The Death Rattlers – Flying and Fighting with VMF-323

The Goodyear-built FG-1D Corsair belonging to the Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum in Everett, Washington, survived a combat tour only to be damaged by a typhoon while on Okinawa. (Photo: John Dibbs/planepicture.com, courtesy of FHCAM)

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Marine Fighting Squadron 323 (VMF-323) was commissioned on August 1, 1943, and was quickly brought up to combat-ready status under the leadership of young Maj. George Axtell Jr. Instilling great discipline and aggressive fighter tactics, the men of VMF-323 certainly earned their squadron’s nickname as the “Death Rattlers.” At the controls of the F4U and FG-1 Corsairs, the men of VMF-323 not only provided ground support for the island-hopping Marines below but also shot down...

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