VMFA(AW)-225

Marine Fighting Squadron 225 (VMF-225) was established on 1 January 1943 at MCAS Mojave, California, flying the Vought F4U-1 Corsair. The squadron entered WWII in October of 1943 when they embarked aboard the USS Nassau (CVE-16) and relocated to Ewa, Hawaii, flying missions in defense of the island. In March of 1944 the squadron departed Pearl Harbor aboard the USS Long Island (CVE-1) for Espiritu Santo for air defense missions over the New Hebrides. In June the squadron was relocated to Eniwetok and the Marshalls, and was later rerouted aboard the USS Santee (CVE-29) to Orote Field, Guam in the Marianas as part of Operation Forager, only a week after the allied invasion of the island in August of 1944. There, VMF-225 was heavily engaged in close air support missions across the island as the allies advanced to regain control, flew strike missions against Rota and Pagan Island to the North, and participated in air defense missions where it was accredited with one air-to-air kill, the shoot-down of a Jill bomber in January 1945. Leaving Agana Field in May of 1945, VMF-225 returned to MCAS Mojave, California, and began carrier training in preparation for Operation Olympic and the invasion of Japan. Following V-J Day (14 Aug 1945), the squadron was ordered to MCAS Santa Barbara, California where it was based until January 1946. Then it joined the USS Mindoro (CVE-120) and left it's aircraft behind, relocating to MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina via the Panama Canal. In April, VMF-225 again began flying F4U-4 Corsairs, and for a short time added several Grumman F6F-5P Hellcats, participating in training missions at Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, and later re-organizing for carrier operations. In August, 1946, VMF-225 was selected to represent the Corps at the National Air Races in Cleveland, Ohio, flying aerial demonstrations during the same period that the Navy Blue Angels were being formed. In April 1947, the squadron was transferred for a short assignment with the US