VMB-613 | Bombing Squadron Six-Thirteen

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VMB-613 | Bombing Squadron Six-Thirteen

 

Commissioned: 10.1.43
Deactivated: 10.21.45
Date of Insignia: 1944
Authorization: HQMC
Aircraft: PBJ-1D, PBJ-1J, PBJ-1H

 

VMB-613 was commissioned on 1 October 1943 at Cherry Point, NC.  The squadron transferred to Boca Chica, FL in February 1944 for torpedo and tactical training.  Returning to Cherry Point, NC 22 March 1944, the squadron remained there until early August 1944 when a move to Newport, AR was effected.  The flight echelon departed 21 October 1944 for San Diego, CA then embarked aboard the USS Tulagi for Ewa, arriving 4 November 1944.  The ground echelon joined flight echelon at San Diego, CA on 3 December 1944 but sailed for Kwajalein a week later aboard the USAT George W. Juilan.  From Ewa the flight echelon flew to Kwajalein and was joined by ground echelon on 23 December 1944.  Operations in the Marshalls began in January 1945 against Wotje, Maleolap, Jaluit and Mille.  On 11 January 1945 the forward echelon moved to Eniwetok, conducting antisubmarine patrols in support of the invasion fleet bound for Iwo Jima.  Following this assignment, including strikes against Ponape, the forward echelon rejoined the remainder of the squadron on Kwajalein by 13 March 1945.  In mid-May 1945 an advanced echelon flew to Iwo Jima to conduct anti-shipping patrols with VMB-612.  Failing to locate suitable targets, the advanced echelon returned to Kwajalein on 31 May 1945, where the squadron remained until the end of the war.  VMB-613 was decommissioned at Miramar, CA on 21 November 1945 following the squadron's return to the United States.

 

 

Silkscreened on canvas.

 

 

In addition to the officially submitted insignia, center below, there was a proposed design by the Disney Studios (left) and a locally produced design by the squadron's utilities officer, First Lieutenant James R. Edmunds III (right). The Disney design was reassigned to VPB-139 on 29 November 1944. The locally produced design, which featured a skull inside a 75mm gun tube, was used on squadron signs.

 

The official squadron insignia (below center), was selected from designs submitted by squadron members and forwarded to the Bureau of Aeronautics for approval in early 1944.  Set on a red circular background, it depicted a winged gorilla sitting atop a bomb, firing a machine gun.  The actual artwork for this insignia was most likely the product of Disney Studio artists.

 

The official squadron insignia was not popular with the men of the squadron, especially once its role changed from medium-level horizontal bombing to anti-shipping and close air support.  One morning on Kwajalein, it was discovered that some enterprising Marine had taken the matter of the squadron insignia into his own hands.  Outside the Officers' Club, a new squadron insignia (below right) proudly hung!  This "new" squadron insignia was set on a circular red background.  Centered on the background were Naval Aviator wings with a globe and anchor.  Above the wings were three maces. The main feature was a 75mm cannon tube with a skull in the muzzle, proudly denoting VMB-613's unique status as only Marine Bombing Squadron to utilize the cannon-armed PBJ-1H in combat.

 

Efforts by the squadron to officially change its insignia through the Bureau of Aeronautics to this "new" one were subsequently disapproved.  Nonetheless, the "unofficial insignia" remains the one that the Marines of the squadron associate with VMB-613.

 

As for the Marine who took the initiative to design it—his identity remained a mystery until 2006 when he was identified as the squadron's utilities officer, First Lieutenant James R. Edmunds III.

 

 

 

Unofficial insignia on a sign at the Officers' Club.

 

Unofficial insignia on a sign at the photo lab.

 

 

Unofficial insignia used on base signage

 

 

Boris Karloff signing autographs for members of VMB-613 during a USO tour.

