Marine Bombing Squadron 433 (VMB-433) was a United States Marine Corps medium bomber squadron during World War II. Nicknamed the "Fork-tailed Devils", the squadron flew PBJ medium bombers which were the naval version of the B-25 Mitchell. The squadron participated in combat operations in the Pacific Theater and was quickly deactivated after the war.
By 26 May 1944 the ground echelon was underway, bound for the Northern Solomons. The following day the flight echelon departed, arriving at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa on 1 June 1944. After staging through Palmyra, Canton, Funafuti and Espiritu Santo, the squadron arrived at Green Island on 14 July 1944 for temporary duty with Marine Aircraft Group 14. One month later, the squadron had redeployed, and both echelons were operating at Emirau with Marine Aircraft Group 61. On 16 August 1945, VMB-433 departed Emirau for Titcomb Field at Malabang in the Philippines, arriving there just as the war ended. VMB-433 was decommissioned at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California on 30 November 1945 following the squadron's return to the United States.[citation needed]
During the course of the war the squadron had 17 marines killed in action and lost 3 aircraft, 1 to mechanical issues and 2 to combat.[citation needed]
Unit awards
A unit citation or commendation is an award bestowed upon an organization for the action cited. Members of the unit who participated in said actions are allowed to wear on their uniforms the awarded unit citation. VMB-433 was presented with the following awards:
Carey, Alan C. (2002). Leatherneck Bombers: Marine Corps B-25/PBJ Mitchell Squadrons in World War II. Schiffer Publishing. ISBN0-7643-1501-3.
Rottman, Gordon (2002). U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle - Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War, 1939 - 1945. Greenwood Press. ISBN0-313-31906-5.