Bairoko (CVE 115) - Naval Cruise Book

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MAME ArfAcKScwAo.oN BIZ Lieutenant Colonel Joe H. McGlothlin Jr. Commanding Officer cr .J ,lfzv mm bf' P' ff rn' K:- ,T bw' 5 .B .1.'sb 14 ' Q I uv- Ind in l X X fxx wi c ef flf .,, I K f H' . 4 .2522 J I mwgw' 5 :aff MW is 1 2. 51 l W-win, Mflior Alexander S. Walker Jr. Executive Officer 8

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00114-312 MA tori, f .All lv:Darines launch their careers as Leathernecks at either San Diego, Cali- ornia, or arris Island, South Carolina, and Marine Attack Squadron 312 was no e:ceptionM Commissioned as Marine Fighter Squadron 312 on June 1, 1943 Qt f ' - ' e vast arine Corps Base at Parris Island, the young squadron received its com- Dle'T1Z 1f gf 'fhs new Chance Vought Corsair fighter planes, which were then cons: ere to e the ultimate in naval fighter aircraft, while Major R. M. Dav took the wheel as the first skipper. ' ln 1945, with blood in its eye and loaded for bear, the squadron moved out across the wide Pacific and was quickly swept into the Okinawa campaign Arriving late in the Pacific theater, this was the only large scale operation the squadron participated in during World War ll, but while the campaign lasted the squadron received credit for 60 and a half enemy aircraft destroyed. ln September, 1945, while still overseas, the squadron was issued the new Grumman Tigercat planes, but combat time had run out and the war was over, so there was no chance to use these planes against the Japanese Empire. Returning to Uncle Sugar Able in 1946, a full allowance of a new version of the perennial and versatile Corsair was issued to the squadron. From then until August, 1950, normal peacetime training was conducted with these planes, together with some newly added Grumman Panther jets, while squadron mem- bers basked in the mellow Southern California sun and lived fatly and pleasantly with their wives and families. Then into the placid pool of training, liberty, and housekeeping.5chores came the electrifying news of the North Koreans' attack on South Korea. As a part of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, the squadron was ordered to duty beyond the seas, arriving at Kimpo Airfield at Seoul, Korea, on 19 September, 1950. During the see-sawing military situation that existed in the ensuing months, the squadron changed location several times, flying a wide variety of missions and shooting down three Communist aircraft, with an additional probable. When the 1st Marine Division made its immortal withdrawal from the Chosin Reservoir, the squadron delivered everything it had. As a result of this action, the squadron was awarded the Army Distinguished Unit Emblem. This made the second decoration awarded the squadron during the Ko-rean conflict, the first being a Presidential Unit Citation for participation in the lnchon landing earlier that autumn. From the time it was commissioned, Marine Fighter Squadron 312 was known as the Flying Bulldogs, but at some time during the few years of peace or at the outset of the Korean hostilities, the squadron assumed the name of Checker- board. With the brightly distinguishing checkerboard pattern painted on the engine cowlings, close air supported ground units came quickly to recognize the squadron aircraft. One incident widely reported throughout the Korean area tells of the Forward Air Controller, who, after thanking the flight which had just ren- dered signal service by way of close air support, heard the flight leader reply la- conically: Happy to be of service! Courtesy of the fabulous Checkerboard. At the time of this writing, the Checkerboard squadron, fabulous or not, has received national recognition for its support of the United Nations effort in Korea. Besides operating from land bases in Korea, the squadron has flown from U. S. Navy carriers off the Korean west coast, the latest flattop being the USS Bairoko CCVE-1151. On March 1, 1952, the squadron was redesignated Marine Attack Squadron 312 CVMA-3121.

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