Page 607

Appendix E: Fleet Marine Force Status, 30 October 1943

Strength
USMC USN
Unit and location Off Enl Off Enl
Outside U.S.A. Central Pacific Area Oahu
Headquarters & Service Battalion, VAC 78 435 10 20
Signal Battalion, VAC 66 670 26 7
Reconnaissance Company, VAC 6 93 1 –
Transient Center, VAC 3 18 – –
Rear Echelon, Transient Center, VAC* 31 289 14 73
Corps Motor Transport Company, VAC* 5 105 – –
Headquarters & Service Company, Marine Forces, 14th Naval District 31 289 2 4
6th Base Depot 23 324 – 2
1st Defense Battalion 63 1,460 3 27
15th Defense Battalion 61 1,284 4 21
4th Marine Division* 1,002 17,132 129 1,588
4th Radio Intelligence Platoon* 1 29 – –
1st Armored Amphibian Battalion* 36 855 1 9
1st Amphibian Tractor Detachment* 1 20 – –
1st Joint Assault Signal Company* 25 347 – –
1st Ammunition Company* 9 272 – –
12th Marine Depot Company* 4 173 – –
25th Replacement Battalion* 39 1,141 7 76
30th Replacement Battalion* 51 1,205 8 125
33rd Replacement Battalion* 169 2,412 8 104
Headquarters Squadron, MAW, Pac 20 64 1 –
Marine Fighter Squadron-114 44 189 1 8
Marine Fighter Squadron-225 56 245 1 8
Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron-245 48 280 – –
Marine Utility Squadron-252 32 336 – –
Headquarters Squadron-23, MAG-23 63 692 10 16
Service Squadron-23, MAG-23 15 249 – –
Marine Fighter Squadron-113, MAG-23 47 242 1 8
Area Sub-Total 2,029 30,850 227 2,096

Page 608

Strength
USMC USN
Unit and location Off Enl Off Enl
Midway
6th Defense Battalion 49 1,925 5 32
Headquarters Squadron-22, MAG-22 10 133 3 12
Service Squadron-22, MAG-22 6 139 – –
Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron-231, MAG-22 58 280 1 8
Marine Fighter Squadron-422, MAG-22 47 238 1 8
Area Sub-Total 170 2,715 10 60
Johnston
16th Defense Battalion 49 913 4 19
Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron-133 33 184 1 4
Area Sub-Total 82 1,097 5 23
Palmyra
Scout Bombing Detachment-1 14 100 1 4
Samoan Area Samoa
Headquarters Squadron-31, MAG-31 26 400 9 16
Service Squadron-31, MAG-31 10 247 – –
Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron-341, MAG-31 45 278 – –
Area Sub-Total 81 925 9 16
Tutuila
Headquarters, Defense Force, Samoa 31 172 6 4
Signal Company, Defense Force, Samoa 10 165 – –
Harbor Defense Group 23 277 2 28
Base Depot, FMF 43 763 10 19
5th Separate Medical Company – 24 5 98
7th & 8th Marine Depot Companies 6 220 – –
2nd Defense Battalion 57 957 5 29
22nd Marines (Reinforced) 175 3,229 20 437
8th Garrison Replacement Detachment* 8 250 2 50
9th Garrison Replacement Detachment* 8 250 2 50
Headquarters Squadron-4, 4th MBDAW 39 248 8 –
Marine Utility Squadron-353, 4th MBDAW 28 283 1 8
Headquarters Squadron-13, MAG-13 44 415 7 20

Page 609

Strength
USMC USN
Unit and location Off Enl Off Enl
Service Squadron-13, MAG-13 13 250 – –
Marine Fighter Squadron-224 MAG-13 45 242 1 8
Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron-241, MAG-13 32 276 1 6
Headquarters Squadron-14, MAG-14 39 472 5 15
Area Sub-Total 601 8,493 75 772
Upolu-Savaii
3rd Marine Brigade 76 1,098 15 126
Wallis
Headquarters Company, 8th Defense Battalion (Reinforced) 5 50 – –
8th Defense Battalion 75 1,100 5 35
3rd Separate Medical Company – 13 6 76
Marine Fighter Squadron-311, MAG-31 45 235 – –
Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron-331, MAG-31 46 280 – 8
Area Sub-Total 171 1,678 11 119
Funafuti
5th Defense Battalion 54 1,284 47 636
Marine Fighter Squadron-111, MAG-13 45 234 1 6
Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron-151, MAG-13 44 285 1 8
Area Sub-Total 143 1,803 49 650
Nanomea
7th Defense Battalion 49 1,104 9 26
Marine Fighter Squadron-441, MAG-13 33 235 1 8
Area Sub-Total 82 1,339 10 34
Nukufetau
2nd Airdrome Battalion (17th Defense Battalion) 34 885 5 63
South Pacific Area En route or Ordered to the Area
Marine Fighter Squadron-216* 47 242 1 8
Marine Fighter Squadron-223* 38 237 1 7

