The squadron was originally formed on 1 May 1942, at
Marine Corps Air Station Ewa,
Hawaii as Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 233 (
VMSB-233) flying the
SBD-4 Dauntless. They deployed overseas in December 1942 on board the
seaplane tender USS Wright and first debarked at
Espiritu Santo. From 25 December 1942, until 8 February 1943, they operated from
Henderson Field on
Guadalcanal as part of the
Cactus Air Force. They were reorganized as Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 233 (
VMTB-233) on 22 May 1943, but the official re-designation of the squadron did not take place until 13 June, when they had returned to the United States. From August until 29 October 1943, the squadron again operated from Henderson Field. Following the
Battle of New Georgia the squadron was moved to
Munda in
New Georgia to conduct raids that would help cut off the Japanese garrison at
Rabaul. While in the New Georgia area, they also operated from
Piva Airfield and
Torokina Airfield. On 14 February 1944, Avengers from VMTB-233 and
VMTB-232 took part in a mission to sow mines in Simpson Harbor at
Rabaul. The TBMs were to fly up in three groups of eight each at the slow speed of 160 knots to drop their parachute-mines, weighing 1,600 pounds a piece. The first group lost one plane. The commanding officer tried to radio the other TBFs to warn them to turn back but he couldn't make radio contact. The second group lost two planes. The third group was immediately found by searchlight and anti-aircraft guns while flying at 800 feet over the water and had five aircraft shot down. A total of six planes and eighteen men were lost during the attack. Four of the eighteen men survived the loss of the six TBFs that evening. Of the four, none survived captivity. One was murdered at Tunnel Hill, two died of starvation / disease /
medical neglect, and a fourth was murdered by the
Japanese Navy sometime in April. In April 1944, they returned to the United States and were stationed at
Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara, California. During their time at MCAS Santa Barbara they trained as part of the Marine Corps' new
escort carrier program. They were assigned to
Marine Carrier Air Group 1 (MCVG-1) where they were partnered with
VMF-511 on the
USS Block Island. The squadron left the
West Coast on 20 March 1945. During this time the squadron's commanding officer, Major Robert Vaupell, was killed in a crash in February 1945. VMTB-233 saw its first action during the
Battle of Okinawa on 5 May 1945, when it conducted rocket and bomb runs against Japanese strongpoints in the vicinity of
Naha. Their mission alternated between close air support for the Marines fighting on the ground and strikes against Sakashima Gunto, a
kamikaze base complex some 175 miles southwest of Okinawa on
Miyako Island. In mid-June, the
Block Island was relieved from the coast of Okinawa and ordered to
Leyte in the
Philippines. From here they supported the early stages of the
Australian 7th Division invasion of Balikpapan in July 1945. They returned to Leyte on 4 July and would not see combat for the rest of the war. Still aboard the
Block Island when WWII ended, VMTB-233's final missions were flown in support of the Japanese surrender of
Formosa. A USMC ace of VMA-233 was Lt William Hood who was lost while flying over Lake Michigan 4 August 1946. Following World War II, the squadron returned to the United States, was briefly assigned to
Marine Aircraft Group 46 (MAG-46) and was finally decommissioned on 1 March 1946, as part of the post war draw-down of forces.
Reserve years The squadron was quickly reactivated later in 1946 as part of the
Marine Air Reserves flying out of
Naval Air Station Norfolk,
Virginia. In October 1951 the unit was called to active duty for the
Korean War, but it did not see action during the conflict. They were officially decommissioned in 1969. ==See also==