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The Curtiss Commando Page

Marine Transport Squadron 252

Operator Identification

  June 1928 to present

  United States of America


TYPE: US Navy unit

IATA/ICAO CODES: Nil

HEADQUARTERS: NAS San Diego, CA (pre-WWII), MCAS Ewa, HI (1941), MCAS Cherry Point, NC (post-WWII), MCAS Miramar, CA (1946), MCAS El Toro, CA (from 1946)

FORMER NAME: VJ-7M

SUBSEQUENT NAME: VMR-252

Operator History

VJ-7M was formed on 1 June 1928 at NAS San Diego, CA as Headquarters Detachment 7M. The squadron was re-designated several times in the next decade. It received the designation VMJ-252 on 1 July 1941, and VMR-252 on 1 April 1945. VMJ-252 was belonging to MAG-21 at the time of Pearl Harbor, and all its aircraft were destroyed in the attack.

VMJ-252 was heavily involved during World War II and participated in the following campaigns: Pearl Harbor, Marianas, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. Following the war, the squadron relocated to MCAS Cherry Point, NC and was reassigned to MAG-21.

In July 1946, VMR-252 was based at MCAS Miramar, CA as part of MAG-25. They remained there until 14 October 1946 when they were moved to MCAS El Toro, CA.

Commando Operations

August 1944 to March 1952*

Last edited: 24/11/2023