Squadron Historical Summary

Marine Bombing Squadron Four Thirty-Three

Naval Aviator's Wings

Unit Awards

Summary: VMB-433 was commissioned on 15 September 1943 at Cherry Point, NC. The squadron received initial training at Cherry Point and Peterfield Point, NC. Upon completion, the squadron joined MarFAirWest on 27 January 1944 and continued their training syllabus at El Centro, CA. By 26 May 1944 the ground echelon was underway, bound for the Northern Solomons. The following day the flight echelon departed, arriving at Ewa on 1 June 1944. After staging through Palmyra, Canton, Funafuti and Espiritu Santo, the squadron arrived on Green Island 14 July 1944 for temporary duty with MAG-14. One month later, the squadron had redeployed, and both echelons were operating at Emirau with MAG-61. On 16 August 1945, VMB433 departed Emirau for Titcomb Field at Malabang in the Philippines, arriving there just as war ended. VMB-443 was decommissioned at Miramar, CA on 30 November 1945 following the squadron's return to the United States.

Commanding Officers:	Major John G. Adams	15 Sep 1943 - 22 Apr 1945
	Lieutenant Colonel Winton H. Miller	23 Apr - 23 May 1945
	Major Boyd O. Whitney	24 May - 16 Jul 1945
	Major Andrew G. Smith	17 Jul - 30 Nov 1945

Awards: American Campaign; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign w/2 bronze stars, and; World War II Victory.

Aircraft Operated Overseas: PBJ-1C; PBJ-1D, and; PBJ-1J.

Aircraft Loses: 1 Operational; 2 Combat.

Casualties:	First Lieutenant William J. Morgan	28 February 1944
	Private First Class Billy G. Saferight	26 March 1944
	First Lieutenant Charles L. Ingels	2 September 1944
	First Lieutenant Richard R. Graves	2 September 1944
	Staff Sergeant John D. Hughes	2 September 1944
	Sergeant Stanley G. Stark	2 September 1944
	Corporal George R. Johnson	2 September 1944
	Corporal Leonard G. Klinger	2 September 1944
	First Lieutenant Eric E. Terry Jr.	11 September 1944
	Staff Sergeant Leo S. Pralat	11 September 1944
	First Lieutenant Glen H. Ulrich	4 December 1944
	First Lieutenant Donald R. Harpley	27 February 1945
	Master Technical Sergeant Edward W. Trudnowski	27 February 1945
	Sergeant Andrew W. Pasterniak	27 February 1945
	Corporal Wallace Gregel	27 February 1945
	Corporal Frank R. Lacy Jr.	27 February 1945
	Private First Class Donald V. Holtz	27 February 1945

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4 December 1944