Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 236 (VMSB-236)

Established as Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 236 (VMSB-236) “Black Panther” on 1 Jan 1943. Disestablished on 1 Aug 1945.

Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless, 1943-1945

VMSB-236 joined the war landing at Guadalcanal on 4 Sep 1943. From there they took part in the first dive bombing strikes against Bougainville in preparation for the allied landing there on 1 Nov 1943. Over the next year and a half the squadron would move frequently with its ground and air echelons being based in such places as Munda in the Solomon Islands, Torokina on Bougainville, Green Island in Papua New Guinea and Efate in what was then New Hebrides.
In Jan 1945 the squadron moved to Luzon in the Philippines and became part of Marine Aircraft Group 24 (MAG-24) at an airfield in Mangaldan near the Lingayen Gulf. Later they moved to Moret Field on Mindanao. The squadron stayed in the Philippines for the remainder of the war flying close air support missions in support of the Sixth United States Army and Eighth United States Army.

Insignia (2nd) USA made on twill. Number added later during the war.