Hobby Master Archive

In June 1943 USN aircraft began wearing a new tricolor national insignia with a red surround as well as false gun ports painted on the wing leading edges. Between September 1943 and June 1944 VB-16 flew from USS Lexington. On September 18, 1943 VB-16 took part in the raids on the Gilbert Islands, raids on Tarawa and Wake in the fall. On December 4, 1943 VB-16 was part of a large raid on Kwajalein Atoll in an effort to soften the Japanese strong hold prior to the actual invasion in early 1944.