VMF-222 was commissioned on 1 March 1942, at Midway Atoll. They were originally formed from members of VMF-221 and were part of Marine Aircraft Group 22.[4] The squadron was transferred to Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Hawaii, in April 1942 and remained until September 1942 when they returned to the United States.[5] They then were sent to the Solomon Islands, operating from bases on Munda and Bougainville.
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
Following the Battle of the Green Islands, on 13 March 1944, VMF-222 landed on the newly constructed airfield on Green Island along with VMF-223. From here they participated in the allied effort to isolate the Japanese bases on Rabaul and Kavieng.[6] In May and June of that year Charles Lindbergh, while in the area as a civilian technician, flew combat sorties with the squadron.[7]
An F4U-1 of VMF-222 on Bougainville, April 1944.
On 11 January 1945, the squadron, along with other from MAG-14, landed on the island of Guinan in the Philippines.
Between April and June 1945, VMF-222 operated from Samar in the Philippines. These missions were in a fighter-bomber capacity.[8]
Remains of the Corsair that crashed at 0940 AM on 24 January 1945 piloted by 1stLt Karl Oerth
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 with VMF-212. 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 .50 cal ammunition. 14 men were killed and over 50 wounded during this incident.[9]
By early May 1945 the need for air support in the central Philippines had decreased and VMF-222, was transferred to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing on the island of Okinawa.[10]
Kenneth Ambrose Walsh, 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.[12][13]
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:
^Sherrod History of Marine Corps Aviation in WWII, p. 427.
References
Bibliography
De Chant, John A. (1947). Devilbirds - The Story of United States Marine Aviation in World War II. New York: Harper & Brothers.
Foster, John M. (1961). Hell in the Heavens. New York: ACE Books Inc.
Rottman, Gordon L. (2002). U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle - Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War, 1939 - 1945s. Greenwood Press. ISBN0-313-31906-5.
