List of inactive United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons

While other nations have Marines who are aviators, only the United States Marine Corps has its own dedicated aviation arm. [Shettle "USMC Air Stations of WWII", p.9.] The following is a list of all of the inactive squadrons that have existed since the beginning of Marine Corps aviation. Most squadrons have changed names and designations many times over the years so they are listed by their final designation.

quadron designations

The basic tactical and administrative unit of United States Marine Corps aviation is the squadron. Fixed-wing aircraft squadrons (heavier than air) are denoted by the letter "V", which comes from the French verb "Voler" (to fly). Rotary wing (helicopter) squadrons use "H." Marine squadrons are always noted by the second letter "M." Squadron numbering is not linear as some were numbered in ascending order and others took numbers from the wing or the ship to which they were assigned. [cite web
title = World War II Naval Aircraft Squadron Designations
publisher = bluejacket.com
url = http://www.bluejacket.com/usn-usmc_avi_ww2_squadron_desig.htm
accessdate = 2007-02-28] From 1920 to 1941, Marine flying squadrons were identified by one digit numbers. This changed on July 1, 1941 when all existing squadrons were redesignated to a three-digit system. The first two numbers were supposed to identify the squadrons parent group but with the rapid expansion during the war and frequent transfer of squadrons this system fell apart.Rottman "USMC WWII OOB", p.397.]

Inactive squadrons

Squadrons are listed by their designation at the time they were decommissioned.

Pre-World War II squadrons

Following World War I, Marine aviation was significantly reduced. Many of the squadrons were renamed and redesignated numerous times and many still exist today with other designations. The squadrons listed below reflect those squadrons that were deactivated prior to World War II and were never reconstituted in any form.

Marine Scout Bombing Squadrons

Scout bombing squadrons each had eighteen to twenty-four SBD Dauntless dive bombers and were tasked with conducting dive-bombing attacks and long range scouting and patrol missions. They also provided close air support, laid smoke screens and sprayed DDT around bases.Rottman "USMC WWII OOB", p.405.] The majority of these squadrons were quickly deactivated following the end of World War II although three entered the Marine Air Reserve for a short period.

Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadrons

VMTBs were torpedo bomber squadrons that operated the TBF Avenger. They were in service with the Marine Corps during World War II and were deactivated shortly after the war. They were part of the Cactus Air Force on Guadalcanal, served on escort carriers during the campaign to retake the Philippines and provided close air support for Australian forces on Borneo and Marines during the Battle of Okinawa. [cite web
title = John Lally's TBM Avenger
work = Adam Lewis
publisher = www.adamsplanes.com
url = http://www.adamsplanes.com/John%20Lally%27s%20TBM.htm
accessdate = 2007-02-28]

Marine Night Fighter Squadrons

After witnessing the Royal Air Force's success using radar directed fighters at night in 1941, the Navy's Bureau of Aeronautics authorized eight Marine night fighter squadrons to be formed by 1945.Shettle "USMC Air Stations of WWII", p.34.] This timeline was brought forward considerably after the attack on Pearl Harbor and their need proven by the frustration of the Cactus Air Force's pilots not being able to engage Japanese bombers at night during the Battle of Guadalcanal. This led to the formation of the first VMF(N) in November 1942. After much deliberation the PV-1 Ventura was picked as the first choice of aircraft for these squadrons. The night fighting squadrons featured radar equipped aircraft, ground based radar and personnel that provided Ground-controlled interception (GCI). The VMF(N) designated squadrons were deactivated after the war as the night fighting mission was assumed by the fighter and attack communities. [cite web
title = Ownership of the Night
work = Major Bron Madrigan
publisher = www.globalsecurity.org
url = http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/1989/MB.htm
accessdate = 2007-02-28]

Marine Photographic Squadrons

Marine photographic squadrons were first formed in 1942 and went through numerous name changes while they were active. VMDs/VMPs flew photographic modified versions of the SBD Dauntless, PB4Y-1 Liberator and PB4Y-2 Privateer. The main mission of these squadrons was to conduct long range, very high-altitude photographic reconnaissance.Rottman "USMC WWII OOB", p.406.]

