417:
1002:
231:
433:
450:
270:
373:
292:
1545:
299:
It was during this time that the squadron was a part of one of the worst aviation accidents of the war. At 0940 AM on 24 January 1945, while taking off, 1stLt Karl Oerth hit a lump in the runway, blew a tire, and his
Corsair careened wildly into his own squadron's revetment area, which was shared
28:
396:
A unit citation or commendation is an award bestowed upon an organization for the action cited. Members of the unit who participated in said actions are allowed to wear on their uniforms the awarded unit citation. VMF-222 was presented with the following awards:
304:. It completely wiped out the tents housing the intelligence, oxygen, parachutes, and materiel departments. Many men attempted to rescue the pilot but while they were making this brave effort the plane exploded and set off all its
973:
938:
368:, USMC (retired), Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. Walsh served with VMF-222 during his second combat tour. He scored the last of his 21 victories whilst flying an F4U-4 Corsair with VMF-222.
943:
1273:
481:
227:, in April 1942 and remained until September 1942 when they returned to the United States. They then were sent to the Solomon Islands, operating from bases on Munda and Bougainville.
1336:
948:
1570:
985:
476:
1384:
126:
1258:
1575:
1196:
1084:
925:
1356:
381:
1299:
1179:
930:
1206:
1351:
1263:
678:
1346:
1090:
355:
1134:
980:
877:
1434:
1201:
968:
1159:
1018:
1512:
1294:
1253:
1139:
1154:
1144:
910:
1502:
1444:
1289:
1149:
1331:
1268:
1040:
652:
715:
1414:
1379:
1374:
1028:
905:
335:
234:
Pilots of VMF-222 aboard AV-9 Pocomoke during the voyage between San Diego and Pearl Harbor, February 1943. US Navy Photo 80-G-38594
1341:
1233:
915:
626:
1507:
1079:
1429:
1404:
1248:
1238:
339:
870:
505:
1548:
1471:
1389:
1164:
900:
471:
734:
311:
By early May 1945 the need for air support in the central
Philippines had decreased and VMF-222, was transferred to the
1394:
1057:
920:
188:
131:
1309:
833:
801:
548:
385:
327:
863:
424:
195:. During the war, the squadron was credited with shooting down 53 enemy aircraft and was the sister squadron to
386:
Click here for a detailed description of
Captain Miller defending the USS Franklin from attack on 19 March 1945.
1050:
441:
1243:
1033:
1477:
1129:
1113:
1097:
1067:
1045:
674:
220:
1439:
1072:
239:
886:
457:
416:
359:
172:
69:
794:
U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle - Ground and Air Units in the
Pacific War, 1939 - 1945s
1449:
1409:
1169:
1023:
1399:
312:
216:
180:
648:
1495:
1189:
960:
230:
1174:
365:
295:
Remains of the
Corsair that crashed at 0940 AM on 24 January 1945 piloted by 1stLt Karl Oerth
278:
243:
712:
8:
1483:
622:
432:
277:
On 11 January 1945, the squadron, along with other from MAG-14, landed on the island of
1062:
323:
850:
1454:
829:
813:
797:
266:, while in the area as a civilian technician, flew combat sorties with the squadron.
263:
254:. From here they participated in the allied effort to isolate the Japanese bases on
192:
136:
91:
449:
1460:
1304:
331:
269:
148:
87:
1519:
738:
731:
719:
1489:
1184:
501:
343:
316:
1564:
1524:
1419:
855:
338:. They regained their flying status in January 1947 but were deactivated at
247:
59:
49:
208:
176:
120:
540:
184:
157:
372:
291:
1424:
776:
Devilbirds - The Story of United States Marine
Aviation in World War II
288:
in the
Philippines. These missions were in a fighter-bomber capacity.
153:
482:
List of decommissioned United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons
384:
United States Marine Corps VMF 222, 111 Combat
Missions, DFC x2.
1529:
305:
301:
259:
251:
212:
196:
179:. Known as "The Flying Deuces," they fell under the command of
308:. 14 men were killed and over 50 wounded during this incident.
27:
255:
224:
1466:
285:
477:
List of active United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons
242:, on 13 March 1944, VMF-222 landed on the newly constructed
926:
Military
Secretary to the Commandant of the Marine Corps
1571:
Fighter squadrons of the United States Marine Corps
284:Between April and June 1945, VMF-222 operated from
812:
791:
1091:United States Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory
722:. Leatherneck.com. Retrieved on 11 November 2009.
