VMA-133 Dragons |
Point of Contact = Squadron Duty Officer (SDO). See FAQ/Research/Contact link under [SA] in the menu. |
 VMSB-133 from John Gabbard |
VMA-133 Dragons |
 VMA-133 Dragons |
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Patch No info yet. |
Sources David Weber David Jones |
| Handle
No info yet. Heritage VMTB-133 WWII, de-activated 01AUG45 VMA-133 Dragons (Reserves); MAG-49 (Regulars) VMA-133, MAG 42 of the 4th MAW 1992: VMA-133 disestablished. |
Home Ports
Unknown to 1992?: NAS Alameda, CA. 1992? : MCAS Yuma |
| Air Wings
Circa 1977-79: "ME" tail code |
Aircraft
Date Type First Received - - - - - - Type of Aircraft: 19??: Douglas A-4F Skyhawk 1989: Douglas A-4M Skyhawk For A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to this unit see lower in this page: |
| Deployments
No info yet |
Commanding Officers
1983? - Bobbie Hollingsworth 1985? - R. V. Jordan 1987? - Mike Kalasian 1989 - Ted Demosthenes 1990 - Butch Smith 199? - Dan Del'Osso |
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Awards No info yet |
No additonal info |
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Events August 1, 1945: VMTB-133 de-activated.
02DEC18: "Recently, I acquired a squadron patch for Marine Attack squadron VMA-141. I know this squadron was based at NAS Oakland in the 1940 until the 1960's. It was a sister unit to VMA-133. My Dad and uncle were both in VMF-141, while based at Oakland. At that time the unit was sharing aircraft with the Navy and VMF-133. ( F2H-2 Banshee's ), after the squadrons transitioned to Skyhawks, the were both re-designated as Attack squadrons, with VMA-141 being disbanded in the late 1960's.I wanted to send along a photo of VMA-141's last squadron patch. They are pretty much a forgotten squadron with a very rich history, that should be remembered.
Thank you for your time Skyhawks Forever !
 Semper Fidelis.
Richard J. Burbine
Former Sgt. , HMH-769 ( MAG-42 , unit mates with VMA-133 ) 1981-1987
April 2, 1961: Maj. Philip W. Delano, 38, (USMC Reserve, VMF-133) died of his injuries after he ejected from his plummeting Skyhawk (BuNo 142808) and was pulled from Clear Lake by fishermen. He broke from a three plane formation and his plane streaked towards the ground and smashed into the hills five miles north of Lakeport. Oakland Tribune, Sunday, April 2, 1961. He was in a four plane formation when he suddenly spun out of control, ejected at 1,000 feet and his chute failed to open completely before he plunged into Clear Lake, San Mateo Post, Wed., April 5, 1961. July 11, 1966: Capt. Kenneth R. Danison, 34, (VMA-133) was fatally injured when he ejected from his A-4B Skyhawk (BuNo 142789) which crashed shortly after departing NAS Alameda near Tilden Lake, about 70 miles east of Sonora, in northern Yosemite Park, CA. He took off from NAS Alameda at 12:30 p.m. enroute to NAAS Fallon, NV. Oakland Tribune, Monday, July 11, 1966; San Rafael Independent Journal, Monday, July 11, 1966; Appeal Democrat, Monday, July 11, 1966 and Nevada State Journal, Monday, July 12, 1966. 1975: I was attached to the VMA-133 dragons in 1975. The squadron patch was a dragon with Skyhawks buzzing around it. When I first got there in June we had A-4 Charlies, but when the USS Hornet was de-comissioned, I think 1976, we got 14 A-4 Foxtrots from it. Our reserve unit was the air support for the east coast grunts, and Cherry Point aircraft were the air support for the 29 Palms grunts in the 200th Marine Corps anniversary war games [2week ATD] in MCAS Yuma, AZ. The commandant ordered live ordinance to be dropped close enough to the grunts so that they could "see it, smell it, and taste it!!!". Our XO came back from one of the 28 sorties a day we ran, with a 20mm round in