VMSB-244

Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 244 (VMSB-244) was a dive bomber squadron in the United States Marine Corps. The squadron, also known as the “Bombing Banshees”, fought in World War II in the Pacific Theater as part of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. They were deactivated shortly after the end of the war.

History
VMSB-244 was commissioned on March 1, 1942. The squadron arrived at Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara, California on June 14, 1942 as part of Marine Aircraft Group 24. They remained at MCAS Santa Barbara until January 1943 when they moved to Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Hawaii.

In May 1945, as the campaign on Mindanao wound down, the squadron replaced its SBD Dauntless aircraft with the SB2C Helldiver and shortly thereafter VMSB-244 became the only squadron of MAG-24 to remain active.