VMD-154 Timeline
MARINE PHOTOGRAPHIC SQUADRON ONE FIFTY-FOUR
MARINE FLEET AIR, WEST COAST, NAVAL AUXILIARY AIR STATION,
CAMP KEARNEY, SAN DIEGO, (39) CALIFORNIA
15 December 1944.
HISTORY OF MARINE PHOTOGRAPHIC SQUADRON-154, FROM ITS INCEPTION,
APRIL 1, 1942 TO JANUARY 1, 1945.
1 April, 1942.
VMD-2 was commissioned this date.
Elliott E. Bard, Major, USMC, Seattle, Washington, joined squadron as Commanding Officer.
13 April, 1942.
William C. Lemly, LtCol., USMC, Coronado, California, joined squadron as Commanding Officer, replacing Major Elliott E. Bard who remained in squadron as Executive Officer.
15 August, 1942.
Elliott E. Bard, Major, USMC, received and accepted his commission as LtCol.
17 August, 1942.
William C. Lemly, LtCol., USMC, was detached to HqSq, 2MAW, FMF.
Elliott E. Bard, LtCol., USMC, took command of the squadron.
17 August, 1942.
John T.L.D. Gabbert, Major, USMC, re-assumed his former duties as Executive Officer.
7 September, 1942.
Andrew B. Galatian, Jr., Major, USMC, relieved John T.L.D. Gabbert, Major, USMC, as Executive Officer.
15 September, 1942.
Squadron designation was changed from VMD-2 to VMD-254 by authority of the Commanding Officer, Marine Air Wings, Pacific Area.
13 October, 1942.
Edward A. Dickson, Lt., USMCR, was detached temporarily via SS Lurline to proceed overseas with fifteen (15) enlisted men to the base selected for the squadron which it was to operate.
19 October, 1942.
Elliott E. Bard, LtCol., USMC, was detached from VMD-254 to VMD-154, Marine Air Group-15, 2nd Marine Air Wing, FMF, with six (6) officers and sixteen (16) enlisted men in two (2) of the squadron's PB4Y-1's planes.
21 October, 1942.
Elliott E. Bard, LtCol., USMC, arrived at Oahu, Hawaii.
29 October, 1942.
Radar equipment was installed in both planes (#31940 - #31945) this date, at Hickham Field.
5 November, 1942.
David L. White, Lt.(jg), USN, MD., joined the squadron in Hawaii as squadron doctor.
Both planes (#31940 - #31945) took off for Palmyra Island, Arriving on same day.
5 November, 1942.
Louis L. Frank and Albert W. Campbell, Captains, USMC, left San Diego, flying to Espiritu Santo via Hawaii in two PB4Y1's.
6 November, 1942.
Planes departed from Palmyra for Canton Island, Arrived on same date.
7 November, 1942.
Departed for Nandi Island, crossed the International Date Line, and arrived in afternoon of same day, The date changed due to I. D. line crossing.
9 November, 1942.
Took off for Plaines Des Gaiaces, arrived safely at noon.
Departed soon after for Tontouta, arriving an hour later.
11 November, 1942.
Left Tontouta for Espiritu Santo of the New Hebrides Group, arriving four (4) hours later.
2 December, 1942.
Andrew B. Galatian, Jr., Major, USMC, departed from NAS, San Diego, for Hamilton Field, San Francisco, California.
2 December, 1942.
SS Japora and SS Bleum-Fonteine left San Diego. SS Japora arrived Espiritu Santo on 23rd December. SS Bleum-Fonteine arrived at New Caledonia on 21st December.
5 December, 1942.
On this date, Plane #31945 took off on a photographic mission to the southern part of New Georgia Island.
27 December, 1942.
SS Bleum-Fonteine departed from New Caledonia for Espiritu Santos, arriving there on 30 December 1942.
29 December, 1942.
Plane #31940 was attacked by 12 Zeros.
17 January, 1943.
Twenty officers and enlisted men arrived in three (3) PB4Y1's from United States. #31958 - 31959 - 31962.
26 January, 1943.
Two (2) planes flew over Truk.
1 February, 1943
Vernon O. Ullman, Captain, USMC, departed Camp Kearney, California in PB4Y-1 (#31943) with full crew officers-enlisted men, arriving on 11th March at Espiritu Santo. Spent a month in Hawaii.
7 February, 1943.
Plane #31958 crashed with all hands on board killed. No bodies were recovered.
9 February, 1943.
SS President Polk with thirty-five (35) enlisted men sailed from San Diego, California this date, arriving at Espiritu Santo the 25th of February.
17 June, 1943.
Kenneth D. Antle, Sergeant, USMCR, died in Naval Hospital from injuries sustained in fall from horse. He was buried with full military honors on 18 June 1943.
29 November, 1943.
The first plane of the relieving squadron VMD-254 arrived.
8 December, 1943.
First plane of VMD-154 returns to states.
9 December, 1943.
Two (2) more planes of VMD-154 returns to states.
16 December, 1943.
Two (2) more planes of VMD-154 returns to states.
6 January, 1944.
Main body of squadron departed from Espiritu Santo for states on SS Matsonia.
19 January, 1944.
Nineteen (19) officers and ten (10) enlisted men were detached and transferred respectively.
1 February, 1944.
Elliott E. Bard, LtCol., USMC, was detached to Marine Utility Squadron, Marine Air Group-15.
William G. Thrash, Major, USMC, Atlanta, Georgia, became Commanding Officer.
15 March, 1944.
Two hundred seventeen (217) men were transferred.
2 June, 1944.
Michael Sampas, LtCol., USMC, Coronado, California, joined the squadron as Commanding Officer.
William G. Thrash, Major, USMC, remained with squadron as Executive Officer.
Squadron acquired six (6) F6F's.
28 October, 1944.
Transferred eight (8) PB4Y-1's.
29 November, 1944.
Twenty-five (25) enlisted men transferred this date to Personnel Group, Miramar, San Diego, California.
1 December, 1944.
One hundred ten officers and men detached and transferred this date to Miramar, San Diego, California.
12 December, 1944.
Squadron received four (4) F4U's.
1 January, 1945.
Squadron has strength of three hundred seventeen, (317) including officers.