VMF ( AW ) - 114 Marine All - Weather Fighter Squadron 114 ( VMF ( AW ) - 114 ) was a fighter squadron of the United States Marine Corps during World War II and continued in service until their deactivation in July 1965 . Known as the “ Death Dealers ” , they made their biggest mark providing close air support during the Battle of Peleliu and remain in an inactive status today . History . World War II . Marine All - Weather Fighter Squadron 114 was activated on July 11 , 1943 at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro . They remained on the West Coast of the United States until August 1943 when they transferred to Marine Corps Air Station Ewa , Hawaii . In Hawaii , they continued their training until moving to Midway Island on December 18 , 1943 . They returned to Ewa in February 1944 and in March they moved first to Espiritu Santo and the Green Island . While there , they flew strike missions against Japan ese garrisons that had been bypassed in the Bismarck Islands . The first major combat that VMF - 114 took part in was the Battle of Peleliu . The squadron arrived on Peleliu on September 17 , 1944 and provided most of the close air support ( CAS ) for Marine Corps forces during the course of the battle . They also provided the preparatory bombing and CAS for the 3rd Battalion , 5th Marines when they assaulted Ngesebus during the battle . The terrain on the island , earlier judged unsuitable for anything but the costliest and most difficult advances , was made passable with the aid of preparatory fire - scouring by napalm bombs from 114 . MajGen William H . Rupertus , the Commanding General of the 1st Marine Division on Peleliu would say following the battle that the air support provided during the campaign was , " executed in a manner leaving little to be desired . Following the battle , they remained based on the island again assuming the role of attacking bypassed Japanese garrisons in the vicinity of the western Caroline Islands . The squadron remained in the area until they ceased combat operations on June 1 , 1945 . Post - war years . Following the war , VMF - 114 escaped the post - war drawdown of forces and were transferred to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in February 1946 . In August 1947 , the squadron was redesignated Marine Night Fighting Squadron 114 ( VMF ( N ) - 114 ) after they were reequipped with the nightfighter version of the F4U Corsair . Within a few years , the squadron transitioned to the F2H Banshee and on June 1 , 1953 they were again redesignated VMF - 114 . On January 7 , 1953 , the squadron deployed to the Mediterranean Sea as part of Carrier Air Wing 10 ( CVG - 10 ) onboard the USS Tarawa ( CVA - 40 ) . They returned from this deployment on July 3 , 1953 . The “ Death Dealers ” were again redesignated on May 1 , 1957 as Marine All - Weather Fighter Squadron 114 ( VMF ( AW ) - 114 ) and transitioned to the F9F - 8 Cougar and then to the F4D Skyray . From February 13 , 1959 – September 1 , 1959 , the squadron was deployed as part of Carrier Air Wing 1 ( CVG - 1 ) on board the USS Franklin D . Roosevelt ( CVA - 42 ) . Upon their return they went back to the normal deployment rotation including a stint at Naval Air Station Roosevelt Roads . In January 1961 , the squadron was transferred to Naval Air Facility Atsugi , Japan where they served until the squadron was deactivated on July 1 , 1963 ;