1576:Inactive units of the United States Marine Corps
1562:
815:History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II
273:An F4U-1 of VMF-222 on Bougainville, April 1944.
741:. Acepilots.com. Retrieved on 11 November 2009.
334:status while its gear was used to form the new
211:. They were originally formed from members of
885:
828:. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.
199:. They were deactivated on 31 December 1949.
871:
207:VMF-222 was commissioned on 1 March 1942, at
713:First Lieutenant Kenneth Ambrose Walsh, USMC
974:Seapower and Projection Forces subcommittee
533:
959:
878:
864:
826:Corsair: The F4U in World War II and Korea
26:
349:
183:(MAG-14) and fought in many areas of the
916:Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps
819:. Washington, D.C.: Combat Forces Press.
773:
752:History of Marine Corps Aviation in WWII
667:
584:History of Marine Corps Aviation in WWII
571:History of Marine Corps Aviation in WWII
541:"Fighting Squadrons of the USMC in WWII"
371:
290:
268:
229:
171:(VMF-222) was a fighter squadron of the
1080:Marine Corps Combat Development Command
823:
810:
1563:
782:
859:
508:from the original on 12 December 2007
340:Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
175:that was activated and fought during
681:from the original on 19 October 2006
655:from the original on 20 October 2009
629:from the original on 9 December 2007
551:from the original on 27 January 2008
851:VMF-222 Historical Page on Facebook
472:United States Marine Corps Aviation
219:. The squadron was transferred to
13:
1395:Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps
921:Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
778:. New York: Harper & Brothers.
448:
431:
415:
14:
1587:
935:Marine Corps three-star generals
844:
1544:
1543:
1503:History of Hispanics in the USMC
1085:Training & Education Command
1019:Organization of the Marine Corps
1000:
545:History of Marine Corps Aviation
328:Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
326:the squadron was transferred to
262:. In May and June of that year
1259:Criminal Investigation Division
981:Senate Armed Services Committee
931:Marine Corps four-star generals
744:
725:
706:
693:
649:"John Galle's 212 History Page"
41:1 March 1942 – 31 December 1949
1051:III Marine Expeditionary Force
969:House Armed Services Committee
911:Commandant of the Marine Corps
641:
615:
602:
589:
576:
563:
520:
494:
442:Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
391:
189:Philippines campaign (1944–45)
132:Philippines campaign (1944–45)
1:
1034:II Marine Expeditionary Force
761:
330:, California and placed in a
1508:History of women in the USMC
1478:Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima
1269:Chaplain of the Marine Corps
1130:Marine Air-Ground Task Force
1114:Marine Corps Cyber Auxiliary
1098:Marine Corps Systems Command
1046:I Marine Expeditionary Force
675:"Stories from the Tamaracks"
221:Marine Corps Air Station Ewa
169:Marine Fighting Squadron 222
21:Marine Fighting Squadron 222
7:
906:Under Secretary of the Navy
792:Rottman, Gordon L. (2002).
465:
240:Battle of the Green Islands
10:
1592:
887:United States Marine Corps
787:. New York: ACE Books Inc.
774:De Chant, John A. (1947).
458:World War II Victory Medal
425:Presidential Unit Citation
202:
173:United States Marine Corps
70:United States Marine Corps
1538:
1450:Marine Corps War Memorial
1365:
1322:
1300:Officer Candidates School
1282:
1226:
1217:
1170:Marine expeditionary unit
1122:
1106:
1024:Headquarters Marine Corps
1009:
998:
893:
824:Tillman, Barrett (2001).
732:USMC Corsair Aces of WWII
147:
142:
127:Solomons Islands Campaign
115:
105:
97:
83:
75:
65:
55:
45:
37:
25:
20:
1400:Eagle, Globe, and Anchor
1274:Associated organizations
811:Sherrod, Robert (1952).
783:Foster, John M. (1961).
701:The Marine USMC WWII OOB
487:
313:2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
217:Marine Aircraft Group 22
181:Marine Aircraft Group 14
60:United States of America
1264:Judge Advocate Division
504:. www.flightsuits.com.