his dashboard, knocking out all his avionics and had to land on visuals only. There was also a F-4 Phantom II that came in with one main strut [right] stuck and went down on its wing half way thru landing and spun out on the runway. I don't know which squadron it was with. There were fighter squadrons based full time at Yuma, one I saw had a skull and/or crossbones on the tail-fin. I think it was VMF-211, but not certain. The temp was a mild 115 degrees during this 2 week war game. On flight line I was the CO's p/c, bird 00. David Jones. May 17, 1980: Capt. Roger Rousseau, 29, of Sunland, CA, ejected safely before his single seat A-4 Skyhawk (BuNo 154196) crashed 35 miles east of MCAS Yuma after taking off from there on Saturday. Arizona Republic, Sunday 18 May 1980. Capt. Roger Rousseau, 29, of Sunland, CA, ejected safely before his Marine Reserve VMA-133 A-4 Skyhawk crashed 35 miles east of MCAS Yuma in the Luke Gunnery Range after taking off from MCAS Saturday. Saturdays crash was the 6th involving military jet fighters that had taken off from MCAS and the 3rd A-4 in the last six months. Arizona Daily Star, Sunday 18 May 1980 and Yuma Sun, Sunday 18 May 1980. Capt. Roger Rousseau ejected safely when the engine burner nozzles burned a hole internally and engine caught fire. From John Campbell. 4th MAW HAMS-42 A-4F BuNo 154196 was destroyed at Yuma after aircraft caught fire and crashed in desert, 17 May 1980. pilot ejected safely. Naval Safety Center via Jim Winchester. June 22, 1983: Capt. Greg Wilkerson (USMC) was killed when his USMC A-4 (BuNo 154194), which had taken off from Volk Field near Camp Douglas shortly before, was making a bombing run over a range on the base, crashed on government land Wednesday about 3 miles east of Finley, north of Necedah in Juneau County. Wisconsin State Journal, Thursday, June 23, 1983. Capt. Robert G. Wilkerson, 33, USMC Reserve, NAS Alameda, was killed at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday when his A-4 Skyhawk jet crashed during a practice bombing run at Camp Douglas, WI. The Register (Orange County), Friday, 24 June 1983. 4th MAW, MAG-42, Alameda, A-4F BuNo 154194 was destroyed at Wisconsin when aircraft struck ground during practice ordnance delivery. 22 June 1983. Pilot fatally injured. Naval Safety Center via Jim Winchester. June 24, 1985: Capt. W.A. "Bill" Sanford, 33, (VMA-133) ejected safely when his NAS Alameda based Skyhawk (BuNo 155057) crashed Monday in a remote area northwest of Yuma, AZ, according to officials at MCAS Yuma. The aircraft crashed 43 miles NW of Yuma on Govt. property in the Chocolate Mountain Bombing Range. Santa Ana Orange County Register and Yuma Sun, Tuesday, 25 June 1985. 4th MAW, MAG-42, Alameda, A-4F BuNo 155057 was destroyed at Yuma when aircraft crashed due to inflight fire during close air support eval. 24 June 1985. Aircrew ejected safely. Naval Safety Center via Jim Winchester. 1992: VMA-133 Disestablished. |
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Unit Photos Circa 1970: Flight of four A-4C Skyhawks, believed to be flown by VMA-133 out of NAS Alameda. BuNo 147809, 5G-20 was assigned to NAS Alameda; BuNo 148442, 5G-18 was assigned to NAS Alameda; BuNo. 145078, 5G-16 was assigned to NAS Alameda; and BuNo 147783, 5G-2 was assigned to MARTD Alameda. Photo from Lt.Col. J.C. Baldwin via his son Joe Baldwin, Jr. TA-4J 153689 flying through Yosemite with Joe Cupido as the backseater. "VMA-133 A-4M's headed into Yosemite Park on a VFR low level back to NAS Alameda - three ship down to Chocolate Mountain - Live 500 bomb and rocket deliveries - hit a KC-130 tanker and came home - but one 500 got hung - we landed at George AFB to down-load the bomb - had lunch - low leveled back to Alameda through Yosemite." AIRFOTO ©Joe Cupido. 