VMF-441

Marine Fighting Squadron 441
VMF-441's insignia
Active	October 1, 1942 – July 11, 1946 unknown - June 1959
Country	United States
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Type	Fighter squadron
Role	Air interdiction Close air support
Part of	Inactive
Nickname	"Blackjacks"
Engagements	World War II * Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign * Battle of Okinawa
Aircraft flown
Fighter	SNJ Texan F4F-4 Wildcat F4U-1/FG-1 Corsairs

Marine Fighting Squadron 441 (VMF-441) was a fighter squadron of the Marine Forces Reserve during the Cold War. They were originally activated during World War II and fought during the Battle of Okinawa. Nicknamed "The Blackjacks", they were credited with 49 planes shot during the course of the war.^[1]

Following the surrender of Japan, the squadron was deactivated on July 11, 1946. They were reactivated in the Marine Forces Reserve and were based out of Naval Air Station Niagara Falls, New York.

History

Marine Fighting Squadron 441 (VMF-441) was activated on October 1, 1942 Tutuila on American Samoa from elements of VMF-111.^[2][3] By the end of May 1943 the entire squadron had moved to Funafuti in the Ellice Islands and this was followed on September 28, 1943 by another move to Nanomea.^[4] The squadron moved back to Tutuila in December 1943 where they transitioned to the F4U-1 Corsair.^[3]

On January 1, 1944, VMF-441 joined Marine Aircraft Group 31 (MAG-31) on Roi-Namur. By March 1944 the squadron was again on the offensive conducting raids against Mili and Jaluit.^[4]

During the Battle of Okinawa, VMF-441 landed at Yontan Airfield on April 7, 1945.^[5] On April 16, 1945, four divisions of VMF-441 planes came to the rescue of the USS Laffey (DD-724) which had already been hit by five kamikazes. Their Corsairs attacked a flight of 25 Japanese planes and were credited with shooting down 15½ enemy planes, losing one of their own because he was flying so low that both he and the Japanese plane he was chasing clipped Laffey's superstructure.^[6][7] The squadron was still on Okinawa when the Japanese surrendered and were deactivated at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California on July 11, 1946.^[2]

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. VMF-441 was presented with the following awards:

Ribbon	Unit Award
	Presidential Unit Citation
	Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
	World War II Victory Medal
	National Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Star

See also

United States Marine Corps portal

• United States Marine Corps Aviation
• Organization of the United States Marine Corps
• List of active United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons
• List of inactive United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons

Notes

1. ^ "VMF-441". Fighting Squadrons of the USMC in WWII. www.acepilots.com. http://www.acepilots.com/usmc_sqns.html#VMF-441. Retrieved 2007-12-19. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Rottman USMC WWII OOB, p.444.
3. ^ ^{a b} Crowder USMC Aviation Squadron, p.148.
4. ^ ^{a b} Sherrod History of Marine Corps Aviation in WWII, p.470.
5. ^ DeChant Devilbirds, p. 225.
6. ^ AlexanderThe Final Campaign, p.30.
7. ^ DeChant Devilbirds, p. 226.

References

• Alexander, Joseph. The Final Campaign: Marines in the Victory on Okinawa. Washington D.C.: U.S. Marine Corps Historical Center. 
• Crowder, Michael J. (2000). United States Marine Corps Aviation Squadron Lineage, Insignia & History - Volume One - The Fighter Squadrons. Paducah, KY: Turner Publishing Company. ISBN 1-56311-926-9. 
• De Chant, John A. (1947). Devilbirds - The Story of United States Marine Aviation in World War II. New York: Harper & Brothers. 
• 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. OCLC 1261876.