362:with 10 confirmed kills
1190:Marine Raider Regiment
453:
436:
420:
377:
350:Notable former members
346:, on 31 December 1949
296:
274:
235:
1352:Vehicles and aircraft
1175:Marine Security Guard
1058:Marine Forces Reserve
1041:Marine Forces Pacific
1029:Marine Forces Command
986:Seapower subcommittee
901:Secretary of the Navy
547:. www.acepilots.com.
452:
435:
419:
382:Captain Arthur Miller
376:Captain Arthur Miller
375:
366:Kenneth Ambrose Walsh
294:
272:
233:
1440:White House Sentries
1435:Silent Drill Platoon
1415:Drum and Bugle Corps
1357:Individual equipment
1310:Martial Arts Program
281:in the Philippines.
796:. Greenwood Press.
785:Hell in the Heavens
528:Hell in the Heavens
358:- recipient of the
1455:Marine Detachments
1385:Acronyms and terms
1295:School of Infantry
1249:Historical Marines
1180:Special Operations
1063:Fleet Marine Force
737:2010-01-16 at the
718:2011-07-13 at the
623:"Kenneth A. Walsh"
454:
437:
421:
378:
324:surrender of Japan
306:.50 cal ammunition
297:
275:
236:
111:"SeaBee Air Force"
32:VMF-222’s Insignia
1558:
1557:
1318:
1317:
1254:Marine Astronauts
996:
995:
463:
462:
315:on the island of
264:Charles Lindbergh
215:and were part of
193:Battle of Okinawa
163:
162:
137:Battle of Okinawa
92:Close air support
1583:
1547:
1546:
1484:Rifleman's Creed
1305:The Basic School
1290:Recruit Training
1224:
1223:
1004:
1003:
957:
956:
880:
873:
866:
857:
856:
839:
820:
818:
807:
788:
779:
755:
748:
742:
729:
723:
710:
704:
697:
691:
690:
688:
686:
671:
665:
664:
662:
660:
645:
639:
638:
636:
634:
619:
613:
606:
600:
593:
587:
580:
574:
567:
561:
560:
558:
556:
537:
531:
524:
518:
517:
515:
513:
498:
400:
399:
187:, including the
88:Air interdiction
79:Fighter squadron
30:
18:
17:
1591:
1590:
1586:
1585:
1584:
1582:
1581:
1580:
1561:
1560:
1559:
1554:
1534:
1520:Honorary Marine
1513:Women's Reserve
1472:National Museum
1445:Service Numbers
1367:
1361:
1324:
1314:
1278:
1244:Notable Marines
1219:
1213:
1165:Marine aviation
1118:
1102:
1011:
1005:
1001:
992:
955:
889:
884:
847:
842:
836:
804:
764:
759:
758:
749:
745:
739:Wayback Machine
730:
726:
720:Wayback Machine
711:
707:
698:
694:
684:
682:
673:
672:
668:
658:
656:
647:
646:
642:
632:
630:
621:
620:
616:
607:
603:
594:
590:
581:
577:
568:
564:
554:
552:
539:
538:
534:
525:
521:
511:
509:
500:
499:
495:
490:
468:
394:
356:Donald H. Stapp
352:
205:
166:
156:
134:
129:
124:
110:
109:"Flying Deuces"
90:
33:
12:
11:
5:
1589:
1579:
1578:
1573:
1556:
1555:
1553:
1552:
1539:
1536:
1535:
1533:
1532:
1527:
1522:
1517:
1516:
1515:
1505:
1500:
1499:
1498:
1490:Semper Fidelis
1486:
1481:
1474:
1469:
1464:
1457:
1452:
1447:
1442:
1437:
1432:
1427:
1422:
1417:
1412:
1407:
1402:
1397:
1392:
1387:
1382:
1377:
1371:
1369:
1368:and traditions
1363:
1362:
1360:
1359:
1354:
1349:
1344:
1339:
1334:
1328:
1326:
1320:
1319:
1316:
1315:
1313:
1312:
1307:
1302:
1297:
1292:
1286:
1284:
1280:
1279:
1277:
1276:
1271:
1266:
1261:
1256:
1251:
