VMF-511

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Marine Fighting Squadron 511

VMF-511's WWII insignia
Active
Country United States
Branch USMC
Type Fighter squadron
Role Air interdiction
Close air support
Part of Inactive
Engagements World War II
* Battle of Okinawa
* Battle of Balikpapan (1945)
Aircraft flown
Fighter F4U-1D Corsair
F6F-5N/5P Hellcats
F-8 Crusader

Marine Fighting Squadron 511 (VMF-511) was a fighter squadron of the Marine Forces Reserve during the Cold War which flew numerous variants of the F-8 Crusader.[1]. They were originally activated during World War II and fought during the Battle of Okinawa and the Battle of Balikpapan (1945). They specialized in close air support and during the course of the war were only credited with 1 plane shot. down[2]

Following the surrender of Japan, the squadron was deactivated on March 11, 1946 . They were reactivated in the Marine Forces Reserve and was based out of Naval Air Station Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. The squadrons tailcode was originally 7W, then in 1970 it became 5W, and lastly in late 1972 it changed again to MK. [1]

Contents

[edit] History

Marine Fighting Squadron 511 (VMF-511) was activated on January 1, 1944 at Marine Corps Auxiliary Air Field Oak Grove, North Carolina.[3] They were a part of Marine Aircraft Group 51 (MAG-51} and their original mission and training was as a part of Operation Crossbow (Project Danny), an ill-conceived plan to have Marine squadrons onboard escort carriers hunt down V-1 flying bomb launch sites in eastern France.[4] While training for this mission, the squadron was sent to Naval Air Station Key West, Florida, Naval Air Station Quonset Point, Rhode Island, Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California and Naval Auxiliary Air Field Manteo, North Carolina. By July 30, 1944, the Allies had overrun the V-1 launch sites so their was no longer a need for Operation Crossbow and VMF-511 needed another mission.[4]

The new mission for MAG-51 and VMF-511 was to begin training for deployment onboard Navy carriers in the Pacific.[5] They moved to Marine Corps Air Station Mojave, California on September 10, 1944, began carrier qualification training where they would fly a mixed bag of eight F6F-5N Hellcat night fighters, two F6F-5P photo reconnaissance Hellcats and eight F4U-1D Corsairs. This mix of aircraft gave the squadron both a night fighting capability and photo reconnaissance capability on top of its ability to provide close air support.[6] On October 28, 1944, the squadron was also re-designated (VMF(CVS)-511) to reflect their special training and participation in the escort carrier program.[7][8] Upon completion of this training they were assigned to Marine Carrier Air Group 1 (MCVG-1) where they were partnered with VMTB-233 on the USS Block Island (CVE-106). The squadron left the West Coast on March 20, 1945.[2]

On March 10, 1945, the squadron saw its first combat during the Battle of Okinawa[9] when it ran plowed up Japanese mortar positions.[10] For the next month provided close air support for Marines and soldiers on the ground during the battle. The squadron was also a part of the effort to reduce Shuri Castle and interdict small water craft.[11] During this time the squadron lost its commanding officer, Major Robert Maze, when his F4U Corsair was hit by flak from Ishigaki Island and crashed into the East China Sea.[12][13] In mid-June, the USS Block Island was relieved from the coast of Okinawa and ordered to Leyte in the Philippines. From there, they supported the early stages of Australia's 7th Division invasion of Balikpapan in July 1945. They returned to Leyte on July 4 and did not see combat for the rest of the war.[2] Still aboard the USS Block Island when WWII ended, VMF(CVS)-511's final missions were flown in support of the Japanese surrender of Formosa.[14]

Following the surrender of Japan, the squadron returned to the Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara, California[2] and were eventually deactivated at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California on March 10, 1946.[3]

On April 15, 1958, the Marine Corps reactivated the squadron as the Marine Air Reserve Training Detachment Willow Grove at Naval Air Station Willow Grove, Pennsylvania.[2] At first, the squadron shared aircraft with Naval Air Reserve squadrons VF-931 and VF-932. In 1970, the reserves were reorganized and VMF-511 became an independent squadron, again with its own aircraft.[1] The squadron was finally deactivated on August 31, 1972 as part of the post-Vietnam draw down of forces.[2]

[edit] Notable members of VMF-511

[edit] 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. VMF-511 was presented with the following awards:

Ribbon Unit Award
  Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
National Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Star

[edit] See also

United States Marine Corps Portal

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c Dirkx, Marco. "Chapter 6: Crusader Units", "US Marine Corps". www.crouze.com. Retrieved on 2007-12-19. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f Crowder USMC Aviation Squadrons, p. 155.
  3. ^ a b Rottman, USMC WWII OOB, p. 445.
  4. ^ a b Shettle, USMC Air Stations of WWII, p. 119.
  5. ^ Shettle, USMC Air Stations of WWII, pp. 111-112.
  6. ^ Condon Flattops and Corsairs, p.92.
  7. ^ Sherrod, History of USMC Aviation in WWII, p. 471.
  8. ^ Condon Flattops and Corsairs, p.88.
  9. ^ Tillman Corsair, p. 153.
  10. ^ DeChant Devilbirds, p. 246.
  11. ^ Block Island. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy (13 April 2005). Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  12. ^ Mersky USMC Aviation, p.100.
  13. ^ Condon Flattops and Corsairs, p.100.
  14. ^ Yanacek, Robert J.. Marines Trained at Manteo: VMF-511. Marine Corps League Outer Banks Detachment. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  15. ^ "Walloff, Edward J.". Full Text Citations For Award of The Navy Cross to U.S. Marines - World War II. www.homeoftheheroes.com. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.

[edit] References

Bibliography
  • Condon, John Pomeroy (1998). Corsairs and Flattops - Marine Carrier Air Warfare, 1944-45. Annapolis Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-127-0. 
  • Crowder, Michael J. (2000). United States Marine Corps Aviation Squadron Lineage, Insignia & History - Volume One - The Fighter Squadrons. Paducah, KY: Turner Publishing Company. ISBN 1-56311-926-9. 
  • De Chant, John A. (1947). Devilbirds - The Story of United States Marine Aviation in World War II. New York: Harper & Brothers. OCLC 909846. 
  • Mersky, Peter B. (1983). U.S. Marine Corps Aviation — 1912 to the present. Annapolis Maryland: The Nautical and Aviation Publishing Company of America. ISBN 0-933852-39-8. 
  • Porter, R. Bruce; Eric Hammel (1985). ACE! - A Marine Night-Fighter Pilot in World War II. Pacifica Press. ISBN 0-93555-331-2. 
  • Rottman, Gordon L. (2002). U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle - Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War, 1939 - 1945. Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-31906-5. 
  • Sherrod, Robert (1952). History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II. Washington, D.C.: Combat Forces Press. OCLC 1261876. 
  • Shettle Jr., M. L. (2001). United States Marine Corps Air Stations of World War II. Bowersville, Georgia: Schaertel Publishing Co.. ISBN 0-964-33882-3. 
  • Tillman, Barrett (1979). Corsair - The F4U in World War II and Korea. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-944-8. 
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