The squadron was formed as the 1st Air Squadron in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in March 1919. They were redesignated VO-4M on May 29, 1922 and returned to Marine Corps Base Quantico in 1924. The squadron was again redesignated as VO-7M on July 1, 1927. Ten years later on July 1, 1937 the squadron again changed names, this time to Marine Scouting Squadron 1 (VMS-1). Exactly four years later saw a fifth name change to Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron 131 (VMSB-131).
Squadron logo in World War II when they were VMSB-131
A VMSB-131 TBF-1 on Guadalcanal.
During the fighting crews and pilots rotated between these two bases. The squadron was relieved on February 18, 1943 but rejoined the fighting in April 1943. During its time on Guadalcanal, VMSB-131 scored 14 sure hits and 6 probables with its torpedoes against Japanese shipping. They also scored 6 direct hits against ships with bombs. All this came at a cost of 8 pilots and 17 radiomen and gunners killed in action. For their efforts six pilots were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism.[1] The squadron finally left the combat zone and returned to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro in June 1943 and were redesignated Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 131 VMTB-131.
After a year of rest, refitting, and training, VMTB-131 again deployed to the Pacific Theater on March 29, 1944 this time on board the USS Petrof Bay. They finally arrived in Guam in August 1944 and flew anti-submarine patrols for the next eight months. On April 27, 1945 the squadron was attached to Marine Aircraft Group 22 (MAG-22) and departed for Okinawa. During the Battle of Okinawa they were based out of Ie Shima, an island just to the northwest of Okinawa, and continued to fly anti-submarine patrols and also provided close air support for American ground forces. On July 25, 1945 they were transferred under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 14 (MAG-14) and went ashore to be based out of Okinawa where they remained until the end of the war. The squadron returned to the west coast and were deactivated on November 16, 1945.
Reserve years
An A-4E of VMA-131 drops Mk 82 bombs during a training mission.
On October 15, 1959, an FJ Fury from VMF-131 suffered an engine fire over Southampton, New York. First Lt. James Dawson piloted the crippled aircraft south over the Atlantic Ocean, before ejecting. Unfortunately, he was unable to free himself of his parachute in the rough waters and died aboard a Coast Guard rescue boat.
On January 12, 1990 an A-4 Skyhawk from the squadron crashed on approach to NAS Willow Grove, coming down in Upper Moreland Township, impacting in an intersection, with debris tearing off the roof of an auto-leasing business, destroying four cars and damaging six houses with no injuries on the ground. The pilot parachuted into tree nearby suffering only minor injuries.[3]
On June 22, 1994 the squadron officially retired its last A-4M aircraft. Four pilots flew a short flight that included a flyby the field. Aside from the various Marines from the squadron and MAG-49, there were family and invited guests.
In December 1998, VMA-131 stood down as a squadron, LtCol. Volland the last Squadron Commander at the time.
^"VMA-131 and VMA-132". www.skyhawk.org. Skywawk Association. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
^Pilot Survives Crash of Jet In a Suburb of Philadelphia
Bibliography
Hubler, Richard G.; Dechant, John A (1944). Flying Leathernecks - The Complete Record of Marine Corps Aviation in Action 1941 - 1944. Garden City, New York: Doubleday, Doran & Co., Inc.
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. ISBN0-313-31906-5.
Sherrod, Robert (1952). History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II. Washington, D.C.: Combat Forces Press.
