Marine Fighting Squadron 218

Marine Fighting Squadron 218, designated VMF-218 and nicknamed the Hellions, was a United States Marine Corps aviation unit rather than a commercial brand. It was organized at Marine Corps Air Station Mojave, California, on 1 July 1943 and formally commissioned on 15 September of that year for service during World War II. Equipped primarily with Vought F4U Corsair fighters, the squadron deployed to the South Pacific and became involved in operations supporting the Allied advance through the Solomon Islands and the Philippines. The squadron left the United States in December 1943 aboard the escort carrier USS Barnes and reached Espiritu Santo in January 1944. Its first combat operation took place on 15 February 1944, when it provided fighter cover during the Allied landing on Green Island. In April, VMF-218 moved to Green Island, where it remained until November. From there, it participated in offensive and defensive air operations against Japanese positions, including missions connected with the Rabaul area. During this period, civilian aviation pioneer Charles Lindbergh flew several combat strikes with Marine units operating from the island, including VMF-218. In late 1944, VMF-218 shifted to the Philippine campaign. Operating from Leyte and later from Tacloban and Zamboanga, it performed a broad range of missions. These included close air support for ground forces, fighter patrols over shipping, convoy escort, protection of transport and rescue aircraft, cover for Allied landings, and attacks on Japanese positions across the Philippine islands. The squadron supported operations around Southern Luzon, Leyte Gulf, Ormoc, Mindoro, Cebu, Zamboanga, Mindanao, Jolo, Bongao, Cotabato, Parang, Malabang, and other locations. The squadron was credited with destroying 18 enemy aircraft during the war. After Japan's surrender, VMF-218 remained active in China for approximately a year. It supported the 1st Marine Division during the occupation and helped provide security around coastal cities during the unstable postwar period. In April and May 1946, its pilots transported 20 Corsairs from Guam toward China for transfer to another Marine fighter squadron. VMF-218 operated from Nanyuan Field near Beiping before returning to Guam. It was ultimately deactivated on 31 December 1949 during the postwar reduction of American military forces. The squadron was reactivated in the Marine Corps Reserve during the 1950s and based at Naval Air Station Willow Grove near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its reserve service ended when the unit was decommissioned on 30 September 1962. Among its notable former members was John Glenn, who later became a NASA astronaut and United States senator. Because VMF-218 was a military organization, it had no commercial product portfolio, public stock listing, consumer positioning, or conventional corporate executive structure.

VMF-218 was created during the rapid expansion of United States Marine Corps aviation in World War II. The unit was organized at Marine Corps Air Station Mojave, California, on 1 July 1943 and received its formal commission on 15 September. Its wartime equipment included the Vought F4U Corsair, a carrier-capable fighter adapted extensively for Marine land-based operations. The squadron was identified by the nickname Hellions. In December 1943, the squadron departed the United States aboard USS Barnes, an escort carrier, and arrived at Espiritu Santo on 5 January 1944. Its initial combat mission came on 15 February, when the squadron flew cover for the Allied landing on Green Island. On 27 April, VMF-218 relocated to Green Island and remained there through November. The island served as an important forward base for operations against Japanese forces in the Bismarck Archipelago and surrounding areas. Marine squadrons based there also participated in strikes against the Japanese stronghold at Rabaul. During this period, civilian contractor and aviator Charles Lindbergh flew operational missions with Marine units, including strikes associated with the squadrons on Green Island. The squadron's operational emphasis changed as Allied forces moved into the Philippines. In November 1944, VMF-218 went to Leyte. During December, it operated in the Philippine Sea and participated in actions connected with Task Force 38, including strikes against Southern Luzon. Its responsibilities extended well beyond fighter-versus-fighter combat. The squadron patrolled over Leyte Gulf and Ormoc Bay, protected American convoys in Philippine waters, escorted South Pacific Combat Air Transport aircraft delivering supplies to Ormoc, and provided cover for Army forces on Mindoro and Cebu. It also supported the landing at Zamboanga, conducted close-support attacks on Mindanao, escorted rescue and transport aircraft, protected Douglas SBD Dauntless strike missions, and maintained regular combat air patrols. From Tacloban, VMF-218 continued convoy escort, air-cover, and close-air-support duties. On 10 March 1945, it supported the Allied landings at Zamboanga and subsequently operated from the local airstrip. From Zamboanga, the unit flew close air support at Capisan and attacked Japanese positions on Bongao and Jolo. During April, its targets and support missions included Cotabato, Parang, and Malabang. Operations over Mindanao continued until Japan's surrender. The squadron received credit for 18 enemy aircraft destroyed during the war. The postwar mission took VMF-218 to China. For roughly a year, it supported the 1st Marine Division during the occupation and assisted efforts to secure coastal cities amid conflict involving Communist forces. On 27 April 1946, the squadron's pilots and 20 Vought F4U Corsairs left Guam aboard the escort carrier USS Bairoko. The pilots flew the embarked aircraft toward China for delivery to VMF-211, reaching the waters southeast of Shanghai on 8 May and launching the aircraft the following day. During its Chinese service, VMF-218 operated from Nanyuan Field near Beiping. It later returned to Guam and was deactivated on 31 December 1949 as part of the postwar drawdown. VMF-218 was reactivated in the Marine Corps Reserve during the 1950s and assigned to Naval Air Station Willow Grove near Philadelphia. The reserve incarnation continued until the squadron was decommissioned on 30 September 1962. John Glenn is identified as a notable former member. The unit's history reflects the evolution of Marine fighter aviation from wartime expeditionary operations to postwar occupation and reserve service.

