Killer Corsair – Albert Wells, Death Rattlers Ace

Hopping from island to island, between ground pounding and maintaining air superiority, Albert Bell and the rest of the Death Rattlers never wanted for targets. Marine grunts praised the ground support they gave and nearly a dozen became aces. (Photo by Paul Bowen)

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The Death Rattlers, VMF-323, was destined to become one of the best-known U.S. Marine Corps fighter units of World War II, and the pilots who flew Corsairs for it are justifiably proud of their time. Albert Wells remembers his time with the Rattlers. Death Rattler indoctrination In 1943, I was a 21-year-old green Second Lieutenant when I joined VMF-323 at El Toro as a replacement. The original squadron had gathered earlier at Cherry Point where...

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