The squadron departed for Espiritu Santo in December 1942 and began their first combat tour as part of the Cactus Air Force on Guadalcanal on 28 January 1943.

Their name was again changed this time to VMTB(CVS)-234 after which they deployed as part of Marine Carrier Group 3 on board the USS Vella Gulf (CVE-111).

The squadron returned to California in November 1945 and was deactivated at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro on 20 March 1946.

On 1 July 1947, the unit was reactivated as VMF-234, at Naval Air Station San Diego, California, and later moved to NAS Twin Cities in Minneapolis.

In December 1986, VMGR-234 became the first Marine squadron to land an aircraft on an ice runway, transporting supplies to McMurdo Station, Antarctica.

In January 1991, the squadron was activated in support of the Gulf War, but remained at Naval Air Station Glenview.

In August 1994, the squadron was reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 41 at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas.

During the initial weeks of the invasion, the Rangers averaged roughly 25 combat sorties and 60 hours of flight time per day.