22SEP75: VMA-133 TA-4J BuNo 153675, ME-15. Bill Curry photo, from Gary Verver Collection. 30SEP75: Right side view of MARTD Alameda TA-4J Skyhawk BuNo 158517, ME-14, on the ramp at an open house in an all white scheme with stars and bars on the rudder. Gary Verver Collection. OCT75: BuNo.147675 USMC Dragons Skyhawk ME-00. on the ramp. G. Verver collection. Circa 1976: VMA-133 A-4F BuNo 154194, ME-3 refuels from VAQ-308 EKA-3B Skywarrior ND-631. Courtesy of Bob Lawson. 24JAN76: On the ramp at Alameda, 149614 VMA-133 ME-09. Undated shot of BuNo 149614, ME-9, on the ramp. Gary Verver Collection. MAR76: BuNo.148528 USMC Gators Skyhawk on the ramp with intake screens. Courtesy of Gary Verver. 1976: BuNo 154996, ME-00, on the ramp. Gary Verver Collection 25MAY76: 25 MAY 1976: BuNo 155025, ME-02, parked on the Alameda ramp. Peter Bergagnini. 25MAY76: VMA-133 A-4F BuNo 154196, ME-05, 25 MAY 1976 at NAS Alameda. At right is ME-13 BuNo 15420? (last digit might be 2). Photo from P. Bergagnini, from Verver Collection. 25MAY76: Right rear view of VMA-133 Dragons A-4F Skyhawk BuNo 155027, ME-06, with a pair of wing tanks on the ramp at NAS Alameda. Photo by Peter Bergagnini. Circa 1977-79: Two A-4F Skyhawks in formation over the CA. foot-hills, BuNo 154194 and 155018. Note the bridge painting on the fuselages. Photographer unknown. 1977: BuNo 155025, ME-02, parked on the flight-line at Mountain Home AFB. Rob Mignard. 22SEP77: Skyhawk BuNo 155027, ME-06, parked on the ramp with a pair of drop tanks and MBER's. Gary Verver Collection. 22SEP77: Dragons Syhawk BuNo 155006, ME-08, based at Alameda, CA parked on the ramp. Photo by G.B.Rhodes, Gary Verver Collection. 12OCT77: Dragons Syhawk BuNo 155018, ME-12, based at Alameda, CA parked on the ramp. Gary Verver Collection. 10DEC77: Right front view of VMA-133 Dragons A-4F Skyhawk BuNo 155025, ME-02, with a pair of wing tanks on the ramp at NAS Alameda. Photographer unknown. 10DEC77: VMA-133 Dragons TA-4J Skyhawk BuNo 158514, ME-14, on the ramp at NAS Alameda. Photographer unknown. 1978: BuNo 153675, ME-15, a TA-4J of VMA-133 with startup yellow gear close by. Gary Verver Collection. 02NOV78: Dragons Skyhawk BuNo 155009, ME-10, parked on the ramp. Gary Verver Collection. 20NOV78: Right side view of VMA-133 Dragons A-4F BuNo 155006, ME-08, on the ramp with a pair of wing tanks at NAS Alameda. Photo by Alec Molton?. Date unknown: Left side view of VMA-133 Dragons A-4F Skyhawk BuNo 154987, ME-01, in-flight with a pair of wing tanks and a TER on #1. Photographer unknown. Date unknown: Right front view of VMA-133 Dragons A-4F BuNo 155057, ME-09, on the ramp with a pair of wing tanks and a centerline MBR. Photographer unknown. 07FEB79: Dragons Skyhawk BuNo 154970, ME-07, parked on the Alameda ramp. Dragons Skyhawk BuNo 153675, ME-15, in the right foreground. Dr. C.A. "Sketch" Eddy. 1979: BuNo 153675, ME-15, TA-4J; converted from a Foxtrot. Gary Verver Collection. 07FEB79: Dragons Skyhawk BuNo 154996, ME-00, parked in the ramp. Dr. C.A. "Sketch" Eddy. 26APR79: Dragons Skyhawk BuNo 155025, ME-02, parked in the hangar. Dr. C.A. "Sketch" Eddy. 11MAY79: Left side view of VMA-133 Dragons A-4F Skyhawk BuNo 154970, ME-07, with a SHRIKE missile on #1 and a centerline tank on the ramp at what looks to be MCAS Yuma. Photographer unknown. SEP80: VMA-133 A-4F BuNo 154204, ME-13. Photo by S. Van Anken, from Verver Collection. Left rear view of VMA-133 Dragons A-4F Skyhawk BuNo 154204, ME-13, on the ramp at Beale AFB. USAF F-104 Starfighter and A-10 Thunderbolt II in the background. Gary Verver Collection. 