The squadron was decommissioned shortly after the end of the war but was reactivated in 1946 as part of the Marine Air Reserve.

[1] Initially training in FM-1 Wildcats, the squadron transitioned to the Vought F4U-1 Corsair and operated roughly 18 of these aircraft at any one time.

[citation needed] On 4 August 1944, VMF-216 joined VMF(N)-534, VMF-217, and VMF-225 on Guam following the invasion of the island by United States forces.

Led by their commanding officer, Maj George E. Dooley, VMF-216 Corsairs strafed and bombed airfields at Yokosuka and Tateyama.

[3] Following the carrier raids on Tokyo, the squadron provided close air support for Marine assault forces during the Battle of Iwo Jima.