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Marine Scout-Bombing Squadron
244 (VMSB-244), calling themselves the "Bombing Banshees"
was the first Marine Corps Squadron to fly the Curtiss SB2C-4
in combat operations during World War II. This Curtiss dive-bomber,
designed in 1939, intended to replace the obsolescent Douglas
SBD "Dauntless" dive-bomber, needed many time-consuming
design corrections before it could begin to replace the much-beloved
Dauntless as a combat-effective weapon. Helldivers dropped bombs
from an internal bomb bay or from underwing racks, dropped depth
charges, strafed with 20mm canon, and fired rockets which were
mounted under wing.
These two are seen off the
coast of Mindanao, in the southern Philippines, in June, 1945.Four
five-inch high velocity aircraft rockets (5" HVAR) can be
seen protruding from under the wing of the nearest aircraft.
VMSB-244 was assigned to the First Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW-1)
from March 1, 1942 to June 10, 1946. Shortly after assignment
to MAW-1, the Bombing Banshees became part of Marine Aircraft
Group 24 (MAG-24)....participating with distinction in both the
Bougainville and Philippines campaigns. Prior to their transition
to the Helldiver, VMSB-244 conducted offensive operations against
the enemy with the venerable Douglas Dauntless. |