07FEB79: Dragons Skyhawk BuNo 153675, ME-15, parked on the Alameda flight-line with a centerline tank. Gary Verver Collection. NOV80: Left front view of VMA-133 Dragons A-4F Skyhawk BuNo 154996, ME-00, on the flight line with a pair of drop tanks, November 1980. Name below the canopy rail is COL N.L. Derickson, CO MAG-42. Gary Verver Collection. NOV80: Left front view of VMA-133 Dragons A-4F Skyhawk BuNo 154194, ME-03, on the ramp at MCAS Yuma with a pair of wing tanks. Photographer unknown. 1980: BuNo 155006, ME-08, parked on the ramp. Gary Verver Collection. BuNo 155072, ME-15, parked on the flight line. Gary Verver Collection. JAN81: VMA-133 BuNo 154204, ME-13, parked next to some A-7s. Gary Verver Collection. 1981: BuNo 155018, ME-12, an A-4F of VMA-133 ready for pilot. Gary Verver Collection NOV81: BuNo 155057, ME-09, parked on the ramp in an overall gray camouflage scheme. Photographer unknown. 22MAY82: Right side view of VMA-133 Dragons A-4F Skyhawk BuNo 154987, ME-01, as it taxis by the photographer at Hill AFB, UT. Copyright photo by Joe Cupido. 01DEC82: Crewmen upload three Mark 81 general purpose high explosive bombs aboard an A-4F Skyhawk aircraft from Marine Attack Squadron 133. Maj. T. Campbell. 01DEC82: Crewmen upload three Mark 81 general purpose high explosive bombs aboard an A-4F Skyhawk aircraft from Marine Attack Squadron 133. Maj. T. Campbell. 01DEC982: Crewmen upload three Mark 81 general purpose high explosive bombs aboard an A-4F Skyhawk aircraft from Marine Attack Squadron 133. Maj. T. Campbell. 01DEC82: Crewmen upload three Mark 81 general purpose high explosive bombs aboard an A-4F Skyhawk aircraft from Marine Attack Squadron 133. Maj. T. Campbell. Date unknown: BuNo 155026, ME-11, an A-4F of VMA-133 in chocks. Gary Verver Collection. 01DEC82: 01 DEC 1982: Right side view of six A-4F Skyhawk aircraft (L-R: BuNo 155009, ME-10, BuNo 155026, ME-11, unknown, unknown, BuNo 154194, ME-0x and unknown) from Marine Attack Squadron 133 (VMA-133) banking to the left in echelon formation. Note the Intruder at the very top. looks like it is tail code RM-04 which would make the squadron VMAQ-4. Photo from Maj. T. Campbell. 13AUG83: BuNo 154203, ME-03, parked on the ramp. Photo by D. Remington, G. Verver collection. Date unknown: VMA-223 A-4M BuNo 159479, WP-9. Name below the canopy is Capt. D.F. Goold. A-4M in the background is VMA-133 BuNo 159479, ME-00. Photo from W. Munzenmaier. Date unknown: OA-4M, BuNo 154335 of H&MS-13. A-4F in the background is 154194 (ME-03) of VMA-133. Photographer and location unknown. Date unknown: OA-4M, BuNo 154335 of H&MS-13. A-4F in the background is 154194 (ME-03) of VMA-133. 1983: BuNo 155018, ME-12, with Avionics Techs looking for an issue. Nose is cranked up with a socket speed wrench which drives a worm screw to raise the nose for access to several avionics black boxes. At one time this webmaster new exactly how many turns it took, but time has caused the loss of that important piece of data. Photographer and location unknown. Gary Verver Collection. SEP85: VMA-133 A-4F BuNo 154970, ME-07. Photo from D. Slowiak, Gary Verver Collection. 1986: BuNo 155025, ME-02, A-4F of VMA-133 on the ramp. Gary Verver Collection. 07JUL88: BuNo 155018, ME-12, on final for touchdown. W. Munzenmaier. 1990-92: VMA-133 A-4M BuNo 159781, ME-09. Photo from W. Munzenmaier. 1990-92: VMA-133 A-4M BuNo 158191, ME-03. From W. Munzenmaier. 