MARINE SQUADRON, Carrier Air Wing 15
Enlistment in the Marine Corps brings with it a brotherhood of proud Marine history. Marine Aviators have served with distinction in every conflict since World War I and in typical Corps fasion they have blazed that path with glory. During World War II Marine Corps pilots fought a bloody series of actions to delay the Japanese advance across the pacific. At a little known island named Wake VMF-211 fought a desperate battle with outclassed fighters aginst overwhelming odds. After many days of constant combat Wake island fell...but Marine pilots fought untill the last plane was rendered combat ineffective..and then they manned machineguns and defended the island as irregular infantry. As the battles progressed up the pacific islands Marines fought in Midway, Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, and the Philipines. Flying from unimproved grass strips and esscort carriers Marine Pilots secured and defended the bases that allowed the Navy to strike ever closer to the Japanese home islands. As the nature of the battles changed the use of Marine Airpower met that shift and became the finest close air support that any branch of the military had at its disposal. Often flying into the maw of anti aircraft fire Marine Pilots destroyed bunkers and hardened caves for soldiers on the ground, saving countless lives...often at the loss of thier own. Prompting one Army Captian to remark "Our tactical air arm should spend a few months with the Marines. I don't know what causes the difference, but it is there. The Marine pilots give us the impression that they are breaking their hearts to help us out."
If you think you have what it takes join us, become..... One of the Few the Proud the MARINES
