VMO squadron ??

Matrix Games Forums

Forums Register Login Photo Gallery Member List Search Calendars FAQ

My Profile Inbox Address Book My Subscription My Forums Log Out

VMO squadron ??

View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> War In The Pacific - Struggle Against Japan 1941 - 1945 >> VMO squadron ??

Page: [1]

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

VMO squadron ?? - 1/25/2005 6:34:55 PM

Sardaukar

Posts: 9847
Joined: 11/28/2001
From: Finland/Israel
Status: offline

I'm playing Scen 16..and during Autumn 1942 I got Marine VMO squadron with F4F-4s. Designation of squandron intrigued me...and I discovered it's Marine Observation unit. Does it have any meaning in game or is it only "chrome" and it doesn't differ from other fighter units ??

Cheers,

M.S.

Post #: 1

RE: VMO squadron ?? - 1/25/2005 9:06:42 PM

Don Bowen

Posts: 8183
Joined: 7/13/2000
From: Georgetown, Texas, USA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Sardaukar

I'm playing Scen 16..and during Autumn 1942 I got Marine VMO squadron with F4F-4s. Designation of squandron intrigued me...and I discovered it's Marine Observation unit. Does it have any meaning in game or is it only "chrome" and it doesn't differ from other fighter units ??

Cheers,

M.S.

VMO-251 was a photo-recon squadron flying F4F-3P, a camera equipped version of the Wildcat that retained it's air-to-air combat ability. During the Guadalcanal campaign the squadron began to fly a mixture of regular and photo-recon Wildcats and eventually became a pure fighter squadron - redesignated VMF-251.

Since the game does not properly handle photo-recon fighters that retain their fighting ability, the VMO name is just for historical accuracy - i.e. its chrome.

(in reply to Sardaukar)

Post #: 2

RE: VMO squadron ?? - 1/25/2005 9:13:42 PM

f1tifosi27

Posts: 6
Joined: 12/26/2004
Status: offline

In WITP, VMO-251 appears to operate as a regular fighter squadron. Historically, it was classified as a 'VMO' squadron, but was eventually reclassified as VMF-251 in January 1945. Here's some background information. Pardon the abbreviations, but I quoted this directly from the text.

"VMF-251. Comm 1Dec41 at San Diego as VMO-251. Ordered to New Zealand in May42 but orders changed and Sq went to Espiritu. Mission changed from observation to fighter sq. Sq photographers flew regularly with Army B-17s from Tontouta and Espiritu until 30Oct42. VMO-251 operated field at Espiritu, maintained and serviced Army, Navy and Marine planes. Entire Sq moved to Guadalcanal 17Jan43 although many pilots had served at Henderson previously. By Jul43 Sq was in US but 29Feb44 departed West Coast and arrived at Espiritu 9May44. Moved to Green, then to Bougainville where from Jun to Dec44 participated in neutralization of Bismarks area. On 2Jan45 arrived at Samar. Redesig VMF-251 on 31Jan45. Operated in Phillipines until 12May45. Decomm 1Jun45 [list of CO's omitted]"

from History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II by Robert Sherrod

(in reply to Sardaukar)

Post #: 3

RE: VMO squadron ?? - 1/26/2005 10:22:55 AM

Sardaukar

Posts: 9847
Joined: 11/28/2001
From: Finland/Israel
Status: offline

Thanks !!

(in reply to f1tifosi27)

Post #: 4