07JUN91: VMA-133 A-4M BuNo 158423, ME-04 at NAS Alameda. Photographer unknown Gary Verver Collection. NOV91: VMA-133 Dragons hangar at NAS Alameda, At far left – the tail is BuNo 159479, ME-06, center rear – the tail is BuNo 159489, ME-07, front right is BuNo 159781, ME-08 and BuNo unknown is at front left with the nose up. Copyright photo by Joe Cupido. DEC91: VMA-133 Dragons A-4M Skyhawk BuNo 160034, ME-10, taxiing at NAS Alameda with Snakeyes on #1 and #5 and an MBER with practice bombs on the centerline. Copyright photo by Joe Cupido. DEC91: VMA-133 Dragons A-4M Skyhawk BuNo 160034, ME-10, taxiing at NAS Alameda with Snakeyes on #1 and #5 and an MBER with practice bombs on the centerline. Copyright photo by Joe Cupido. DEC91: VMA-133 Dragons A-4M Skyhawk BuNo 158155, ME-02, enroute over Northern CA to Chocolate Mountain Ranges, flight generated from NAS Alameda. Looks like a 2.75” FFAR launcher on #5. Copyright photo by Joe Cupido. DEC91: VMA-133 Dragons A-4M Skyhawk BuNo 158155, ME-05, en-route to Chocolate Mountain Ranges with a 2.75” FFAR launcher on #1 and Mk-82’s on the centerline - flight generated from NAS Alameda. Copyright photo by Joe Cupido. DEC91: VMA-133 Dragons A-4M Skyhawk BuNo 158155, ME-05, ARBS close-up at NAS Alameda. Copyright photo by Joe Cupido. DEC91: VMA-133 Dragons A-4M Skyhawk BuNo 158155, ME-05, enroute to Chocolate Mountain Ranges with a 2.75” FFAR launcher on #1 and Mk-82’s on the centerline - flight generated from NAS Alameda. Copyright photo by Joe Cupido. DEC91: VMA-133 Dragons A-4M Skyhawk BuNo 158155, ME-05, pilot close-up at NAS Alameda. Copyright photo by Joe Cupido. DEC91: VMA-133 Dragons A-4M Skyhawk BuNo 158160, ME-00, in the hangar at NAS Alameda. VMA-133 A-4M in the background is BuNo 159779, ME-08, and the one in the middle with the tail off looks like BuNo 159489, ME-07. Copyright photo by Joe Cupido. DEC91: VMA-133 Dragons A-4M Skyhawk BuNo 158173, ME-02, in flight with an empty MBER on the centerline VFR RTRB from George AFB after having one hung Mk-81 removed - through Yosemite National Park back to Alameda - Great Flight! VMA-133 Dragons A-4M Skyhawk BuNo 158173, ME-02, in-flight over the Sierras with an empty MBER on the centerline. Copyright photo by Joe Cupido. DEC91: VMA-133 Dragons A-4M Skyhawk BuNo 158173, ME-02, in flight over the Golden Gate bridge. Copyright photo by Joe Cupido. DEC91: VMA-133 Dragons A-4M Skyhawk BuNo 158173, ME-02, in flight over San Francisco Bay VFR RTRB through the bay back to NAS Alameda. Copyright photo by Joe Cupido. DEC91: VMA-133 Dragons A-4M Skyhawk BuNo 158173, ME-02, in-flight over Yosemite National Park. Copyright photo by Joe Cupido. DEC91: VMA-133 Dragons A-4M Skyhawk BuNo 158173, ME-02, taxiing with a MK-81 slick on #5 and a pair of wing tanks at NAS Alameda. Copyright photo by Joe Cupido. DEC91: VMA-133 Dragons A-4M Skyhawk BuNo 158173, ME-02, taxiing with an MBER & practice bombs on the centerline, Mk-81 slicks on #1 & #5 and a pair of wing tanks at NAS Alameda. Copyright photo by Joe Cupido. DEC91: VMA-133 Dragons A-4M Skyhawk BuNo 158155, ME-05, in front of BuNo 158173, ME-02, on the ramp at NAS Alameda with 2.75” FFAR launcher on #1 & #5 and Mk-82 slicks on the centerline MBER. Looks like the San Francisco Bay bridge in the background. Copyright photo by Joe Cupido. Date unknown: Head-on view of VMA-133 Dragons A-4M Skyhawk BuNo 158173, ME-02, taxiing at NAS Alameda with Mk-81 slicks on #1 and #5, an MBER with practice bombs on the centerline and a pair of wing tanks. Copyright photo by Joe Cupido. Date unknown: BuNo 159785 being loaded with weapons. Pic 2. DEC91: VMA-133 Dragons A-4M Skyhawk BuNo 159785, ME-11, with Mk-81 slicks on #1 and #5, an MBER with practice bombs on the centerline and a pair of wing tanks taxiing at NAS Alameda. Copyright photo by Joe Cupido. 28APR92: VMA-133 A-4M BuNo 159479, ME-06, at NAS Alameda. Photo by W. Munzenmaier. 29APR92: VMA-133 A-4M BuNo 159785, ME-xx, 29 April 1992 NAS Alameda. W. Munzenmaier Photo. 29APR92: VMA-133 A-4M BuNo 159489, ME-07, at NAS Alameda. Photo by W. Munzenmaier. 29APR92: VMA-133 A-4M BuNo 160034, ME-10, at NAS Alameda. W. Munzenmaier Photo. |