Web
VMA-131 Diamondbacks
January 31, 2023
marine, attack, squadron, skyhawk, attack, squadron, united, states, marine, corps, squadron, also, known, diamondbacks, were, part, marine, forces, reserve, were, based, naval, station, york, brooklyn, york, from, 1960, through, 1970, nasjrb, willow, grove, f. Marine Attack Squadron 131 VMA 131 was an A 4 Skyhawk attack squadron in the United States Marine Corps The squadron also known as the Diamondbacks were part of the Marine Forces Reserve and were based at Naval Air Station New York Brooklyn New York from 1960 through 1970 and NASJRB Willow Grove from 1971 until their deactivation in 1998 Marine Attack Squadron 131VMA 131 InsigniaActiveMar 1919 Nov 16 1945 Apr 15 1958 Dec 5 1998CountryUnited StatesAllegianceUnited States of AmericaBranchUnited States Marine CorpsTypeAttack SquadronRoleClose air supportAir interdictionPart ofInactiveNickname s DiamondbacksTail CodeQGEngagementsBanana Wars Dominican RepublicWorld War II Battle of Guadalcanal Battle of OkinawaCommandersNotablecommandersVernon M GuymonAircraft flownAttackA 4 SkyhawkBomberO3U 6 CorsairGreat Lakes BG 1939 41 SB2U 3 VindicatorSBD DauntlessTBM Avenger Contents 1 History 1 1 Early years 1 2 World War II 2 Reserve years 3 See also 4 ReferencesHistory EditEarly years Edit The squadron was formed as the 1st Air Squadron in Santo Domingo Dominican Republic in March 1919 They were redesignated VO 4M on May 29 1922 and returned to Marine Corps Base Quantico in 1924 The squadron was again redesignated as VO 7M on July 1 1927 Ten years later on July 1 1937 the squadron again changed names this time to Marine Scouting Squadron 1 VMS 1 Exactly four years later saw a fifth name change to Marine Scout Bomber Squadron 131 VMSB 131 World War II Edit Following the attack on Pearl Harbor the squadron was ordered to San Diego California After months of training the squadron left San Francisco on September 6 1942 on board the USS Mount Vernon heading for Marine Corps Air Station Ewa Hawaii In November 1942 the squadron was reorganized as the first Marine torpedo bombing squadron and sent to Henderson Field and Espiritu Santo to become part of the Cactus Air Force during the Battle of Guadalcanal Squadron logo in World War II when they were VMSB 131 A VMSB 131 TBF 1 on Guadalcanal During the fighting crews and pilots rotated between these two bases The squadron was relieved on February 18 1943 but rejoined the fighting in April 1943 During its time on Guadalcanal VMSB 131 scored 14 sure hits and 6 probables with its torpedoes against Japanese shipping They also scored 6 direct hits against ships with bombs All this came at a cost of 8 pilots and 17 radiomen and gunners killed in action For their efforts six pilots were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism 1 The squadron finally left the combat zone and returned to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro in June 1943 and were redesignated Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 131 VMTB 131 After a year of rest refitting and training VMTB 131 again deployed to the Pacific Theater on March 29 1944 this time on board the USS Petrof Bay They finally arrived in Guam in August 1944 and flew anti submarine patrols for the next eight months On April 27 1945 the squadron was attached to Marine Aircraft Group 22 MAG 22 and departed for Okinawa During the Battle of Okinawa they were based out of Ie Shima an island just to the northwest of Okinawa and continued to fly anti submarine patrols and also provided close air support for American ground forces On July 25 1945 they were transferred under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 14 MAG 14 and went ashore to be based out of Okinawa where they remained until the end of the war The squadron returned to the west coast and were deactivated on November 16 1945 Reserve years Edit An A 4E of VMA 131 drops Mk 82 bombs during a training mission On April 15 1958 VMF 131 was recommissioned as part of the Marine Air Reserve 2 The squadron was based out of Naval Air Station New York Brooklyn New York and flew the North American FJ 4 Fury In 1962 the squadron s designation was changed to VMA 131 when it transitioned to the Douglas A 4 Skyhawk VMA 131 remained at NAS New York until 1970 when it moved to Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove Pennsylvania until 1998 On October 15 1959 an FJ Fury from VMF 131 suffered an engine fire over Southampton New York First Lt James Dawson piloted the crippled aircraft south over the Atlantic Ocean before ejecting Unfortunately he was unable to free himself of his parachute in the rough waters and died aboard a Coast Guard rescue boat On January 12 1990 an A 4 Skyhawk from the squadron crashed on approach to NAS Willow Grove coming down in Upper Moreland Township impacting in an intersection with debris tearing off the roof of an auto leasing business destroying four cars and damaging six houses with no injuries on the ground The pilot parachuted into tree nearby suffering only minor injuries 3 On June 22 1994 the squadron officially retired its last A 4M aircraft Four pilots flew a short flight that included a flyby the field Aside from the various Marines from the squadron and MAG 49 there were family and invited guests In December 1998 VMA 131 stood down as a squadron LtCol Volland the last Squadron Commander at the time See also EditUnited States Marine Corps Aviation List of United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons List of decommissioned United States Marine Corps aircraft squadronsReferences EditNotes Hubler Flying Leathernecks p 124 VMA 131 and VMA 132 www skyhawk org Skywawk Association Retrieved 28 June 2020 Pilot Survives Crash of Jet In a Suburb of Philadelphia BibliographyHubler Richard G Dechant John A 1944 Flying Leathernecks The Complete Record of Marine Corps Aviation in Action 1941 1944 Garden City New York Doubleday Doran amp Co Inc 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 WebVMA 131 Diamondbacks Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title VMA 131 amp oldid 1083466235, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
