VMSB-142 | "Wild Hares"; "Wide Horses" | Bugs Bunny on 3 patches

[walika]

VMSB-142

Commissioned: 3-1-42
Deactivated: 9-21-45
Nickname: "Wild Hares"; "Wide Horses"
Artist: Lt. Austin Wiggens
Date of Insignia: 1942
Authorization: HQMC
Aircraft: SBD-1, SBD-4, SBD4P, SBD-5, SBD-6
Campaigns: Guadalcanal, Southern Solomons, Luzon, Southern Philippines

 

Marine Scouting Bombing Squadron 142 was activated on 1 March 1942 at Camp Kearny, California, Marine Aircraft Group 14, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Fleet Marine Force. It was assigned during August 1942 to Marine Aircraft Group 12, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing before being reassigned during September 1942 to Marine Aircraft Group 11. The squadron was deployed from October to November 1942 to Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, and reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11. During the next ten months they flew in support of operations on Guadalcanal and did not lose one pilot in combat over that time.

The squadron relocated in August 1943 to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California, and was reassigned to Marine Base Defense Aircraft Group 41. It relocated during April 1944 to Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Hawaii, and was reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 32. Thereafter assigned to 1st MAW in the Phillippines, based at Emirau from September 1943 to January 1945. Based with MAG-32 based at Dagupan (near the airfield at Magaldan) and in March, 1945 relocated with MAG-32 to Zamboanga. The unit returned to Santa Barbara in August 1945 and was deactivated 21 September 1945. The squadron was equipped with the Douglas SBD Dauntless.


Type I: Australian embroidered on wool. | "Tokio Bound".

 

 

The original insignia carried the words 'Tokio Bound" on the bomb being ridden by Bugs Bunny. This was changed to "Snafu" when word of Japanese atrocities started to become common knowledge. Flight personnel did not want to provoke the Japanese to additional brutality in the event of capture. "Snafu" was chosen to signify the fact that the squadron was stationed on Emirau from September 1943 to January 1945. There was a distinct feeling that someone had forgotten them.

 

 

Type II: American chain stitch embroidery on layers of wool. | "Snafu".

 

Type IIa: A variety of this insignia with different color wool s in the collection of the National Air and Space Museum.

 

 

 

Sources

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

Rottman, Gordon L. (2002). U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle - Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War, 1939-1945.

 

 

 

 

[The Iron Brigade]

[jerry_k]

Great patch. Thanks for post!

 

Jerry