Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 132 (VMSB-132) "The Crying Red Asses”
 

Role: Bomber.                                           Tail Code: no

Marine Bombing Squadron 6 (VB-6M) was formed in San Diego,CA in 1932. They were deactivated shortly thereafter in 1933, only to reactivate again in January 1935 at MCAS Quantico,VA. The squadron was redesignated as Marine Bombing Squadron 1 (VMB-1) with Great Lakes BG-1 on July 1, 1937. The squadron was again redesignated as Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 132 (VMSB-132) on July 1, 1942. At the outbreak of World War II, the squadron and its 19 SBD-1 Dauntless dive bombers were stationed at MCAS Quantico,VA as part of Marine Aircraft Group 11.

VMSB-132 left the United States on October 13, 1942 from San Diego aboard the USS Mumu. At the time of their departure the squadron consisted of 27 officers, 245 enlisted men and a few attached Navy personnel. They landed landed in Noumea, New Caledonia on October 28. On October 30, 1942, VMSB-132, under the command of Major Ben Robertshaw, landed at Henderson Field, Guadalcanal. Upon arrival, they became part of the Cactus Air Force and fought during the Battle of Guadalcanal until December 1942 when they were relieved by VMSB-233. The squadron’s pilots and gunners left the island on December 24, 1942 and arrived in Sydney, Australia for leave on New Year’s Eve. After resting, reorganizing, and retraining, they then moved to Espiritu Santo where they were met by their ground echelon in January 1943. During this time, they became part of the Strike Command of the 13th Air Force, responsible for attacking nearby enemy bases and shipping and giving what was then considered close support to front-line units. The squadron returned to Guadalcanal in June 1943 and flew missions from there until there return to the States on October 26, 1943.

Early in the summer of 1944, the squadron was reorganized and in training at MCAS El Toro as part of Marine Base Defense Air Group 41. On October 14, 1944, the squadron was once again redesignated, this time as VMTB-132. They received their first TBF Avengers in November of that year. The squadron traing at MCAS Mojave, California from December 15, 1944 until January 16, 1945. They remained in training until they embarked as part of MCVG-4 on board the USS Cape Gloucester on May 21, 1945. They arrived in Leyte on June 29, 1945 and operated in the East China Sea during July and August 1945.

Following the war, the squadron moved to MCAS Ewa, Hawaii where they were deactivated on November 9, 1945.

Air Bases:

Base	Duration
NAS San Diego/CA	1932 - 1933
MCAS Quantico/Triangle/VA	1935 - 1941
NAS San Diego/CA	1942 - 1942
Henderson Field/Guadalcanal	10.1942 - 12.1942
Sydney/Australia	12.1942 - 1.1943
Espiritu Santo	1.1943 - 6.1943
Henderson Field/Guadalcanal	6.1943 - 10.1943
MCAS El Toro/CA	6.1944 - 12.1944
MCAS Majove/CA	12.1944 - 1.1945
Leyte/Philippines	6.1945 - 8.1945
MCAS Ewa/HI	11.1945 - 11.1945

Aircraft Used:

Type	Qty	Service	Example Serials
VB	12	1932 - 1933	n/a
Great Lakes BG-1	10	1935 - 1940	n/a
Douglas SBD-1 Dauntless	19	1940 - 1944	n/a
Grumman TBF Avenger	10	1944 - 1945	n/a

Unit Insignia:

 

VMTB-132

References:

• Wikipedia Marine Scout-Bombing Squadron 132 (VMSB-132)