VMR-152

The squadron was originally formed as VMJ-1, and had origins in the earlier VJ-6M. On July 7, 1941 they were redesignated VMJ-152 at Marine Corps Air Station Quantico. They moved to San Diego a few months later and shipped out to the South Pacific on October 10, 1942. They joined Marine Aircraft Group 25 on October 25, 1942, and immediately began flying missions in support of Marines engaged in the Battle of Guadalcanal. In November 1942, the squadron became part of the joint-service South Pacific Combat Air Transport Command. Following this they made numerous supply drops during the New Georgia Campaign in 1943. The squadron was redesignated again to VMR-152 on June 3, 1944. In 1944, the squadron was flying in support of the Battle of Bougainville and would be based on Bougainville for the remainder of the war. From here the squadron also supported allied forces during the Philippines Campaign (1944–45) and the Battle of Okinawa. Following the surrender of Japan, the squadron flew in support of the 1st Marine Division during their occupation of Northern China from 1945 - 1947. Following their China duty the squadron returned to the United States where they were based at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California.

U.S. Marines unloading an VMR-152 R5D-2 at Chunchon, Korea, 1950.

VMR-152 was assigned to newly reactivated Marine Aircraft Group 25 in 1950, and provided an advance detachment that supported 1st Marine Division operations in Korea. During the war the squadron was based at Itami, Japan.

During the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, a four-engined R5D-2 transport, especially configured to carry a complete tactical air direction center (TADC), controlled all support aircraft as they reported on station, and assigned them to the various forward air controllers, as appropriate for the missions requested.