Marine Scouting Squadrons

There were three Marine Scouting Squadrons prior to World War II; however, VMS-3 was the only squadron to retain the designation. The squadron served in Haiti from 1919 through 1934 and then spent its last ten years at St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. During World War II they were the only Marine Corps squadron to operate east of the United States. They began the war flying the Grumman J2F Duck, transitioned to the OS2N Kingfisher and at the time of deactivation were flying SBD Dauntless dive bombers.

Marine Attack Squadrons

In 1951, the Marine Corps began fielding the AD-1 Skyraider ground attack aircraft which had as its main role close air support for the Marines on the ground. Thus many squadrons had their designation changed from VMF to VMA to reflect this ground attack role. 13 squadrons were equipped with the Skyraider until they were finally phased out in 1958. [cite web
title = USMC AD Skyraider Squadrons
publisher = The Able Dogs - site for Navy and Marine Corps aviatorswho flew all models of the Douglas AD Skyraider.
url = http://www.abledogs.com/
accessdate = 2007-02-28] Follow on VMA squadrons operated the A-4 Skyhawk during the Vietnam War through their retirement just after Operation Desert Storm. [cite web
title = Marine A-4 Skyhawk Units
publisher = www.skyhawk.org
url = http://www.skyhawk.org/2e/marine.htm
accessdate = 2007-02-28] The VMA tradition is carried on today by squadrons flying the AV-8B Harrier II.

Marine Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron

Upon the decommissioning of the Marine Composite Squadrons (VMCJs), VMFP-3 became the lone photographic reconnaissance squadron in the Marine Corps. [cite web
title = VMFP-3 "Eyes of the Corp"
publisher = www.cv41.org
url = http://cv41.org/vmfp3hist.html
accessdate = 2007-02-28] They flew the RF-4B Phantom II and operated from 1975 until being decommissioned in 1990. Their capability has since been replaced by various targeting pods used on Marine aircraft and the Advanced Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance System which is found in some of the F/A-18 Hornet squadrons. [cite web
title = Advanced Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance System (ATARS)
publisher = www.fas.org
url = http://www.fas.org/irp/program/collect/atars.htm
accessdate = 2007-02-28]

Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadrons

: "Please see above for specifics on the Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadrons"

Due to a reorganization in Marine aviation, HMH-366 is due to be reactivated in 2008 and will be based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point.cite paper
author = LtGen John Castellaw
title = 2007 Marine Aviation Plan
publisher = Headquarters Marine Corps
date = 2007
url = http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/AVN/Documents/Signed%20AvPlan.pdf
accessdate = 2007-11-18 ]

Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadrons

The Marine Corps’ light attack squadrons (HMLAs) are composite squadrons usually made up of 12 AH-1W Cobras and 6 UH-1N Hueys. The primary missions of the Cobra is close air support, forward air control, reconnaissance and armed escort,cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = UH-1 Huey Helicopter
work =
publisher = www.fas.org
date =
url = http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/uh-1.htm
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-03-27] while the Huey provided airborne command and control, utility support, supporting arms coordination and medical evacuation. These squadrons were first formed during the Vietnam War with the fielding of the AH-1 Cobra gunship and its being combined in the same squdron with the UH-1H Iroquois that initially belonged to the Marine Corps' VMO squadrons. The majority of these squadrons are still active today in the Opearting Forces todaycite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = AH-1W Super Cobra AND UH-1N Huey
work = Department of the Navy -- Naval Historical Center
publisher = US Navy
date =
url = http://www.history.navy.mil/planes/ah1.htm
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-03-26]

Training squadrons

[
TF-9J Cougar of VMT-103 at MCAS El Toro in 1965.]

ee also

* United States Marine Corps Aviation
* List of United States Marine Corps battalions
* List of United States Marine Corps aircraft wings
* List of active United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons

Notes

References

;Bibliography
*cite book
last=Astor
first= Gerald
title=Semper Fi in the Sky - The Marine Air Battles of World War II
year=2005
publisher= Random House
location= New York
isbn= 0-89141-877-6
*Blair, Clay, "The Forgotten War: America in Korea, 1950-1953", Naval Institute Press (2003)
*cite book
last = Burkholder
first = Furner L.
title = Friends Made, Moments Shared, Memories for Life: An Oral History of WWII- U.S. Marine Corps - VMSB 343
publisher = LeMieux International
date = 2000
isbn = 0-966-72691-X
* cite book
last = Chapin
first = John C.
year = 2000
title = Fire Brigade: U.S. Marines in the Pusan Perimeter
publisher = Marine Corps Historical Center
location = Washington D.C.
*cite book
last = Condon
first = John Pomeroy
title = Corsairs and Flattops - Marine Carrier Air Warfare, 1944-45
publisher = Naval Institute Press
date = 1998
location = Annapolis Maryland
isbn = 1-55750-127-0
*cite book
last = Corum
first = James S. & Johnson, Wray R.
title = Airpower in Small Wars - Fighting Insurgents and Terrorists
publisher = University Press of Kansas
date = 2003
location = Lawrence, Kansas
isbn = 0-70061-240-8
*cite book
last = De Chant
first = John A.
title = Devilbirds - The Story of United States Marine Aviation in World War II
publisher = Harper & Brothers
date = 1947
location = New York
page = 4-5
*cite book
last = Dorr
first = Robert F.
title = Marine Air - The History of the Flying Leathernecks in Words and Photos
publisher = Penguin Group
date = 2005
isbn = 0-4220-725-0
*Johnson, Edward C. (1977). "Marine Corps Aviation: The Early Years 1912 - 1940." United States Marine Corps.
*Krulak, Victor H. (Lt. Gen.), "First to Fight: An Inside View of the U.S. Marine Corps", Naval Institute Press (1999)
*cite book
last = Lundstrom
first = John B.
year = 2005 (New edition)
title = First Team And the Guadalcanal Campaign: Naval Fighter Combat from August to November 1942
publisher = Naval Institute Press
id = ISBN 1-59114-472-8
*cite book
last = Mersky
first = Peter B.
year = 1983
title = U.S. Marine Corps Aviation - 1912 to the Present
publisher = Nautical and Aviation Publishing Company of America
id = ISBN 0-933852-39-8
*cite book
last = Millstein
first = Jeff
title = U.S. Marine Corps Aviation Unit Insignia 1941-1946
publisher = Turner Publishing Company
date = 1995
location = Paducah, Kentucky
isbn = 1-56311-211-6
*cite book
title=U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle - Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War, 1939 - 1945.’’
author=Rottman, Gordon L.
date=2002
publisher=Greenwood Press
id=ISBN 0-313-31906-5
*cite book
last = Sherrod
first = Robert
year = 1952
title = History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II
publisher = Combat Forces Press
location = Washington, D.C.
*cite book
last = Shettle Jr.
first = M. L.
title = United States Marine Corps Air Stations of World War II
publisher = Schaertel Publishing Co.
date = 2001
location = Bowersville, Georgia
id = ISBN 0-964-33882-3
*cite book
last = Tillman
first = Barrett
title = Corsair - The F4U in World War II and Korea
publisher = Naval Institute Press
date = 2001
location = Annapolis, Maryland
id = ISBN 1-55750-944-8

;Web
* [http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/AVN/ USMC Aviation homepage]
* [http://www.flymcaa.org/ Marine Corps Aviation Association]
* [http://www.maritimequest.com/misc_pages/slang_terms/index.htm Maritime Quest - Military Abbreviations, Nicknames and Slang Terms]
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/posters/standard%20quality/USMC%20Insignia%20Poster%20standard%20quality.pdf United States Marine Corps aviation squadrons]
* [http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/IV/USMC-IV-E.html Fleet Marine Force status - August 31, 1944]