Page 610

Strength
USMC USN
Unit and location Off Enl Off Enl
Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron-243* 40 282 1 9
Marine Photographic Squadron-254* 40 399 1 8
Marine Fighter Squadron-321* 44 232 – 8
Area Sub-Total 209 1,392 4 40
Guadalcanal
Headquarters & Service Battalion, IMAC 153 875 15 23
1st Corps Motor Transport Battalion 26 615 1 9
1st Corps Medical Battalion 1 124 40 356
1st Corps Naval Construction Battalion – – 27 806
1st Corps Signal Battalion 53 714 5 22
1st Corps Tank Battalion (Medium) 35 696 1 13
3rd Marine Division 953 17,002 140 1,664
1st 155-mm Artillery Battalion 36 554 1 10
2nd 155-mm Artillery Battalion 28 511 1 9
1st Parachute Regiment 105 2,079 17 78
2nd Marine Raider Regiment 88 1,923 12 74
3rd Defense Battalion 53 1,241 4 19
Marine Air Base Squadron-1, 1st MAW 13 384 1 8
Service Squadron-14, MAG-14 13 144 – 5
Repair & Salvage Squadron-1, MAG-14 10 244 1 8
Area Sub-Total 1,567 27,106 266 3,104
New Caledonia
Headquarters Company, Supply Service, IMAC 60 247 1 3
Transient Center, IMAC 99 1,527 34 228
14th Defense Battalion 60 809 5 20
1st Base Depot 81 1,728 1 23
1st Marine Raider Regiment 77 1,732 19 59
Barrage Balloon Group, IMAC 28 469 5 8
Marine Beach Jumper Unit No. 1 9 71 – –
4th, 5th, & 6th Separate Wire Platoons* 3 135 – –
9th & 10th Marine Depot Companies* 8 318 – –
11th Marine Depot Company* 4 173 – –
29th Replacement Battalion* 55 1,387 8 118
31st Replacement Battalion* 50 1,245 7 75
32nd Replacement Battalion* 36 773 – –
37th Replacement Battalion* 1 7 – –
Marine Air Depot Squadron-1, 1st MAW 21 291 5 10
Headquarters Squadron-25, MAG-25 50 413 32 105

Page 611

Strength
USMC USN
Unit and location Off Enl Off Enl
Service Squadron-25, MAG-25 20 402 – –
Marine Utility Squadron-152, MAG-25 44 212 – –
Marine Utility Squadron-153, MAG-25 47 209 – –
Marine Utility Squadron-253, MAG-25 44 198 – –
Area Sub-Total 797 12,346 117 679
Espiritu Santo
Headquarters Squadron-1, 1st MAW 128 916 9 24
Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron-134, 1st MAW* 49 296 1 8
Marine Photographic Squadron-154, 1st MAW 32 393 3 8
Headquarters Squadron-154, MAG-11 59 580 9 16
Service Squadron-11, MAG-11 22 374 – 6
Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron-143, MAG-11 33 329 1 8
Marine Fighter Squadron-213, MAG-11 31 342 1 4
Marine Fighter Squadron-214, MAG-11 61 243 1 7
Marine Fighter Squadron-222, MAG-14 33 234 1 8
Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron-233, MAG-21 44 308 1 5
Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron-236, MAG-21 44 289 1 8
Area Sub-Total 536 4,304 28 102
Russells
10th Defense Battalion 60 1,130 4 26
4th Base Depot 53 1,200 9 18
Marine Fighter Squadron-211, MAG-11 34 235 1 8
Headquarters Squadron-21, MAG-21 19 361 7 30
Service Squadron-21, MAG-21 10 218 – –
Marine Night Fighter Squadron-531 (Forward Echelon), MAG-21 17 179 1 6
Area Sub-Total 193 3,323 22 88
Efate
Marine Fighter Squadron-123, MAG-21 33 258 1 4
Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron-234, MAG-21 41 291 1 8
Headquarters Squadron-24, MAG-24 20 252 6 6
Service Squadron-24, MAG-24 10 216 – –
Headquarters Squadron-2, 2nd MAW 68 348 10 15
Headquarters Squadron-12, MAG-12 16 305 6 25

