They took part in the Battle of Guam in 1944 and would eventually move to Peleliu in 1945 assuming responsibility for air defense in that sector until the end of the war.
Because it was one of the first two air warning squadrons formed in the Marine Corps during the war, its early training was severely hampered by personnel and equipment shortages.
[citation needed] AWS-2 departed North Carolina on 15 November 1943 with orders to proceed to the West Coast of the United States.
The partially equipped squadron arrived at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Hawaii on 9 January 1944 with 14 officers and 219 enlisted men.
During this time AWS-2 also assisted various air-warning and tower control units in the Hawaiian area with communications checks, relaying of messages and homing lost planes.
[citation needed] On 16 May 1944, 4 officers and 64 enlisted men were transferred to the III Amphibious Corps at Guadalcanal, and formed an air-warning assault echelon.
In December 1944 the squadron started experiments with window and by February 1945 they were practicing with pilots in simulated day fighter interception tactics.