VMF - 215 Marine Fighting Squadron 215 ( VMF - 215 ) was a fighter squadron of the United States Marine Corps that was activated and fought during World War II . Known as " The Fighting Corsairs " , they fought in many areas of the Pacific War , including the Battle of Bougainville . During their four - and - a - half month tour , the squadron was credited with shooting down 137 enemy aircraft , fourth most in Marine Corps aviation history . Following the surrender of Japan , the squadron was deactivated on November 13 , 1946 . The squadron was reactivated in the Marine Forces Reserve and was based out of Naval Air Station Olathe , Kansas until its deactivation on January 30 , 1970 . History . The squadron was activated on March 1 , 1942 , as Marine Scout Bomber Squadron 244 ( VMSB - 244 ) . On September 14 of that same year they were re - designated Marine Scout Bomber Squadron 242 { VMSB - 242 } only to be changed again the next day to its final name , Marine Fighting Squadron 215 . They trained at Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara , California prior to deploying and during this time transitioned from the SBD Dauntless dive bomber to the F4F Wildcat . The squadron departed the United States on February 23 , 1943 , and was first sent to Marine Corps Air Station Ewa , Hawaii . During their time at MCAS Ewa they again transitioned aircraft , this time receiving the F4U Corsair . The squadron departed Hawaii on May 12 for Midway Atoll where they stayed for two months flying combat air patrol s and escorting Allied shipping in the area . In mid - June 1942 they left Midway for the South Pacific . VMF - 215 arrived on Espiritu Santo on July 1 , 1943 , and by the end of the month was taking part in fighter sweeps against Japanese bases in the northern Solomon Islands . On August 14 , an F4U Corsair from VMF - 215 was the first plane to arrive at the newly captured Munda airfield where they immediately began operating to cover the landings on Vella Lavella . Shortly thereafter the squadron pulled back to the rear for rest and relaxation . The squadron ’ s second combat tour began while they were based at Barakoma Airfield on Vella Lavella . From there they covered the landings at Empress Augusta Bay on Bougainville , which began on November 1 , 1943 . By January 27 , 1944 the squadron was operating from Torokina Airfield on Bougainville and from there the squadron took part in air strikes against the Japanese garrison at Rabaul , the Japanese naval base at Kavieng , New Ireland and against Japanese shipping near the Bismarck Archipelago . During this time VMF - 215 established four new Marine records in the South Pacific by downing 137 Japanese planes in 18 weeks , 87 planes shot down in one month , 106 planes destroyed in a single 6 - week tour and 10 aces in one squadron . As action in the Solomons drew to a close the squadron was sent to Turtle Bay Airfield where it was not deactivated but existed only on paper for a few weeks . They were reformed on May 7 , 1944 , and were sent to Emirau on August 5 , 1944 . From there they moved to Guadalcanal on their way back to the United States where they eventually arrived on October 20 , 1944 . Upon arrival at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro , California , the unit was deactivated on November 6 ; however , they were reactivated again on November 21 and became a carrier training replacement unit . Following the end of World War II , the squadron was deactivated on November 13 , 1945 . VMF - 215 was later brought back as a squadron in the Marine Forces Reserve and were based out of Naval Air Station Olathe in Kansas . They were never recalled to active duty and were decommissioned for the last time on January 30 , 1970 . Unit awards . A unit citation or commendation is an award bestowed upon an organization for the action cited . Members of the unit who participated in said actions are allowed to wear on their uniforms the awarded unit citation . VMF - 215 was presented with the following awards :