1246:
1241:
1236:
1230:
1228:
1221:
1215:
1214:
1212:
1211:
1210:
1209:
1204:
1194:
1193:
1192:
1187:
1185:Marine Raiders
1177:
1172:
1167:
1162:
1157:
1152:
1147:
1142:
1137:
1132:
1126:
1124:
1120:
1119:
1117:
1116:
1110:
1108:
1104:
1103:
1101:
1100:
1095:
1094:
1093:
1088:
1077:
1076:
1075:
1070:
1060:
1055:
1054:
1053:
1048:
1038:
1037:
1036:
1026:
1021:
1015:
1013:
1007:
1006:
999:
997:
994:
993:
991:
990:
989:
988:
978:
977:
976:
965:
963:
954:
953:
952:
951:
946:
941:
933:
928:
923:
918:
913:
908:
903:
897:
895:
891:
890:
883:
882:
875:
868:
860:
854:
853:
846:
845:External links
843:
841:
840:
834:
821:
808:
802:
789:
780:
770:
769:
768:
763:
760:
757:
756:
743:
724:
705:
692:
666:
640:
614:
601:
588:
575:
562:
532:
519:
492:
491:
489:
486:
485:
484:
479:
474:
467:
464:
461:
460:
455:
445:
444:
438:
428:
427:
422:
412:
411:
406:
393:
390:
389:
388:
370:
369:
363:
351:
348:
344:North Carolina
322:Following the
238:Following the
204:
201:
164:
161:
160:
151:
145:
144:
143:Aircraft flown
140:
139:
117:
113:
112:
107:
103:
102:
99:
95:
94:
85:
81:
80:
77:
73:
72:
67:
63:
62:
57:
53:
52:
47:
43:
42:
39:
35:
34:
31:
23:
22:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1588:
1577:
1574:
1572:
1569:
1568:
1566:
1551:
1550:
1541:
1540:
1537:
1531:
1528:
1526:
1525:Toys for Tots
1523:
1521:
1518:
1514:
1511:
1510:
1509:
1506:
1504:
1501:
1497:
1494:
1493:
1492:
1491:
1487:
1485:
1482:
1480:
1479:
1475:
1473:
1470:
1468:
1465:
1462:
1461:Marines' Hymn
1458:
1456:
1453:
1451:
1448:
1446:
1443:
1441:
1438:
1436:
1433:
1431:
1428:
1426:
1423:
1421:
1420:Horse Marines
1418:
1416:
1413:
1411:
1408:
1406:
1403:
1401:
1398:
1396:
1393:
1391:
1388:
1386:
1383:
1381:
1378:
1376:
1373:
1372:
1370:
1364:
1358:
1355:
1353:
1350:
1348:
1345:
1343:
1340:
1338:
1335:
1333:
1330:
1329:
1327:
1325:and equipment
1321:
1311:
1308:
1306:
1303:
1301:
1298:
1296:
1293:
1291:
1288:
1287:
1285:
1281:
1275:
1272:
1270:
1267:
1265:
1262:
1260:
1257:
1255:
1252:
1250:
1247:
1245:
1242:
1240:
1237:
1235:
1234:Rank insignia
1232:
1231:
1229:
1225:
1222:
1216:
1208:
1205:
1203:
1200:
1199:
1198:
1195:
1191:
1188:
1186:
1183:
1182:
1181:
1178:
1176:
1173:
1171:
1168:
1166:
1163:
1161:
1158:
1156:
1153:
1151:
1148:
1146:
1143:
1141:
1138:
1136:
1133:
1131:
1128:
1127:
1125:
1121:
1115:
1112:
1111:
1109:
1105:
1099:
1096:
1092:
1089:
1086:
1083:
1082:
1081:
1078:
1074:
1071:
1069:
1066:
1065:
1064:
1061:
1059:
1056:
1052:
1049:
1047:
1044:
1043:
1042:
1039:
1035:
1032:
1031:
1030:
1027:
1025:
1022:
1020:
1017:
1016:
1014:
1008:
987:
984:
983:
982:
979:
975:
972:
971:
970:
967:
966:
964:
962:
958:
950:
947:
945:
942:
940:
937:
936:
934:
932:
929:
927:
924:
922:
919:
917:
914:
912:
909:
907:
904:
902:
899:
898:
896:
892:
888:
881:
876:
874:
869:
867:
862:
861:
858:
852:
849:
848:
837:
835:1-55750-994-8
831:
827:
822:
817:
816:
809:
805:
803:0-313-31906-5
799:
795:
790:
786:
781:
777:
772:
771:
766:
765:
753:
