On February 16, 1945, the squadron took part in a raid on Tokyo as part of Task Force 58. Taking off from the USS Wasp (CV-18) they, along with their sister squadron VMF-216, participated in an attack on the airfields at Yokosuka and Tateyama. After the Tokyo bombing, the squadron went to Iwo Jima to provide close air support for the Marines on the ground during the battle.