USS BENNINGTON
Chronological Narrative and History
of Marine Fighting Squadron, VMF-123
(1942-1945)
RETURN TO:
RETURN TO AIR GROUPS

RETURN TO:
CREW STORIES


Chronological Narrative and History of Marine Fighting Squadron, VMF-123 (1942-1945)



Marine Fighting Squadron 123 was organized at Camp Kearney, San Diego California, on September 7, 1942.

Since there was a pressing need for (fight) sic [fighter] squadrons in the Pacific, VMF-123 was alerted for combat and in early December had acquired its complement of 18 F4F's (sic) [F4Fs, Wildcats]. Pilots had an average of 25 to 30 hours in fighters including one hour of night flying. During this training period two pilots were killed operationally. (Names listed on p-2 OSH).[1.] In late December several contingents preceded the main body of the squadron which departed San Diego on January 8, 1943, and arrived at Efate on January 26.

The flight echelon left there, February 2 and arrived at Guadacanal (sic), [Guadalcanal] the following day for its first combat tour. Strikes were made on Munda, Rekate Bay and Vila: AA was encountered on each strike but no contact with enemy aircraft was made during this tour. On February 10 First Lieutenant Jack M. Vinson, USMCR, was killed when he spun in due to a loss of flying speed.

The flight echelon returned to Efate on March 13 and left immediately for Sidney for a week of recreation but was again at Efate on April 7. Second Lieutenant Warner [(?) Fores (?); source document illegible] USMCR, was killed on April 10 when his plane dived into the sea during high-altitude strafing exercise. The following month a midair collision between First Lieutenant Laurel G. McDaniel, USMCR, and Herman J. Schulze, USMCR, resulted in the death of both pilots.

By the middle of May 1943 the flight echelon was again operating from Guadalcanal under the command of Major Richard M. Baker, USMC. Though the squadron went on a number of strikes, it was principally assigned to patrol duty due to the limited range of the F4F. No contact with enemy aircraft was made during this tour. The pilots returned to Efate on June 8.1943. On June 19 the flight echelon left for a rest period in Sidney and returned to Efate in two groups on June 13 and July 1. On July 2, (F4U's) sic [F4Us Corsairs] were assigned to the squadron and until early August the pilots engaged in familiarization hops and routine training in this type aircraft.

On August 1, eighteen pilots were flown from Efate to Espiritu Santo[2.] and on the following day ferried (F4U's) sic [F4Us] from the Guadalcanal to the Russell Island; ten made the same trip by DC-3 and the remainder of the flight echelon was flown from Efate to the Russells by SCAT. The ground echelon arrived at the Russell Islands on August 17.

On August 14, twelve pilots escorted a DC-3 with twelve pilots to Munda where VMF-123 became the first squadron based at the new Munda airfield.

Up until its third combat tour the squadron pilots had not contacted Japanese planes on any mission over enemy territory. As soon as VMF-123 moved in air opposition vanished; but when the squadron was relieved, Jap planes would return in numbers, a situation which caused much chagrin and inspired the nickname "Eight ball Squadron". That sobriquet later became the (mostif) sic, [motif?] of its official insigne. However, on August 15 luck changed and (sic) [and] contacts with enemy planes were made in the morning and afternoon around Vella Lavella while covering the Task Force anad (sic) [and] supporting landings on that island. Seven enemy planes (werre) sic, [were] shot down by VMF-123 in the two engagements. These (sahoot) sic, [shoot] downs have not been briefed - info came from pages 10 and 11 OSH).

Second Lieutenant Foster H. Jessup, USMCR, was hit by friendly AA on August 18 and forced to "hit the silk" but was picked up by a Higgins boat. While aboard the LST Jessup manned a .50 calibre machine gun when the ship was attacked by eight Vals and is credited with the probable destruction of two of the attacking aircraft. On September 11, Lieutenant Jessup landed his plane in the water due to engine failure. He was rescued be friendly natives. Second Lieutenant Lisle H. Foord (?) USMCR, was MIA on August 18. (See page 13 OSH).

During an encounter with 14 Zeros over Vella Lavella on August 21, First Lieutenant William E Strickland, USNR, was lost. VMF-123 pilots on Munda weree relieved on August 24 and returned to the Russells.

While escorting (B-24's) sic [B-24s] on a kahili strike on August 30, First Lieutenant Walter T. Mayberry, USMCR, was shot down by an attacking Zero off Fauro Island. Captured by the Japanese on September 2, and imprisoned. Later he was taken to Rabal and, so say the Japanese, killed by Allied bombs in a raid on Talili. The twelve escorting Corsairs were assigned to Munda for TAD. By September 11 there were 14 pilots operating from Munda and 13 at the Russells; on that date the squadron was reunited and a week later the flight echelon was transferred to Efate. The "Eightball" squadron destroyed 28 Jap aircraft and 11 probables during its third combat tour. The ground echelon remained at the Russells until November when it joined the flight echelon at Espiritu and the entire squadron embarked for the United States on November 28.

The squadron arrived at Miramar December 14, 1943. All except 5 officers and 47 enlisted men were detached and ordered to change station. Major Richard M. Baker, USMC, was in command of the squadron. He was relieved on September 12, 1944, by Major Everett V. Alward, USMC. During the period of training three pilots were lost in operational crashes.

