For the next nine months, VMF-323 flew training missions from secure island bases in the South Pacific, perfecting their tactics in aerial combat, dive bombing, rocketry, and close air support.Īpthe Death Rattlers flew from an escort carrier into Kadena airfield to fly missions in support of Operation Iceberg, the campaign for Okinawa. In July 1944 the Death Rattlers departed for the Pacific aboard the escort carrier USS Long Island. In preparation for deployment overseas, VMF-323 moved west in January 1944, flying training missions from fields at El Centro and Camp Pendleton, Calif. 50-caliber machine guns and a lethal warload of bombs, rockets, and Napalm. Often hailed as the best all-around fighter of World War II, the 'bent-wing bird' was armed with six.

Three hard-charging fighter pilots killed a 6 foot rattlesnake, and hung its diamond-backed skin in the squadron ready room, giving rise to our 50 year-old unit the nickname of 'Death Rattlers.' VMF-323 immediately began training for combat in the Pacific theater with their Chance-Vought F4U Corsairs. 1, 1943 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C. Marine Fighting Squadron 323 was commissioned Aug.

World war 2 navy squadrons