Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron-152 [VMGR-152]
Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 was activated in the war-torn Western Pacific on 11 March, 1942. Designated VMJ-253, the squadron was the pioneer of Marine Corps transport organization as well as the parent squadron for the joint air transport organization dubbed the South Pacific Combat Air Transport Command (SCAT). By November of 1942, VMJ-253 had supported operations on Guadalcanal and surrounding islands, logging thousands of flight hours.
While on Guadalcanal, VMJ-253 was the first combat transport squadron to land at Henderson Field, bringing Brigadier General Roy S. Geiger and his staff to take command of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. Flying day and night over uncharted waters became routine for VMJ-253. Following the Japanese counter attack that forced the Navy to withdraw, VMJ-253 continued to re-supply fuel, ammunition, food, and medical supplies in support of their besieged brethren. Until the end of 1942, it was the Marines of VMJ-253 and other SCAT units that solved the logistical problems of Marines and Soldiers on Guadalcanal.
Through 1943, VMJ-253 supported operations on Bougainville, New Georgia, Vella Lavella, and numerous islands throughout the Solomon chain. As the island-hopping campaign moved into the Central Pacific in 1944, so did VMJ-253. Detached from SCAT, VMJ-253 officially became a transport squadron and was re-designated VMR-253. VMR-253 was assigned to the Transport Air Group, popularly called TAG, which was the Central Pacific version of SCAT. Continuing the heavy schedule of lifts from Tarawa, VMR-253 sortied to Kwajalein, Roi-Namur, and Eniwetok. In October of 1943, VMR-253 moved to Guam. Working out of Guam, VMR-152 supported actions on Tinian, Saipan, and Peleliu. VMR-253 remained on Guam until the close of the war, and in May 1946, returned to MCAS Miramar.
From Miramar, VMR-253 moved to El Toro under MAG 25 where the aging fleet of R4Ds were replaced with R5Ds. VMR-253 continued its primary mission of moving men and supplies wherever the Marine Corps needed them. After a four year squadron stand down from 1947 to 1951, VMR-253 reactivated with only six R5C aircraft, 5 officers, and 18 enlisted Marines. By the end of the year it had grown to 58 officers, 184 enlisted, had received 16 new R4Qs, and was ready to go to war once again. From January of 1952 through June of 1953, the squadron logged over 11,000 flight hours, carried 30,170 passengers, and moved 5,213,383 pounds of cargo.
In 1954, the squadron relocated to Itami Air Force Base, Japan and then to Iwakuni, Japan. From Japan, VMR-253 conducted the bulk of Marine air transport in the Pacific for nearly ten years. On February 1, 1962, the Lockheed KC-130F Hercules joined Marine aviation in the Pacific. With its ability to refuel fighter and attack aircraft, VMR-253 was re-designated Marine Arial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 (VMGR-152), and the squadron's primary mission became aerial refueling.
Less than a year after receiving the Hercules aircraft, the pilots and Marines of VMGR-152 were deployed in-country with Marine Expeditionary Forces to support F-4s and A-4s used by Marine tactical squadrons. To better support the detachments in Vietnam, the squadron relocated to Okinawa, Japan. By October, the squadron was flying 900 missions a month and continued this high tempo of operations well into 1967.
From 1967 to 1975, the bulk of VMGR-152's missions were directly in support of action in Southeast Asia. Concurrently, the squadron was establishing itself as a mainstay in the Western Pacific. VMGR-152 also participated in a myriad of exercises and the movement of tons of cargo and thousands of troops, securing VMGR-152's tenure in WESTPAC.
During the 1980's larger U.S. Air Force tankers specifically designated for the strategic movement and refueling of aircraft relieved VMGR-152 of its TRANSPAC mission. This allowed the squadron to explore a more tactical employment of the KC-130 in intra-theater refueling and transport operations, and employ a more effective use of the aircraft and its personnel in a tactical environment.
In 1987, VMGR-152 became the first PCS aircraft squadron on MCAS Futenma. This brought an end to the unit deployment program (UDP) with frequent rotation of personnel and assets and developed a stability that has greatly enhanced the effectiveness and mission success of the unit. It also brought an increase in the number of aircraft permanently assigned to the squadron.
During the 1990s VMGR-152 has experienced a steady increase in the number of missions flown and its unparalleled safety and maintenance readiness levels have continued to earn the squadron numerous unit citations and awards. These include the CNO Aviation Safety Award for 1992 and 1993, the MCAA Commandant's Aviation Efficiency Trophy for 1992 and 1993, the National Defense Transportation Unit Award for 1993, and 1995, and the MCAA Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron of the year Award for 1994. In June 1993, the acquisition of 5 KC-130R model airframes provided the squadron with a significant increase in aircraft range and added to its effectiveness in refueling and transport operations. In July of 1994, VMGR-152 participated in the first of many 50th anniversaries commemorating the liberation and victories during World War II. In January 1995, VMGR-152 was called upon to join a Special Purpose MAGTF in support of OPERATION UNITED SHIELD, the final withdrawal of all UNISOM forces from Somalia. On December 6, 1998, the Sumos of VMGR-152 exceeded 215,00 mishap free flight hours, continuing a tradition of safety which began in 1968.