In November 1944 the flight echelon and 50 enlisted men went to Mojave for rocket firing. In December the flight echelon was ordered aboard the USS BENNINGTON for carrier duty. The ground echelon remained at El Centro under the command of Captain Jack H. Russell, USMCR.

Aboard the USS BENNINGTON the flight echelon departed San Diego January I, 1945. On February 16 the ("Eight Balls") sic [Eightballs] {Transcriber's note: there were not (8) balls, there were: ((2) USMC Majors; (1) 1st Lt. and (2) 2nd Lieutenants. Plus the USMCR pilots consisting of (1) Major, (6) Captains, (8) 1st. Lieutenants, and (16) 2nd. Lieutenants. For a total of 35 "Eightballs.}) took off on their first mission against the Tokyo area. The 14 Marine Corsairs led by Major Alward joined (VF's) [VFs] from the WASP the HORNET as escort for the bomber-torpedo plane strike on HAMAMATSU and MIKATAGAHARA. On February 19, VMF (VC-123 and its sister squadron VMF(CV)-112, provided air support for the Iwo Jima landings. This was the first opportunity provided carrier-borne Marines to support brother Leathernecks striving to wrest an island stronghold from the Nipponese.

Four pilots were killed during the February strikes including Major Alward, the commanding officer. Major Thomas E. Mobley, Jr., assumed command of the squadron on February 26.

The first fighter sweep over Hiroshima airfield in southern Honshu was made by 16 Corsairs of VMF-123 on March 19, 1945. The flight was intercepted by 30 enemy planes; nine were shot down and four damaged. Losses to VMF-123 were two pilots and three aircraft.

VMF-123 pilots covered the initial landing on Okinawa on April 1. This was the first opportunity for a squadron to provide air support for troops storming ashore on a Jap-held island. (Iwo Jima air operations for the squadron began the day following the initial landing.)

Fifteen Corsairs of VMF-123 and 26 Hellcats from the HORNET and the BELLEAU WOOD, made a rocket strike on airfields at Miyako Jima, Sakishshima Gunto, on April 3. Two pilots were shot down by AA, one of whom was rescued. Another was killed when his engine quit after wave off from the BENNINGTON. Three Squadron pilots were lost to AA on April 13 during interceptor CAP over Kikai airfield.

Strikes against Kyushu were made during May and June. On May 24, First Lieutenant Robert J. McInnis, USMCR, was hit by AA during strafing attack on Ibusuk8i seaplane base in lower Kagoshima. The pilot flew the damaged plane out of the and made a water landing south of Sata Misaki Point, only 3 miles from Japanese home island of Kyushu. One of the most daring rescues in Navy annals was made in 20 minutes by a PBM covered by Corsairs.

The "Eightballs" operated in the Kyushu area until June 9, 1945. VMF-123 returned to the States in July and joined the rear echelon for duty at El Centro. The squadron was decommissioned September 10, 1945, but was reformed May 2, 1946, as a reserve squadron at Los Alamitos, California.



The following officers have commanded VMF-123:

(See endnote3.)

[1.] An effort, partially successful to date, has been underway for some time to procure additional documents so as to recognize those gallant men who made the supreme sacrifice for their nation and to lionize them.

[2.] For those of you who were Robert Conrad fans and watched the exploits of Major Gregory "Pappy" Boyington as Commanding officer (played by Conrad) of the Blacksheep squadron, many of the names and places cited in this chronology will be familiar, especially Vella Lavella, Espiritu Santo and Munda. It is interesting to note that Major Boyington was actually Commanding officer of VMF-123 for a short period of time, but that was before the USS BENNINGTON arrived in the Pacific theatre. I'll check my records, however, I believe the Major Boyington had been shot down and captured by the Japanese, before then.

[3.] This was a particularly difficult document to decypher and make readable. Faded over time, dirty letters in the typewriter, bad copy images and the problems previously cited about ones reaction to being assigned to log future history. Enthusiasm for the job of logging what happened "today" as An effort, partially successful to date, has been underway for some time to procure additional documents so as to recognize those gallant men who made the supreme sacrifice for their nation and to lionize them.

[4.] For those of you who were Robert Conrad fans and watched the exploits of Major Gregory "Pappy" Boyington as Commanding officer (played by Conrad) of the Blacksheep squadron, many of the names and places cited in this chronology will be familiar, especially Vella Lavella, history for someone who may someday want to read it sometime later was not at the top of any list. I made a concerted effort to copy verbatim the official Navy documents. Some liberty was initially taken with spelling and the correct word, phrase, or punctuation was included in [brackets], the error was enclosed in (parenthesis). I would certainly caution against distributing it as official, with the many corrections showing. If you want to include the information and I think that would be appropriate, a redone copy with annotations at the end, might better serve our readers, while maintaining authenticity. Let me know if that would be preferable, since it would be no problem to delete my annotations and correct the original errors and so state that the document had been so altered.

It may well be in order to proceed in this manner since I'm just about finished with the roster for the VMF squadrons and have plenty of additional information on personnel in the Navy squadrons.

Generally I put this together as an in house document just to bring everyone up to date.

George (Matt) Mattimoe



RETURN TO:
RETURN TO AIR GROUPS

RETURN TO:
CREW STORIES




Site Created By:
LPWE LOGO