• 1962

  Final decommissioning

  [1]VMF-218en.wikipedia.org

  The reserve squadron was decommissioned on 30 September.

• 1950

  Marine Corps Reserve reactivation

  [1]VMF-218en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron was reactivated in the Marine Corps Reserve and based at Naval Air Station Willow Grove.

• 1949

  Postwar deactivation

  [1]VMF-218en.wikipedia.org

  VMF-218 was deactivated on 31 December during the postwar reduction of forces.

• 1946

  Postwar transfer mission to China

  [1]VMF-218en.wikipedia.org

  Pilots transported 20 Corsairs from Guam toward China for delivery to VMF-211 and subsequently operated from Nanyuan Field near Beiping.

• 1945

  Support for the Zamboanga landings

  [1]VMF-218en.wikipedia.org

  On 10 March, the squadron covered the Allied landings at Zamboanga and then operated from the area's airstrip.

• 1944

  First combat operation

  [1]VMF-218en.wikipedia.org

  On 15 February, VMF-218 provided air cover for the Allied landing on Green Island.

• 1944

  Move to Green Island

  [1]VMF-218en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron moved to Green Island on 27 April and operated there through November.

• 1944

  Beginning of Philippine operations

  [1]VMF-218en.wikipedia.org

  VMF-218 moved to Leyte in November to participate in the campaign to retake the Philippines.

• 1943

  Organization and commissioning

  [1]VMF-218en.wikipedia.org

  VMF-218 was organized at Marine Corps Air Station Mojave on 1 July and formally commissioned on 15 September.

• 1943

  Deployment to the South Pacific

  [1]VMF-218en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron departed the United States aboard USS Barnes in December for deployment to the Pacific.

A Marine Corps fighter squadron organized for expeditionary combat aviation, air defense, convoy and transport escort, close air support, reconnaissance-related protection missions, and strike operations in the Pacific theater.

• fighter aircraft

  Vought F4U Corsair

  The Corsair was the principal fighter associated with VMF-218's World War II and immediate postwar service. The squadron used the type for air cover, fighter patrols, convoy and transport escort, close air support, and strikes against Japanese positions. Twenty of the squadron's Corsairs were transported from Guam toward China in 1946 for transfer to another Marine fighter squadron.

• 1946China occupation support

  China

  After the war, the squadron supported the 1st Marine Division and security operations around Chinese coastal cities during the occupation period.

  Outcome. The unit operated from Nanyuan Field near Beiping before returning to Guam and later being deactivated.

  Source
• 1945Zamboanga and Mindanao operations

  Southern Philippines

  From Zamboanga, VMF-218 provided close air support and conducted strikes involving Capisan, Bongao, Jolo, Cotabato, Parang, and Malabang.

  Outcome. Operations continued over Mindanao and nearby islands until Japan's surrender.

  Source
• 1944Green Island operations

  South Pacific

  VMF-218 covered the Allied landing on Green Island and later operated from the island against Japanese positions in the surrounding theater.

  Outcome. The squadron maintained forward combat operations from Green Island until its move to the Philippines in November.

  Source
• 1944Philippines campaign

  Philippines

  The squadron supported the Allied return to the Philippines through convoy escort, combat air patrols, close air support, landing cover, and attacks on Japanese positions.

  Outcome. VMF-218 continued operations across Leyte, Mindoro, Cebu, and Mindanao as Allied forces expanded their control.

  Source

1. 1VMF-218en.wikipedia.org