VMSB/VMTB-234 | 3 WWII issues

[walika]

VMSB/VMTB-234

Date Commissioned: April 1, 1942, changed to VMTB October 14, 1944
Date Deactivated: March 20, 1946
Nickname of Unit: n/a

Type of Aircraft Employed: SBD-1, F4F-3, SBD-3P, SBD-4, SBMP, SBD-5, TBM-3E

 

 

Marine Scout Bomber Squadron 234 (VMSB-234) was activated at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa on May 1, 1942. While there, the squadron began operations and trained for duty in the South Pacific. In December, 1942 the squadron departed for Espiritu Santo in New Hebrides and continued combat training on the fighter strip at Turtle Bay. In January 1943, the squadron ferried their SBD-4's to Guadalcanal and started combat operations at Henderson Field as part of the Cactus Air Force on Guadalcanal on January 28, 1943. During the next 11 months, the unit flew three tours at Guadalcanal with additional duty at Fuji Island at Munda Field, New Georgia. Their second stint on Guadalcanal began on April 15, 1943. During this time they did patrol duties in the Fiji Islands and also provided close air support in New Georgia. They moved to Munda and began operating from there on October 1943 concentrating their attacks in the vicinity of Bougainville. In November 1943 the squadron had moved to Efate and from there they returned to the United States.

They relocated to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California in November 1943 and were redesignated Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 234 (VMTB-234) on October 14, 1944. Their unit designation was changed to VMTB(CVS)-234 after which they deployed as part of Marine Carrier Group 3 on board the USS Vella Gulf (CVE-111). They were paired with VMF-513 during their deployment but never saw combat as the war ended. The squadron returned to California in November 1945 and was deactivated at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro on March 20, 1946.

 

This squadron employed two different insignia. The first (1943), designed by PFC Richard Green, depicted a bomb being dropped which signified it's role as a scout bombing squadron. The second (1944), artist unknown, showed a mailed fist with a set of Avenger wings signifying the change in mission and aircraft from SBD to TBF/TBM and a change in designation from VMSB to VMTB.

 

 

Type 1 (left) | Australian embroidery on wool. 1943.

 

Type 2 (right) | American fully embroidered. 1943.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Type 3 | American fully embroidered. 1944.

 

 

 

 

 

Insignia information: Millstein. U. S. Marine Corps Aviation Unit Insignia, 1941-1946.

 

 

 

 

[walika]

An additional theater made insignia exists, without the unit type designation. No "V.M.S.B.".

 

 

Type IIa | Theater-made. Embroidered on tan muslin.

 

The tan area touching the EGA is muslin.

[The Iron Brigade]

Great thread as usual Rick. I really like the Australian made pieces.

 

[Bill Scott]

Rick your collection is amazing as is your willingness to share it with us.Thank You. Scotty