VMA - 233 Marine Attack Squadron 233 ( VMA - 233 ) was an A - 4 Skyhawk attack squadron in the United States Marine Corps . The squadron , also known as the “ Flying Deadheads ” , were part of the Marine Forces Reserve and were based at Naval Air Station Norfolk , Virginia until their deactivation in 1969 . Originally activated during World War II , they fought in many areas of the Pacific War including the Battle of Guadalcanal as part of the Cactus Air Force , the Battle of Okinawa and the Battle of Balikpapan ( 1945 ) . They were the only Marine Corps squadron to have three commanding officers killed during the course of the war and were credited with downing 8 Japanese aircraft . Following the surrender of Japan , the squadron was deactivated on March 10 , 1946 . They were reactivated as part of the Reserves but were again deactivated in 1969 and remain in an inactive status today . History . The squadron was originally formed on May 1 , 1942 at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa , Hawaii as Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 233 ( VMSB - 233 ) flying the SBD - 4 Dauntless . They deployed overseas in December 1942 on board the seaplane tender USS " Wright " and first debarked at Espiritu Santo . From December 25 , 1942 until February 8 , 1943 they operated from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal as part of the Cactus Air Force . They were reorganized as Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 233 ( VMTB - 233 ) on May 22 , 1943 but the official re - designation of the squadron did not take place until June 13 , when they had returned to the United States . From August until October 29 , 1943 , the squadron again operated from Henderson Field . Following the Battle of New Georgia the squadron was moved to Munda in New Georgia to conduct raids that would help cut off the Japanese garrison at Rabaul . While in the New Georgia area , they also operated from Piva Airfield and Torokina Airfield . On February 14 , 1944 , Avengers from VMTB - 233 and VMTB - 232 took part in a mission to sow mines in Simpson Harbor at Rabaul . The TBMs were to fly up in three groups of eight each at the slow speed of 160 knots to drop their parachute - mines , weighing 1 , 600 pounds a piece . The first group lost one plane . The commanding officer tried to radio the other TBFs to warn them to turn back but he couldn ' t make radio contact . The second group lost two planes . The third group was immediately found by searchlight and anti - aircraft guns while flying at 800 feet over the water and had five aircraft shotdown . A total of six planes and eighteen men were lost during the attack . Four of the eighteen men survived the loss of the six TBFs that evening . Of the four , none survived captivity . One was murdered at Tunnel Hill , two died of starvation / disease / medical neglect , and a fourth was murdered by the Japanese Navy sometime in April . In April 1944 , they returned to the United States and were stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara , California . During their time at MCAS Santa Barbara they trained as part of the Marine Corps ' new escort carrier program . They were assigned to Marine Carrier Air Group 1 ( MCVG - 1 ) where they were partnered with VMF - 511 on the USS " Block Island " . The squadron left the West Coast on March 20 , 1945 . During this time the squadron ' s commanding officer , Major Robert Vaupell , was killed in a crash in February 1945 . VMTB - 233 saw its first action during the Battle of Okinawa on May 5 , 1945 when it conducted rocket and bomb runs against Japanese strongpoints in the vicinity of Naha . Their mission alternated between close air support for the Marines fighting on the ground and strikes against Sakashima Gunto , a kamikaze base complex some 175 miles southwest of Okinawa on Miyako Island In mid - June , the " Block Island " was relieved from the coast of Okinawa and ordered to Leyte in the Philippines . From here they supported the early stages of the Australian 7th Division invasion of Balikpapan in July 1945 . They returned to Leyte on July 4 and would not see combat for the rest of the war . Still aboard the " Block Island " when WWII ended , VMTB - 233 ' s final missions were flown in support of the Japanese surrender of Formosa . Following World War II , the squadron returned to the United States , was briefly assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 46 ( MAG - 46 ) and was finally deactivated on March 1 , 1946 as part of the post war draw - down of forces . They were quickly reactivated later in 1946 as part of the Marine Air Reserves flying out of Naval Air Station Norfolk , Virginia . In October 1951 the unit was activated for the Korean War , but it did not see action during the conflict . They were officially deactivated in 1969 .