 

 

The first PBJs assigned to VMB-613 were PBJ-1Cs, the naval equivalent of the U.S. Army Air Force's (USAAF) B-25C.  They were equipped with dual controls, and had their underside turret removed and a radome housing AN/APS-2 ("George") search radar installed in its place.  PBJ-1Cs operated by VMB-613 were armed with five .50 caliber machine guns—one in the nose in a flexible mount, two fixed .50 caliber machine mounted on the starboard side of the nose firing through holes cut into the side of the Plexiglas glazing, and two in a power operated turret in the after mid-section.

 

In late January of 1944 the squadron received PBJ-1Ds.  Most of these D-model PBJs were configured and armed the same as the older C-models.  However, a number of the squadron's PBJ-1Ds were modified with the addition of a manually-operated gunner’s position in the tail similar to later model B-25s, and seven additional .50 caliber machine guns—one in the tail, one on each side in the waist position, and four "package guns" (two on each side) below the pilot's compartment.  VMB-613's use of this type of aircraft was short lived, for they were withdrawn in March and April 1944 to receive radar modifications.

 

Marine Bombing Squadron Six-Thirteen also received a J-model PBJ at the end of July 1944, however its use was virtually nil as it was immediately flown to the Consolidated-Vultee Modification Center at Elizabeth City, North Carolina for radar installation and naval modifications and was subsequently replaced with a PBJ-1H.

 

The last type of aircraft received, and subsequently used in combat operations by VMB-613, was the PBJ-1H.  This aircraft boasted very heavy armament which included a 75mm T13E1 cannon and a total of 14 .50 caliber machine guns—four in the nose, four package guns (two on each side) below the pilot's compartment, one on each side in slightly staggered waist positions, two in a power operated Bendix Model "R" turret, and two in a power operated Bell type M-7 turret in the tail of the aircraft.  In addition to the armament, these aircraft were heavily modified for Marine Corps use.  Modifications included the addition of AN/APS-3 ("Dog") search radar in a radome on the starboard wingtip, AN/APN-4 Loran receiver, APK-2 IFF, AN/APN-1 radar altimeter, SCR-522A VHF radio, ARN-8 marker beacon, C-1 automatic pilot, ATC radio transmitter, ARB receiver, YC-2B receiver, BC-348 liaison receiver, and the AN/APG-13A ("Falcon") 75mm radar gun director.  Further modifications to the aircraft took place once VMB-613 arrived overseas. Most notably, due to the absence of Japanese aircraft, the top turret was removed and an astrodome was installed in its place. This modification reduced the crew by one, the mechanic-gunner, saving weight and increasing the aircraft's range. Later modifications included the elimination of the four package guns, a modification which further increased the aircraft's range.

 

Although the PBJ-1H was only equipped with a single set of controls, all of VMB-613's aircraft carried two qualified naval aviators (pilot and co-pilot), with the copilot's primary duties being the operation of the radar gun sight and assisting the pilot.  Additionally, the pilot and co-pilot would often switch seats in flight in order to reduce fatigue and maintain the co-pilot's effectiveness in flying the aircraft.  The navigator sat in a station behind the pilot and copilot, and had the additional duty of loading the 75mm cannon.  Two radio-gunners, whose primary duties were to operate and monitor the search radar and communications equipment, manned single flexible mounted machine guns in the waist positions.  Completing the crew, a mechanic-turret gunner manned the top turret, while in the rear, an armorer-turret gunner operated the machine guns in a power-operated tail turret.

All of VMB-613's PBJ-1Hs were initially finished in the three-tone color scheme adopted by the U.S. Navy in March of 1944—sea blue, intermediate sea blue, and white.  An unusual feature of this color scheme was that the sea blue on the upper surfaces was carried over onto the leading edges of the lower surfaces of the wing and horizontal stabilizer.

 

 

 

VMB-613 Flightline

 

Kwaljalein Airstrip and Base

 

 

The VMB-613 Association has a wonderful web site, here.

 

Photos of Life at Kwajalein, here.

 

Exploring the Kwajalein graveyard of the 11 PBJ-1H Mitchell aircraft wrecks of US Marine Bombing Squadron 613 (VMB-613), here.

 

Sources:

Millstein, Jeff. U. S. Marine Corps Aviation Unit Insignia 1941-1946. p 105.

VMB-613 web site.