1943 – 1946
ACTIVATED 1 NOVEMBER 1943 AT QUANTICO, VIRGINIA, AS
ARTILLERY SPOTTING DIVISION, MARINE OBSERVATION SQUADRON 251
RELOCATED DURING DECEMBER 1943 - MARCH 1944 TO CAMP TARAWA, HAWAII, AND
ASSIGNED TO MARINE AIR, HAWAIIAN AREA
REDESIGNATED 1 FEBRUARY 1944 AS MARINE OBSERVATION SQUADRON 2
REASSIGNED DURING MAY 1944 TO THE 3d MARINE AIRCRAFT WING, FLEET MARINE FORCE
PARTICIPATED IN THE FOLLOWING WORLD WAR II CAMPAIGNS
SAIPAN
TINIAN
OKINAWA
REDEPLOYED DURING SEPTEMBER 1945 TO NAGASAKI, JAPAN, AND ASSIGNED TO
MARINE OBSERVATION GROUP 1, 2d MARINE AIRCRAFT WING,
FLEET MARINE FORCE
PARTICIPATED IN THE OCCUPATION OF JAPAN, SEPTEMBER 1945 - JUNE 1946
RELOCATED DURING JUNE 1946 TO CHERRY POINT, NORTH CAROLINA, AND REASSIGNED
TO MARINE AIRCRAFT GROUP 22, 2d MARINE AIRCRAFT WING,
FLEET MARINE FORCE
DEACTIVATED 26 AUGUST 1946
1951-1964
REACTIVATED 15 JUNE 1951 AT SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA,
AND ASSIGNED TO AIR FLEET MARINE FORCE, PACIFIC
DEPLOYED DURING JULY-AUGUST 1953 TO CAMP GIFU, JAPAN,
AND ASSIGNED TO
MARINE AIRCRAFT GROUP 16, 1ST MARINE AIRCRAFT WING,
FLEET MARINE FORCE
DETACHED DURING MARCH 1955 FROM MARINE AIRCRAFT GROUP 16
REASSIGNED DURING NOVEMBER 1955 TO MARINE AIRCRAFT GROUP 16
REDEPLOYED DURING APRIL 1956 TO CAMP SUKIRAN, OKINAWA
REDEPLOYED DURING FEBRUARY-MARCH 1958 TO CUBI POINT, PHILIPPINES
RETURNED DURING DECEMBER 1958 TO CAMP SUKIRAN, OKINAWA
REDEPLOYED DURING OCTOBER 1960 TO FUTEMA, OKINAWA
1965-1971
REDEPLOYED DURING MAY 1965
TO DA NANG, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM WITH THE
9TH MARINE EXPEDITIONARY BRIGADE
FLEET MARINE FORCE, PACIFIC
PARTICIPATED IN THE WAR IN VIETNAM, MAY 1965 – APRIL 1971,
OPERATING FROM DA NANG AND MARBLE MOUNTAIN AIR FACILITY
MARINE AIRCRAFT GROUP 16, FLEET MARINE FORCE, PACIFIC
WITH DETACHMENTS AT DONG HA AND KHE SANH, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
RELOCATED DURING FEBRUARY 1970 TO DA NANG
AND REASSIGNED TO MARINE AIRCRAFT GROUP 11, 1ST MARINE AIRCRAFT WING,
FLEET MARINE FORCE, PACIFIC
RELOCATED DURING APRIL 1971
TO CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA
AND REASSIGNED TO MARINE AIRCRAFT GROUP 16, 3RD MARINE AIRCRAFT WING,
FLEET MARINE FORCE, PACIFIC
1971-1989
REASSIGNED DURING JULY 1978
AT CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA
TO MARINE AIRCRAFT GROUP 39, 3RD MARINE AIRCRAFT WING,
FLEET MARINE FORCE, PACIFIC
BETWEEN 1983 TO 1985, PARTICIPATED IN TWELVE
DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY INTERDICTION OPERATIONS
IN JANUARY 1988
DETACHMENT, VMO-2 WAS ASSIGNED TO WESTPAC, OKINAWA
IN 1988, DETACHMENT, VMO-2
FLEW IN SUPPORT OF PHILLIPPINE VOLCANO AND EARTHQUAKE RELIEF
REDEPLOYED TO MARACAIBO, VENEZUELA IN MAY 1989
RETURNED TO CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA
1990-1993
REDEPLOYED DURING AUGUST 1990 TO SAUDI ARABIA
FOR OPERATION DESERT SHIELD
PARTICIPATED IN OPERATION DESERT SHIELD
FROM AUG 1990 – JAN 1991
PARTICIPATED IN OPERATION DESERT STORM
FROM JAN 1991 – APR 1991
RELOCATED TO CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA IN AUG 1991
DEACTIVATED 20 MAY 1993
AT MARINE CORPS AIR STATION, CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA
SQUADRON MATES KILLED IN ACTION IN VIETNAM