Page 612

Strength
USMC USN
Unit and location Off Enl Off Enl
Service Squadron-12, MAG-12 10 233 – –
Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron-144, MAG-21 33 295 1 4
Area Sub-Total 228 2,198 25 62
New Zealand
2nd Marine Division 978 18,821 150 1,743
1st Aviation Engineer Battalion 34 347 6 19
2nd Antitank Battalion 26 372 1 12
2nd Base Depot 28 500 1 14
3rd Base Depot 35 347 6 19
Area Sub-Total 1,101 20,387 164 1,807
Southwest Pacific Area Goodenough
1st Marine Division 956 17,468 135 1,561
27th Replacement Battalion* 60 1,360 8 124
Area Sub-Total 1,016 18,828 143 1,685
New Georgia
9th Defense Battalion 60 1,210 3 21
Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron-232, MAG-11 36 326 1 7
Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron-244, MAG-11 45 260 1 7
Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron-144, MAG-24 43 279 1 4
Area Sub-Total 184 2,075 6 39
Rendova
11th Defense Battalion 61 1,061 4 22
Vella Lavella
4th Defense Battalion 59 1,148 4 22
4th Base Depot, Branch No. 3 45 591 4 15
Marine Fighter Squadron-212, MAG-11 34 234 1 8
Marine Fighter Squadron-215, MAG-14 30 242 1 8
Marine Fighter Squadron-221, MAG-24 33 251 1 8
Area Sub-Total 201 2,466 11 61

Page 613

Strength
USMC USN
Unit and location Off Enl Off Enl
Woodlark
12th Defense Battalion 44 1,064 4 22
Carribean Area Guantanamo Bay
13th Defense Battalion 49 683 3 15
St.Thomas, Virgin Islands
Marine Scouting Squadron-3 34 106 – –
West Coast, U.S.A. San Diego
Headquarters Squadron, Marine Fleet Air, West Coast 41 229 – –
Supply Squadron-5 19 202 – –
Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron-132* 4 275 1 8
Area Sub-Total 64 706 1 8
El Centro
Headquarters Squadron-43, MBDAG-43 76 922 4 10
Service Squadron-43, MBDAG-43 10 215 – –
Marine Fighter Squadron-122, MBDAG-43 48 172 – –
Marine Observation Squadron-155, MBDAG-43 43 279 1 –
Marine Fighter Squadron-217, MBDAG-43 49 251 – 7
Marine Torpedo Bomber Squadron-243, MBDAG-43 49 316 1 8
Area Sub-Total 275 2,155 6 25
El Toro
Headquarters Squadron-41, MBDAG-41 23 1,505 – –
Service Squadron-41, MBDAG-41 13 254 – –
Marine Torpedo-Bomber Squadron-131, MBDAG-41 62 306 2 –
Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron-141, MBDAG-41 53 258 2 13
Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron-142, MBDAG-41 8 48 – –
Area Sub-Total 159 2,371 4 13

Page 614

Strength
USMC USN
Unit and location Off Enl Off Enl
Camp Elliott
Headquarters Company, FMF, San Diego Area 75 330 6 7
Headquarters Battalion, Training Center 50 657 30 25
Infantry Battalion, Training Center 307 3,420 – –
School Battalion, Training Center 54 609 – –
Tank Battalion, Training Center 74 724 – –
Field Medical School Battalion, Training Center 5 25 51 773
Base Depot, FMF 30 459 2 15
Women’s Reserve Battalion, FMF, San Diego Area 25 454 – –
Area Sub-Total 620 6,678 89 820
Camp Gillespie
Parachute Training School 56 689 6 32
Camp Kearney
Headquarters Squadron-15, MAG-15 276 624 6 26
Service Squadron-15, MAG-15 13 345 – –
Marine Utility Squadron-952, MAG-15 30 214 – –
Area Sub-Total 319 1,183 6 26
Camp Pendleton
Headquarters Battalion, Training Center 66 383 9 69
Artillery Battalion, Training Center 87 762 – –
Amphibian Tractor Battalion, Training Center 39 315 3 –
Engineer Battalion, Training Center 74 708 – –
Naval Construction Battalion, Training Center – – 19 641
Field Signal Battalion, Training Center 17 1,029 – –
Raider Battalion, Training Center 24 422 – 1
4th Parachute Battalion 27 637 5 26
Area Sub-Total 334 4,256 36 737
Miramar
Headquarters & Service Squadron, 2nd MAWG 3 28 – –
Headquarters Squadron, Personnel Group 20 102 1 16
Air Regulating Squadron-1 6 906 – 1
Air Regulating Squadron-2 7 651 – 123

