VMD-354 was a US Marine Corps Aerial Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, commissioned 1 July 1943 at the US Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS), Cherry Point, North Carolina. VMD-354 was commissioned and being trained to relieve VMD-254 that had been on extended duty in the South Pacific Theater of War. VMD-354 began its training at MCAS, Cherry Point, NC and later, transferred to the US Marine Corps Outlying Field at Greenville, NC to complete their training phase. In March of 1945, VMD-254 was relieved of duty and returned to the United States. On April 6, 1945, VMD-354 received orders for the departure of the squadron from Greenville, NC and to report to the West Coast for transportation Overseas. The squadron was assigned to the island of Guam, in the Mariana Islands and set up operations at the Agana Airfield. VMD-354 F6F Hellcats made their first operational combat Aerial Photographic Reconnaissance Mission over Yap Island in the Palau Islands on 1 July 1945. Two years to the day the squadron was commissioned. On 6 August 1945, just 36 days after VMD-354 flew its first Aerial Reconnaissance mission, the United States dropped the first of two Atomic Bombs on the Japanese Homeland. On 8 August 1945, the second Atomic Bomb was dropped on Japan. On 14 August 1945, Japan notified the United States of its intent to surrender. On 15 August 1945, Japan agreed to the terms of Unconditional Surrender. Japan officially signed the terms of Unconditional Surrender on 2 September 1945. The War in the Pacific Ocean Theater had ended. VMD-354 suspended all further Photographic Reconnaissance Missions and returned to the United States in November 1945. Administrative Chain of Command