VMSB-342

Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 342
VMSB-342 insignia
Active	– July 1, 1943 - October 10, 1944
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Type	Dive Bomber squadron
Role	Reconnaissance Air Interdiction Close air support
Nickname(s)	"Bats from Hell"
Aircraft flown
Bomber	SBD Dauntless

Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 342 (VMSB-342) was a dive bomber squadron in the United States Marine Corps. The squadron, also known as the “Bats from Hell”, was active during World War II but never saw combat in the Pacific Theater. The squadron were decommissioned on October 10, 1944.

History

Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 342 was commissioned on July 1, 1943, at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. During November 1943, the squadron moved up to Marine Corps Auxiliary Airfield Atlantic and was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 33. Some of the squadron's pilots departed for follow on training at Boca Chica Key, Florida, the site of what today is Naval Air Station Key West. In August 1944, the squadron with its twenty SBD dive bombers again transferred, this time to Marine Corps Air Station Newport, Arkansas where it joined Marine Aircraft Group 94. VMSB-remained until it was decommissioned on October 10, 1944.

See also

• United States Marine Corps Aviation
• List of active United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons
• List of decommissioned United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons

References

Books

• Rottman, Gordon L. (2002). U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle – Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. ISBN 0313319065.
• Shettle, M. L. (2001). United States Marine Corps Air Stations of World War II. Bowersville, Georgia: Schaertel Publishing Co. ISBN 0-9643388-2-3.
• Sherrod, Robert (1952). History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II. Washington, D.C.: Combat Forces Press. ISBN 0-89201-048-7. OCLC 1261876.

Web