Page 615

Strength
USMC USN
Unit and location Off Enl Off Enl
Air Regulating Squadron-3 270 841 15 –
Air Regulating Squadron-4 7 674 – –
Area Sub-Total 313 3,202 16 140
Mojave
Headquarters Squadron-44, MBDAG-44 34 457 3 6
Service Squadron-44, MBDAG-44 10 247 – –
Marine Fighter Squadron-121, MBDAG-44 14 125 1 –
Marine Fighter Squadron-124, MBDAG-44 6 35 – –
Marine Fighter Squadron-218, MBDAG-44 50 268 – 9
Marine Observation Squadron-251, MBDAG-44 50 297 – –
Area Sub-Total 164 1,429 4 15
East Coast, U.S.A. Camp Lejeune
Headquarters Company, Training Center 6 4 – –
War Dog Training Company, Training Center 7 157 – –
Amphibian Base Battalion, Training Center 23 226 86 755
Artillery Battalion, Training Center 162 1,465 – –
Engineer Battalion, Training Center 143 1,019 – –
Infantry Battalion, Training Center 145 622 50 573
Parachute Battalion, Training Center 2 17 – –
Quartermaster Battalion, Training Center 72 882 – –
Range Battalion, Training Center 5 278 – 6
Signal Battalion, Training Center 189 3,409 – 163
Naval Construction Battalion, Training Center – – 35 1,202
18th Defense Battalion 43 648 3 23
51st Defense Battalion 71 1,654 6 38
7th Separate Infantry Battalion 8 37 1 19
7th Separate Pack Howitzer Battery 5 62 – –
2nd Battalion, 13th Marines 15 65 – –
Area Sub-Total 896 10,545 181 2,779
Norfolk
Base Depot, FMF 32 460 – 6

Page 616

Strength
USMC USN
Unit and location Off Enl Off Enl
Cherry Point
Headquarters Squadron-3, 3rd MAW 57 496 20 51
Headquarters Squadron-1, MAWG-1 47 313 1 18
Air Warning Squadron-1, MAWG-1 14 178 – 7
Air Warning Squadron-2 MAWG-1 14 179 – 5
Air Warning Squadron-4, MAWG-1 1 60 – –
Headquarters Squadron-35, MAG-35 16 237 – –
Service Squadron-35, MAG-35 10 203 – –
Marine Observation Squadron-351, MAG-35 22 144 – –
Marine Utility Squadron-352, MAG-35 38 179 – –
Marine Photographic Squadron-354, MAG-35 34 254 – –
Headquarters Squadron-53, MNFG-53 33 61 3 21
Service Squadron-53, MNFG-53 10 410 – –
Marine Night Fighter Squadron-531 (Rear Echelon), MNFG-53 16 119 – –
Marine Night Fighter Squadron-532, MNFG-53 25 253 – –
Marine Night Fighter Squadron-555, MNFG-53 3 4 – –
Marine Night Fighter Squadron-534, MNFG-53 2 5 – –
Headquarters Squadron-61, MBG-61 327 493 3 20
Marine Bomber Squadron-611, MBG-61 1 2 – –
Marine Bomber Squadron-612, MBG-61 1 2 – –
Marine Bomber Squadron-613, MBG-61 1 1 – –
Marine Bomber Squadron-614, MBG-61 1 1 – –
Area Sub-Total 683 3,594 27 122
Oak Grove
Air Warning Squadron-3, MAWG-1 11 120 – 6
Headquarters Squadron-32, MAG-32 23 273 5 41
Service Squadron-32, MAG-32 11 204 – –
Marine Fighter Squadron-314, MAG-32 20 48 – –
Marine Fighter Squadron-323, MAG-32 41 227 – –
Marine Fighter Squadron-324, MAG-32 15 44 – –
Area Sub-Total 121 916 5 47
Parris Island
Marine Fighter Squadron, MAG-32 44 220 2 7
Marine Fighter Squadron-322, MAG-32 43 205 1 –
Area Sub-Total 87 425 3 7

Page 617

Strength
USMC USN
Unit and location Off Enl Off Enl
New Bern
Marine Fighter Squadron-313, MAG-32 32 167 – –
Bogue
Headquarters Squadron-33, MAG-33 16 202 6 39
Service Squadron-33, MAG-33 9 156 – –
Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron-332, MAG-33 43 201 – –
Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron-333, MAG-33 43 210 – –
Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron-334, MAG-33 42 202 – –
Area Sub-Total 153 971 6 39
Atlantic
Headquarters Squadron-34, MAG-34 13 271 5 39
Service Squadron-34, MAG-34 4 175 – –
Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron-342, MAG-34 44 221 – –
Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron-343, MAG-34 43 206 – –
Area Sub-Total 104 873 5 39
Total FMF (Ground) Overseas 5,583 99,789 808 9,095
Total FMF(Air) Overseas 2,591 20,833 167 613
Total FMF (Ground) in U.S.A. 3,185 45,919 444 6,426
Total FMF(Air) in U.S.A. 3,095 20,830 95 531
Total FMF Overseas 8,174 120,622 975 9,708
Total FMF in U.S.A. 6,280 66,749 539 6,957
Total FMF 14,454 187,371 1,514 16,665

* Strength figures and unit designations were abstracted from the FMF Status Reports, Ground and Air, for October 1943 held in the Archives of the Historical Branch, G-3 Division, Headquarters Marine Corps. Units en route or ordered to the indicated areas (indicated by an asterisk *) are listed under those areas regardless of their temporary location.