadron 213, commonly designated VMF-213 and known by the nickname “Hell Hawks,” was a United States Marine Corps aviation unit rather than a commercial brand. It was established on 1 July 1942 at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa in Hawaii during the rapid expansion of Marine aviation in World War II. The squadron became associated with the Vought F4U Corsair and was among the earliest Marine fighter units assigned to augment a U.S. Navy carrier air group during the war. After forming at Ewa, the squadron moved to Espiritu Santo in the South Pacific, where it received its first Corsairs on 11 March 1943. Following a period of training, VMF-213 deployed to Guadalcanal and then operated from the Russell Islands and elsewhere in the Solomon Islands. Its combat activity included operations connected with New Georgia, Kahili, and other Japanese-held or contested locations in the Solomons. Squadron pilots developed a standardized Corsair gunnery method by harmonizing the aircraft’s six .50-caliber wing guns to converge at approximately 300 feet. The unit commonly attacked from the front and slightly to one side in a high-side, full-deflection pass, firing at the planned convergence distance. VMF-213 returned to the United States for reorganization and further preparation at Marine Corps Air Station Mojave in California. The training cycle was demanding; in June 1944, the squadron’s 21 aircraft collectively flew 272.2 hours, an indication of the intensity of its preparation for carrier operations. In September 1944, VMF-213 and VMF-124 departed the United States aboard USS Ticonderoga and USS Hancock. After additional preparation at MCAS Ewa, the squadrons joined USS Essex at Ulithi on 9 December 1944 as elements of Air Group 4. Operating with Essex and Task Force 58, VMF-213 participated in strikes and combat operations involving Lingayen and Luzon in the Philippines, Formosa, Tokyo, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. On 12 January 1945, the squadron also took part in an attack on Japanese aircraft that had stopped to refuel at Tan Son Nhut Air Base near Saigon. This action placed the squadron among the earliest United States military aviation units to operate against targets in the area later known internationally as Vietnam. The squadron was credited with 117 enemy aircraft destroyed during World War II. One of its notable pilots was Captain James N. Cupp, who achieved at least 12 aerial victories with VMF-213 between July and September 1943, making him a double flying ace. His decorations included the Navy Cross and three Distinguished Flying Crosses. After the war, VMF-213 was reactivated in the Marine Corps Reserve and based at Naval Air Station Twin Cities near Minneapolis, Minnesota. Its reserve history included a serious 1956 accident involving a Grumman F9F-4 Panther. On 9 June 1956, the aircraft crashed into homes near Wold-Chamberlain Field in Minneapolis, killing the pilot and five people on the ground and injuring twelve others. The available reference material does not establish the squadron’s final deactivation date or a present-day operating status. Accordingly, VMF-213 is best understood as a historically documented Marine Corps aviation unit whose identity is rooted in military service, wartime operations, aircraft heritage, and its Hell Hawks nickname rather than in consumer-market branding.

VMF-213 was formed on 1 July 1942 at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Hawaii, as the United States Marine Corps expanded its fighter forces during World War II. The unit moved to Espiritu Santo on 21 February 1943 and arrived there on 1 March. It received its first F4U Corsairs on 11 March and, after a short training period, relocated to Guadalcanal in April. On 17 June 1943, VMF-213 relieved VMF-124 in the Russell Islands. From bases in the Solomon Islands, it conducted operations connected with New Georgia, Kahili, and other locations across the theater. During the middle of 1943, the squadron refined its Corsair gunnery technique by harmonizing the six .50-caliber wing guns to meet at a point approximately 300 feet ahead of the aircraft. Pilots generally used a frontal, slightly offset high-side attack and opened fire at the guns’ convergence distance. The squadron’s combat record eventually included credit for 117 enemy aircraft destroyed. VMF-213 returned to the United States for reorganization and training at Marine Corps Air Station Mojave, California. The unit’s preparation was intensive. In June 1944, its 21 aircraft flew a combined 272.2 hours, with each aircraft averaging roughly 13 hours for the month. On 18 September 1944, VMF-213 and VMF-124 left the United States aboard USS Ticonderoga and USS Hancock. After further training at MCAS Ewa, the squadrons joined USS Essex at Ulithi on 9 December 1944 and operated as part of Air Group 4. With Essex and Task Force 58, VMF-213 flew missions against Japanese positions and aircraft in the Philippines, Formosa, the Japanese home islands, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. On 12 January 1945, it participated in an attack on Japanese Tojo fighters that had stopped at Tan Son Nhut Air Base to refuel. The operation is notable because it involved one of the earliest United States military actions in the region later identified as Vietnam. Captain James N. Cupp was among the squadron’s prominent pilots. He achieved at least twelve aerial victories between July and September 1943, qualifying as a double flying ace, and received the Navy Cross and three Distinguished Flying Crosses. After World War II, VMF-213 was reactivated as a Marine Corps Reserve unit and based at Naval Air Station Twin Cities in Minnesota. On 9 June 1956, a squadron Grumman F9F-4 Panther crashed into a residential area near Wold-Chamberlain Field in Minneapolis. The accident killed the pilot and five people on the ground and injured twelve others, many of them children. The available reference material records this reserve period but does not provide a definitive final deactivation date or confirm a current active organization.

