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MARINE FIGHTING SQUADRON TWO TWENTY TWO,
23rd MARINE AIRCRAFT GROUP, FORWARD ECHELON,
2nd MARINE AIRCRAFT WING, FLEET MARINE FORCE.

 

WAR DIARY

 

From: 1 April,1942
To: 30 April,1942


 

 

Copies to:

The Chief of Naval Operations,
(Office of Naval Records & Library),
Navy Department,
Washington, D. C.

The Commandant, U. S. Marine Corps,
Headquarters U. S. Marine Corps,
Washington, D. C.

Commanding General,
2nd Marine Aircraft Wing,
Naval Air Station,
San Diego, California.

Commander,
Amphibious Force, Pacific.

Commander,
Carriers, Pacific.

Commander in Chief,
Pacific Fleet.

Senior Naval Aviator Present,
Forward Echelon, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing,
Ewa, Oahu, T. H.


1 April, 1942

.....Routine flights
2 April, 1942

.....Routine flights plus a surprise air raid drill. These drills were staged about monthly and were valuable toward correcting errors and mistakes to assure smooth and rapid teamwork.
3 April, 1942

.....No flights due to high winds.
4 April, 1942

.....Another air raid drill with improved form. Time from sounding of alarm until last fighter is off the ground has averaged about six minutes. These alarms are sounded without warning and the average distance from ready room to plane is about 500 yards.
5 April, 1942

.....Routine flights plus another air raid drill.
6 April, 1942

.....Routine flights.
7 April, 1942

.....Routine flights.
8 April, 1942

.....Routine flights. Flight to Pearl and Herman Reef sighted surface transport ship bound for Midway. It turned out to be the USS Thomas Jefferson. Anti submarine air patrol was furnished by VMS squadron for remainder of trip to Midway.
9 April, 1942.

.....Routine flights.
10 April, 1942

.....Routine flights.
11 April, 1942

.....Routine flights.
12 April, 1942

.....Routine flights. All pilots except Capt's. Haynes and Dobbin were transferred to VMF-221 in anticipation of transfer of VMF-222 from Midway.
13 April, 1942

.....Routine flights.
14 April, 1942

.....Routine flights.
15 April, 1942

.....Routine flights.
16 April, 1942

.....Routine flights plus anti submarine patrol was furnished two incoming and outgoing friendly submarines.
17 April, 1942

.....Routine flights. Navy transport USS Burrows and tanker, escorted by the USS Preble, arrived in port bringing 10 officers and 130 enlisted men to be assigned to both VSB and VF squadrons.
18 April, 1942

.....Routine flights.
19 April, 1942

.....Routine flights. Two pilots assisted by the USS Preble destroyed several shacks on Pearl & Hermes Reef. Another air raid drill sounded at 1700.
20 April, 1942

.....VMF-222, consisting of the below named officers and men, embarked and sailed from Midway on the USS William Ward Burrows. All planes and practically all equipment was transferred to VMF-221 prior departure.

.....

 Capt. Robert M. Haynes, USMC, Commanding,
Capt. J. F. Dobbin, USMC,

MTSgt. U. L. Rowden,
MTSgt. L. M. Schaller,
TSgt. T. C. Alvis,
TSgt. Buford Blalock
StfSgt.W. W. Cox
StfSgt. L. H. Dunlap,
StfSgt. L. L. Irwin,
StfSgt. J. A. Kommen,
StfSgt. O. Nedved,
StfSgt. J. L. Saint,

 

 StfSgt. P. W. Wallace,
StfSgt. F. C. Williamson,
Sgt. R. F. Bissett,
Sgt. R. R. Ford,
Sgt. E. L. Jones,
Sgt. J. Slota,
Sgt. D. E. Bridges,
Sgt. H. R. Carr,
Cpl. W. D. Bruckner,
Cpl. I. F. McKinney, Jr.,
Cpl. L. A. Williams.

 
21 April, 1942- 24 April, 1942
.....At sea.
25 April, 1942

.....Docked at Pearl Harbor, T. H. All hands remained aboard ship overnight.
26 April, 1942

.....All hands reported to SNAP, Forward Echelon, 2nd MAW and were granted 48 hours liberty.
27 April, 1942

.....On liberty.
29 April, 1942 .....Returned from liberty on 29th and spent rest of the time checking in.
 
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