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VMF-155 | "Ready Teddys"


walika
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VMF-155

Date Commissioned: 10-1-42 as VMO-155 | changed to VMF-155, 1-31-45
Date Deactivated: 10-15-45
Nickname of Unit: "Ready Teddys"
Name of Artist: Mrs. J. R. Thayer
Date of Insignia: 1944
Authorization: HQMC
Type of Aircraft Employed: F4F-3, F4F-3A, F4F-3P, F4F-4, F4F-7,OS2U-3, SNJ-4, F4U-1, F4U-ID, SBD-6

Remarks: "As for Ready Teddy, he was a comic character of the forties and someone suggested it as a patch. My wife, who is a professional artist, was asked if she could draw a bear who looked like a pilot so a jacket patch could be made. She did and the patches were made in San Diego and worn on flight jackets." Excerpted from a letter by Lt. Col. J. R. Thayer, USMCR (Ret.) dated 1-29-92.

 

Marine Fighting Squadron 155 (VMF-155) was a fighter squadron of the United States Marine Corps in World War II. During the war, they flew the SBC Helldiver and, after reconstitution in 1943, the F4F Wildcat. Later in the War the squadron also flew the F4U Corsair. One of the squadron's pilots who went on to great distinction later in his career was Lieutenant John Glenn. The squadron, also known as “Ready Teddy” was deactivated shortly after the war and is still inactive.

Established as VMO-155 in Samoa on October 1, 1942 and redesignated VMF-155 on January 31, 1945.

 

Decal on leather.
VMF-155-600.jpg


DEPLOYMENTS
USS Nassau (CVE-16) -April 1943 (F4F-3)
Marshalls - November 1944 to September 1945 (F4U-1)

After brief service in Samoa most of the squadron was sent to the US in December 1942 while some personnel were deployed to Guadalcanal. Upon reforming at Camp Kearney, north of San Diego, VM0-155 became the first US Marine Corps squadron to draw carrier duty in World War II. Flying F4F-3Ps from the escort carrier Nassau, the Wildcats supported US Army landings on Attu, in the Aleutians, in April-May 1943, being based at El Centro from June onward.

In February 1944 Maj J. P. Haines took his now Corsair-equipped unit to Midway, thence to the Marshalls that summer. The air and ground echelons were reunited at Kwajalein Atoll in November. Maj J.E. Reynolds relieved Haines in January 1945 and the squadron was soon redesignated VMF-155, flying strikes against isolated Japanese islands in the Marshalls until war's end. Under Maj John Mass, the squadron was based at Kwajalein on VJ Day.

 

 

Sources

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

Tillman, Barrett. U. S. Marine Corps Fighter Squadrons of World War II.

 

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