VMSB-243
{{Use American English|date=February 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name= Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 243
| image= Vmsb243 insig.jpg
| image_size = 225
|caption= VMSB-243 Insignia
|dates= 1 June 1942 – 25 September 1945
|country= United States
|allegiance= United States of America
|branch= United States Marine Corps
|type= Dive Bomber squadron
|role= Reconnaissance
Air Interdiction
Close air support
|size=
|command_structure= Inactive
|current_commander=
|garrison=
|ceremonial_chief=
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
|nickname= Flying Goldbricks
|patron=
|motto=
|colors=
|march=
|mascot=
|battles= World War II
* Bougainville campaign (1943-45)
* Philippines campaign (1944–45)
|aircraft_bomber = SBD Dauntless
|anniversaries=
}}
Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 243 (VMSB-243) was a dive bomber squadron in the United States Marine Corps. The squadron, also known as the "Flying Goldbricks", fought in World War II during the Battle of Bougainville and later in the Philippines campaign (1944–45). They were deactivated shortly after the end of the war on 25 September 1945.
History
VMSB-243 was commissioned at Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara on 1 June 1942.{{sfn|Rottman|2002|pp=443}} On 18 January 1943 the squadron departed San Diego for Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Hawaii. Upon arrival at Ewa they were split into two echelons with one going to Johnston Atoll and the other to Palmyra Atoll. The squadron remained split until September 1943 when they returned to MCAS Ewa.
File:Douglas SBD VMSB-243 1944-45.jpg of VMSB-243.]]
On 26 October 1943 the squadron departed for the South Pacific, The flying echelon of the squadron was based out of Munda (Solomon Islands) while the ground echelon was based at Efate. From here they attacked Ballale, Kahili and Kara in support of the Bougainville Campaign. In December 1943 the flight echelon joined the ground echelon on Efate where they remained until March 1944.
In June 1944 the squadron moved to Emirau. The squadron remained here until the end of the year when they began moving for the Philippines to take part in the campaign to retake the country. The squadron fought through the entire campaign as part of Marine Aircraft Group 32 and later MAGSZAM.
The squadron ended World War II in the Philippines and deployed back to MCAS Santa Barbara in September 1945 and were decommissioned shortly after that.
Unit awards
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. VMSB-243 has been presented with the following awards:
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; clear: center"
|Ribbon | Unit Award |
| File:Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg | Navy Unit Commendation with one Bronze Star |
| File:Asiatic-Pacific Campaign ribbon.svg | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal |
| File:World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg | World War II Victory Medal |
| File:National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg | National Defense Service Medal |
See also
Notes
{{Reflist}}
References
;Bibliography
{{Refbegin}}
- {{cite book | last = Rottman | first = Gordon L. | title = U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle: Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War, 1939-1945 | publisher = Greenwood | date = 2002 }}
- {{cite book
| last = Sherrod
| first = Robert
| year = 1952
| title = History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II
| url = https://archive.org/details/historyofmarinec00sher
| url-access = registration
| publisher = Combat Forces Press
| location = Washington, D.C.
}}
- {{cite book
| last = Shettle Jr.
| first = M. L.
| title = United States Marine Corps Air Stations of World War II
| publisher = Schaertel Publishing Co.
| year = 2001
| location = Bowersville, Georgia
| isbn = 0-9643388-2-3}}
{{Refend}}
;Web
{{Refbegin}}
- [http://www.vmsb243.com/ VMSB243.com]
{{Refend}}
{{US Marine Corps navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vmsb-243}}