During the squadron's initial training in North Carolina it experimented with nighttime photography using magnesium flares dropped with parachutes.

[5][6] In July 1944, the squadron was moved to Marine Corps Outlying Field Greenville to continue its training.

Squadron aircraft based at Yontan Airfield flew these six-hour round trip missions mainly to photograph beaches in Kyushu.

[9] The squadron returned to MCAS Cherry Point in November 1945 and remained in an almost cadre status until 6 December 1945, when it was redesignated as VMP-354.

[10] VMP-354 was decommissioned in December 1949 as part of the continued downsizing of Marine Aviation after World War II due to tightening defense budgets.