• 1956

  Minneapolis Panther crash

  [1]VMF-213en.wikipedia.org

  A VMF-213 F9F-4 crashed into homes near Wold-Chamberlain Field, causing six deaths including the pilot and twelve injuries.

• 1945

  Task Force 58 combat operations

  [1]VMF-213en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron participated in operations involving Luzon, Formosa, Tokyo, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and Tan Son Nhut.

• 1944

  Returned to the Pacific carrier force

  [1]VMF-213en.wikipedia.org

  VMF-213 departed the United States with VMF-124 and later joined USS Essex and Air Group 4 at Ulithi.

• 1943

  Corsair operations began

  [1]VMF-213en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron received its first F4U Corsairs at Espiritu Santo and subsequently deployed to Guadalcanal and the Solomon Islands.

• 1942

  Squadron established

  [1]VMF-213en.wikipedia.org

  Marine Fighting Squadron 213 was formed on 1 July at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Hawaii.

A Marine Corps fighter squadron identified by combat aviation, carrier-air-group integration, Corsair operations, and the Hell Hawks nickname.

• Fighter aircraft · 1943

  Vought F4U Corsair

  The F4U Corsair was VMF-213’s principal World War II fighter. The squadron received its first examples in March 1943 and used the aircraft in Solomon Islands operations and later carrier-based missions with Air Group 4. Its six .50-caliber wing guns were harmonized by the squadron for concentrated fire at approximately 300 feet.

• Jet fighter

  Grumman F9F-4 Panther

  The F9F-4 Panther was operated by VMF-213 during its postwar Marine Corps Reserve period. One squadron aircraft was involved in the fatal 9 June 1956 crash near Wold-Chamberlain Field in Minneapolis.

• 1945Pacific Theater strikes

  Philippines · Formosa · Japan · Iwo Jima · Okinawa · French Indochina

  The squadron participated in strikes involving Lingayen, Luzon, Formosa, Tokyo, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and Japanese aircraft at Tan Son Nhut.

  Outcome. VMF-213 was credited with 117 enemy aircraft destroyed during World War II.

  Source
• 1944Task Force 58 carrier deployment

  Pacific Theater

  After reorganization and training in California and Hawaii, VMF-213 joined USS Essex as part of Air Group 4 and Task Force 58.

  Outcome. The deployment supported offensive operations across the western Pacific in late 1944 and 1945.

  Source
• 1943Solomon Islands operations

  Solomon Islands

  VMF-213 operated from Guadalcanal and the Russell Islands against Japanese forces in actions associated with New Georgia, Kahili, and other Solomon Islands targets.

  Outcome. The squadron continued operations through December 1943 and built a substantial combat record.

  Source

• 1943

  Standardized Corsair gun convergenceStrategy

  Background

  The squadron sought to improve the effectiveness of its Corsair armament in aerial combat.

  Action taken

  VMF-213 harmonized its six .50-caliber wing guns to converge about 300 feet ahead of the aircraft and used a corresponding high-side attack method.

  Aftermath

  The technique became a distinctive element of the squadron’s reported combat practice.

  Source

1. 1VMF-213en.wikipedia.org