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Summary: VMB-443 was commissioned
on 15 September 1943 at Cherry Point, NC. The squadron transferred to Peterfield Point, NC 20 October 1943 to continue training. During mid-January 1944 flight
personnel and some of ground echelon went to Boca Chica, FL for torpedo and
tactics training. Moving to El Centro, CA in February 1944, the
squadron continued its training through mid-May before deploying to the
Pacific. On 18 May 1944 the ground echelon sailed aboard the MS
Brastagi from San Diego, CA
for Emirau. Following their arrival on Emirau they were joined by the flight echelon on 13 August 1944.
While on Emirau, VMB-443 participated in the neutralization of the Bismarcks,
flying missions against Rabaul and other bypassed Japanese installations on
New Britain and New Ireland. In August 1945 VMB-443 began movement to
Malabang, Philippines, however they were not fully in place until after the
war ended less than one month later. VMB-443 was decommissioned at Miramar, CA on 30 November 1945 following the
squadron's return to the United States.
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Commanding Officers: |
First Lieutenant Robert C. McConnell |
15 Sep 1943 |
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Major Alton D. Gould |
16 Sep - 13 Oct 1943 |
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Lieutenant Colonel Dwight M. Guillotte |
14 Oct 1943 - 21 Mar 1945 |
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Lieutenant Colonel Alton D. Gould |
22 Mar - 16 Aug 1945 |
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Major Earl E. Anderson |
17 Aug - 30 Nov 1945 |
Awards: American Campaign; Asiatic-Pacific
Campaign
w/2 bronze stars, and; World
War II Victory.
Aircraft
Operated Overseas:
PBJ-1C; PBJ-1D, and; PBJ-1J.
Aircraft Loses:
2 Operational; 2 Combat.
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Casualties: |
First Lieutenant Clifford McClinton |
8 February 1944 |
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First Lieutenant Frank Crummer Jr. |
8 February 1944 |
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Sergeant
John H. Hopkins |
8 February 1944 |
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Sergeant
Robert H. Tarbell |
8 February 1944 |
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Corporal
Jack D. Moss |
8 February 1944 |
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Staff Sergeant John E. Decker |
8 February 1944 |
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First Lieutenant Paul N. Kezerian |
10 July 1944 |
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First Lieutenant John O'Hara |
11 September 1944 |
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First Lieutenant Henry A. Maasen |
11 September 1944 |
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Master Technical Sergeant Ralph E. Holland |
11 September 1944 |
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Technical Sergeant
Robert J. Heger |
11 September 1944 |
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Sergeant
Arthur Browning |
11 September 1944 |
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Sergeant
Charles H. Shuler |
11 September 1944 |
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First Lieutenant Benjamin G. Kinnick |
17
September 1944
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First Lieutenant Dominic F. Bellanca |
17
September 1944
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Master Technical Sergeant Edward P. McCray |
17
September 1944
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Staff Sergeant Edmund S. Santomasso |
17
September 1944
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Staff Sergeant Arthur P. Going |
17
September 1944
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Corporal
Jay B. Fitzpatrick |
17
September 1944
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First Lieutenant John L. Braden |
19 September 1944 |
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Master Technical Sergeant Gerald N. Griffin |
19 September 1944 |
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