747:
740:
736:
733:
728:
721:
717:
714:
709:
702:
696:
680:
676:
670:
654:
650:
644:
628:
624:
618:
611:
605:
598:
592:
585:
579:
572:
566:
550:
546:
542:
536:
529:
523:
507:
503:
497:
493:
483:
480:
478:
475:
473:
470:
469:
459:
456:
451:
447:
446:
443:
439:
434:
430:
429:
426:
423:
418:
414:
413:
410:
407:
405:
402:
401:
398:
387:
383:
380:
379:
374:
367:
364:
361:
357:
354:
353:
347:
345:
341:
337:
333:
329:
325:
320:
318:
314:
309:
307:
303:
293:
289:
287:
282:
280:
271:
267:
265:
261:
257:
253:
249:
245:
241:
232:
228:
226:
222:
218:
214:
210:
200:
198:
194:
190:
186:
182:
178:
174:
170:
165:Military unit
159:
158:F4U-4 Corsair
155:
152:
150:
146:
141:
138:
133:
128:
123:
122:
118:
114:
108:
104:
100:
96:
93:
89:
86:
82:
78:
74:
71:
68:
64:
61:
58:
54:
51:
50:United States
48:
44:
40:
36:
29:
24:
19:
16:
1542:
1488:
1476:
1220:and training
949:2010–present
825:
814:
793:
784:
775:
767:Bibliography
751:
746:
727:
708:
700:
695:
683:. Retrieved
669:
657:. Retrieved
643:
631:. Retrieved
617:
609:
604:
596:
591:
583:
578:
570:
565:
553:. Retrieved
544:
535:
527:
522:
510:. Retrieved
496:
408:
403:
395:
321:
310:
298:
283:
276:
248:Green Island
237:
209:Midway Atoll
206:
177:World War II
168:
167:
121:World War II
119:
98:Part of
15:
1430:Color Guard
1410:Marine Band
961:US Congress
685:16 December
659:16 December
633:16 December
555:16 December
512:16 December
409:Unit Award
392:Unit awards
250:along with
185:Pacific War
116:Engagements
106:Nickname(s)
1565:Categories
1425:Marine One
1140:Battalions
894:Leadership
762:References
360:Navy Cross
56:Allegiance
1227:Personnel
1218:Personnel
1160:MEF/Corps
1155:Divisions
1145:Regiments
1123:Structure
1107:Auxiliary
944:2000–2009
939:1942–1959
754:, p. 427.
703:, p. 442.
586:, p. 462.
502:"VMF-222"
154:SNJ Texan
1549:Category
1390:Birthday
1332:Uniforms
1323:Uniforms
1283:Training
1207:Division
1150:Brigades
1068:Atlantic
1012:commands
750:Sherrod
735:Archived
716:Archived
699:Rottman
679:Archived
653:Archived
627:Archived
612:, p. 68.
608:Tillman
599:, p. 67.
595:Tillman
582:Sherrod
573:, p. 57.
569:Sherrod
549:Archived
506:Archived
466:See also
244:airfield
191:and the
101:Inactive
1530:Gung ho
1380:Culture
1375:History
1366:History
1347:Weapons
1087:(TECOM)
1073:Pacific
610:Corsair
597:Corsair
530:, p.19.
526:Foster
440:
336:VMF-912
317:Okinawa
302:VMF-212
260:Kavieng
252:VMF-223
213:VMF-221
203:History
197:VMF-215
149:Fighter
46:Country
1342:Badges
1337:Awards
1010:Major
832:
800:
404:Ribbon
279:Guinan
256:Rabaul
225:Hawaii
66:Branch
38:Active
1496:march
1467:Oorah
1202:Force
1197:Recon
1135:Bases
488:Notes
332:cadre
300:with
286:Samar
1405:Flag
830:ISBN
798:ISBN
687:2007
661:2007
635:2007
557:2007
514:2007
258:and
84:Role
76:Type
1239:MOS
246:on
1567::
677:.
651:.
625:.
543:.
342:,
319:.
223:,
135:*
130:*
125:*
1463:"
1459:"
879:e
872:t
865:v
838:.
806:.
689:.
663:.
637:.
559:.
516:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
