VMA-133

Marine Attack Squadron 133
VMA-133 Insignia
Active	May 1, 1943–August 1, 1945 April 15, 1958–September 30, 1992
Country	United States
Branch	USMC
Type	Fighter squadron
Role	Close air support Air interdiction
Part of	Inactive
Nickname	Dragons Flying Eggbeaters (WWII) Golden Gaters (Vietnam Era)
Tail Code	ME
Engagements	World War II Bougainville campaign (1943–45) Philippines campaign (1944–45)
Aircraft flown
Attack	A-4 Skyhawk
Bomber	TBF Avenger

Marine Attack Squadron 133 (VMA-133) was a reserve A-4 Skyhawk fighter squadron in the United States Marine Corps. Originally known as VMTB-133, the squadron saw combat during the World War II campaigns on Bougainville and Philippines. Following the war they became part of the Marine Forces Reserve. The squadron, also known as the “Dragons”, was part of Marine Aircraft Group 42 of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing and was based out of Naval Air Station Alameda, California. They were deactivated in 1992 as part of the post Cold War drawdown of the U.S. Military.

History

World War II

Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 133 (VMTB-133) was activated on May 1, 1943 at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California.^[1] After training over the summer they left for Hawaii and arrived at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa on September 9, 1943.^[2] From Ewa, the squadron was split into two sections with one heading to Johnston Atoll and the other to Palmyra Atoll for six months of anti-submarine patrols.^[2] Following these tours they returned to MCAS Ewa only to leave again on June 25, 1944 heading to Torokina on the island of Bougainville. During October and November 1944 the squadron carried out strikes against targets on Bougainville and New Britain.^[2]

After two months of travelling, VMTB-133 arrived at Lingayen Gulf in the Philippines after the invasion to recapture the area. They remained there until April 21, 1945 when they moved to Mindanao to provide close air support for the United States Army's 24th and 31st Infantry Regiments as they cleared the island. Through June and July 1945 they continued to attack targets in the vicinity of Sarangani Bay in preparation for a planned invasion.^[2]

VMA-133 A-4Fs in flight near NAS Fallon, 1982.

Crewmen loading Mk-81 bombs on to an A-4F from VMA-133.

The squadron was deactivated on August 1, 1945 at Malabang, Mindanao.^[1]

Reserve years

Sometime after the war the squadron was reactivated as part of the Marine Air Reserve and was based out of Naval Air Station Alameda, California. They were part of Marine Aircraft Group 42 and the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing however they were deactivated in 1992 as part of the post Cold War drawdown of the U.S. Military.

Unit awards

A unit citation or commendation is an award bestowed upon an organization for the action cited. Members of the unit who participated in said actions are allowed to wear on their uniforms the awarded unit citation. The VMA-133 has been presented with the following awards:

Streamer	Award	Year(s)	Additional Info
	Navy Unit Commendation Streamer with one Bronze Star		World War II
	Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Streamer with Silver Star
	World War II Victory Streamer	1941–1945	Pacific War
	Philippine Liberation Medal Streamer	1944–1945	Philippines Campaign (1944–45)
	Philippine Presidential Unit Citation Streamer	1944–1945	Philippines Campaign (1944–45)

See also

United States Marine Corps portal

• United States Marine Corps Aviation
• List of inactive United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b} Rottman, p.440
2. ^ ^{a b c d} Sherrod, p.458

References

Bibliography

• Rottman, Gordon L. (2002). U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle - Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War, 1939 - 1945.’’. Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-31906-5. 
• Sherrod, Robert (1952). History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II. Washington, D.C.: Combat Forces Press. 

Web

• VMA-133 Diamondbacks