World War II Marine Aviation Squadron Marine Scout Bomber Squadron VMSB-133, was organized May 1, 1943, at EL Toro, MCAS (Marine Corps Air Station) CA. Capt. Ewa.
Julian Acres was the unit's first C.O. with an initial compliment of 6 planes,(Douglas Airfcraft's SBD Dauntlesses) 3 pilots, 2 ground officers and 0 enlisted men. On the 1st of July, 1943, with 5 planes, 4 pilots and 281 enlisted men, the squadron was split - forming VMSB-133 and VMSB-245. Squadrons reorganized - Major Julian Acres, now C.O of VMSB-245 part of Marine Air Group 23, (MAG-23). Majo
r Harrison Brent Jr. took command of VMSB-133 with 7 officers, 205 enlisted men and 21 planes. Following training during July and August, on September 2, 1943, VMSB-133 embarked on board U.S.S. KITTYHAWK at San Diego at 1800 and sailed at 0700 the following morning enroute to Pearl Harbor, T.H. Arriving at Pearl Harbor on Sept. 9, at 1900, 49 officers and 294 enlisted men proceeded to M.C.A.S. On Sept. 14, Scout Bombing detachment #1, with 13 officers and 100 enlisted men embarked for Palmyra Island. On Sept. 23 and 24, 2 echelons totaling 33 officers and 189 enlisted men left by plane for Johnston Island. Arriving on the 26th both elements of the squadron commenced flight operations and for the next 6 months performed primarily anti-submarine patrol duty. On approximately the 1st of April, 1944 the 133 returned to MCAS Ewa and the unit was transferred to MAG-22. On April 28th Maj. Lee A. Christoffersen assumed command of the 133. On June 25, 1944, the squadron departed Oahu and arrived July 6 at Espiritu Santo. On August 19 the forward echelon left Espiritu for Torokina, Bougainville via the U.S.S. ALNITAH and arrived there 5 days later where combat operations commenced in the area. Part of the ground echelon joined the flight echelon at Piva and the remainder stayed at Espiritu. During October and November VMSB-133 bombed and strafed targets in the Bougainville and New Britain areas. On December 12 the squadron departed Piva and the flight echelon arrived at Emirau the same date to await further orders. The ground echelon shoved aboard the U.S.S. WILLIAM M. STEWART, after staging through Milne Bay, New Guinea, they arrived at Lingayen Gulf on January 21, 1945 where they were joined by the flight echelon four days later. Stationed at Mangaldan airfield the squadron bombed and strafed enemy supplies and troops in the Clark Field vicinity and other targets of opportunity. April 21 the squadron moved to Malabang, Mindanao, under the command of Maj. Floyd Cummings. It was during this time that VMSB-133 earned praise from local guerilla forces citing their remarkable accuracy in bombing and strafing during very close air-supported operations. During June and July the squadron continued to harass the Japanese by almost ceasless bombing and strafing missions in preparation for a landing in Sarangani Bay area
In the middle of July, VMSB-133 received the order for decomissioning of the unit on August 1, 1945. April 15, 1958 Reactivated as Marine Fighter Squadron-133 (Jet) USMCR at NAS (Naval Air Station) Oakland, CA. July 1, 1961 Relocated to NAS Alameda, CA. July 1, 1962 Reassigned as VMA-133. Feb 1, 1965 Assigned to MAG-43, 4th MAW
Nov 1, 1965 Reassigned to MAG-42, 4th MAW
April 1, 1992 Reassigned to MAG-46 Det-B, 4th MAW
Sept. 30, 1992 Deactivated. Former Commanding Officers VMSB-133
Capt. F. Julian Acres May 1, 1943 - June 30, 1943
Maj. Harrison Brent, Jr. July 1, 1943 - April 28-1944
Maj. Christoffersen Apr 29, 1944 - Mar 8, 1945
Maj. Floyd Cummings Mar 9, 1945 - At end of war
Former Commanding Officers VMF-133 / VMA-133
LtCol. D. Watts Apr 1958 - Jan. 1965
LtCol. J. Kapowich Jan 1965 - May 1967
LtCol. F.J. Drinkwater May 1967 - May 1969
LtCol. D.E. Kirkman May 1969 - Apr 1970
LtCol. J.C. Vernon Apr 1970 - Mar 1972
LtCol. C.F. Lundy Mar 1972 - Jan 1974
LtCol. L.C. Eldred Jan 1974 - Jan 1976
LtCol. H.E. Lecy Jan 1976 - Feb 1978
LtCol. Eisenhammer Feb 1978 - Jan 1980
LtCol. C.J. Buxton Jan 1980 - Jan 1982
LtCol. B.G. Hollingsworth Jan 1982 - Sept 1984
LtCol. R.V. Jordan Sept 1984 - Sept 1986
LtCol. M.A. Kalashian Sept 1986 - Sept 1989
LtCol. T.A. Demosthenes Sept 1989 - Feb 1990
LtCol. W.L. Smith Feb 1990 - Feb 1992
LtCol. Dellosso Feb 1992 - Sept 1992
