VMFA-124

Last updated

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 124
Vma124 insig.jpg
VMA-124 Insignia
Active2 September 1942 - 1996
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States of America
BranchFlag of the United States Marine Corps.svg  United States Marine Corps
TypeFighter/Attack squadron
Role Air interdiction
Nickname(s)Whistling Death
Wild Aces
Checkerboards
Tail Code QP
Engagements
Aircraft flown
Attack A-4 Skyhawk
Fighter F4U Corsair
F9F Cougar
FJ-4B Fury

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 124 (VMFA-124) was a flying squadron in the Marine Forces Reserve based out of Naval Air Station Memphis flying the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. They were part of Marine Aircraft Group 42 and were decommissioned on 19 June 1999.

Contents


The squadron was formed as VMF-124 in 1942 and was the first Marine squadron to fly the Vought F4U Corsair during World War II and also one of the first Marine squadrons to be based on an aircraft carrier. [1] They were known as the "Wild Aces" and ended World War II with 78 air-to-air victories against Japanese aircraft. [2]

The squadron was redesignated as Marine Attack Squadron 124 (VMA-124) in 1965 and to (VMFA-124 in 1994.

History

World War II

Squadron logo from World War II Vmf124patch.jpg
Squadron logo from World War II

VMF-124 was commissioned on 2 September 1942 at Camp Kearney, San Diego, California. [3] The squadron was declared fully operational on 28 December 1942 even though the squadron’s pilots had only an average of 25 hours each in the plane. -124 arrived on Guadalcanal on the morning of 12 February 1943 led by their commanding officer, Major William Gise. The squadron flew its first mission before lunch that day, with twelve F4Us escorting a PBY Catalina on a 230 mile mission to pick up two downed pilots at Sandfly Bay, Vella Lavella. [4]

VMF-124 Corsairs on Guadalcanal. F4U-1s VMF-124 on Guadalcanal 1943.jpg
VMF-124 Corsairs on Guadalcanal.

The first F4U pilot to be decorated with the Medal of Honor came from VMF-124 — 1st Lt Kenneth A. Walsh for a mission on 30 August 1943, during which he shot down four Japanese Zeros before ditching his borrowed Corsair. The squadron remained in the Solomon Islands until September 1943, fighting over the Russell Islands, New Georgia and Vella Levella.

Following the fighting in the Solomons, the squadron was disbanded and reconstituted back in the United States where it trained in the Mojave Desert at Marine Corps Auxiliary Airfield Mojave for the next year. [5] When they received their orders for carrier assignments they had 5 combat experienced pilots as their training nucleus [6] VMF-124 left the States again on 18 September 1944, heading to Hawaii. While in Hawaii they were attached to Navy Air Group 4 who were operating off the USS Essex (CV-9). Along with VMF-213, 124 became the first Marine squadron to be based on an aircraft carrier. While deployed aboard the Essex, they took part in fighting over Lingayen, Luzon, Formosa, Tokyo, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. On 3 January 1945 VMF-124 and VMF-213 struck Formosa and the Ryukyu Islands in the first Marine land strike off a carrier. On 12 January 1945 3 planes from VNF-124 shot down a four engined bomber over Indochina {Vietnam] that had refused to identify itself and had fired on the planes; this was a Friendly fire incident-the aircraft was a B-24 42-73429 of the 374th Bomb Squadron [7]

Reserve activity

The squadron was reformed shortly after the war at Naval Air Station Memphis and were equipped with the F4U-4 Corsair. They were the first squadron in the newly formed Marine Air Reserve Training Command to reach full strength. The squadron was redesignated Marine Attack Squadron 124 (VMA-124) on 1 May 1965 and were subsequently equipped with the A-4 Skyhawk. In 1969, for its two week annual training period, the squadron's fourteen A-4Bs supported the Reserve Marine Expeditionary Brigade Landing Exercise. At the time, the exercise was the largest Marine air/ground maneuver exercise ever held in the continental United States. [8]

During the 1970s and 1980s they flew various versions of the A-4 until 1994 when the squadron was moved to Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth and re-designated Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 124 (VMFA-124). The squadron existed as a paper squadron only for two years while awaiting McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornets that would never materialize. The squadron existed on paper only until they were finally deactivated on 19 June 1999. [9]

Squadron aces

An A-4E of VMA-124 A-4E VMA-124 1970s NMNA.jpg
An A-4E of VMA-124

The following members of VMF-124 were credited with at least 5 enemy aircraft shot down during World War II:

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Sherrod 1952, pp. 134.
  2. ↑ Sherrod 1952, pp. 430.
  3. ↑ Sherrod 1952, pp. 457.
  4. ↑ Tillman 1979, pp. 29.
  5. ↑ "The Mojave Virtual Museum - The "Mojave Marines": Life at MCAAS Mojave". Mojave Transportation Museum. Archived from the original on 3 November 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2008.
  6. ↑ Condon 1998, pp. 11–12.
  7. ↑ Pacific Wrecks 42-73249
  8. ↑ "VMA-124 in Reserve Exercise" (PDF). Naval Aviation News. Washington D.C.: Naval Historical Center. November 1969. p. 31. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  9. ↑ Ginter & Albright 2001, pp. 8.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VMFA-212</span> Military unit

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 212 (VMFA-212) was a United States Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet squadron. Most recently known as the "Lancers", the squadron was last based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan and fell under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 12 (MAG-12) and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. VMFA-212 has an extensive combat history having participated in combat operations during World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and Operation Enduring Freedom. Due to a re-organization within Marine aviation, the squadron was deactivated in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VMA-223</span> Military unit

Marine Attack Squadron 223 (VMA-223) is a United States Marine Corps fixed wing attack squadron that consists of McDonnell-Douglas AV-8B Harrier II (V/STOL) jets. The squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 14 (MAG-14) and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. The squadron uses "Stone" as its radio callsign.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VMFA-112</span> Military unit

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 (VMFA-112) is a reserve United States Marine Corps McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18 Hornet squadron. The squadron is based at NASJRB Fort Worth, Texas and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 41 (MAG-41), 4th Marine Aircraft Wing. Their tail code is MA. During World War II the squadron saw extensive action throughout the Pacific Theater of Operations especially at the Battle of Guadalcanal as part of the Cactus Air Force. By the end of the war, its 140 air-to-air kills ranked it third among Marine Corps squadrons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VMFA-323</span> Military unit

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323 (VMFA-323) is an aircraft carrier-based aviation squadron of the United States Marine Corps. The squadron is equipped with the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet and is based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, United States. It falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 11 (MAG-11) and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing but deploys with the U.S. Navy's Carrier Air Wing 17 (CVW-17). Their tail code is WS and their radio callsign is Snake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VMFA-211</span> United States Marine Corps fighter attack squadron

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 (VMFA-211) is a United States Marine Corps fighter attack squadron, currently consisting of F-35B Lightning II stealth STOVL strike fighter jets. Known as the "Wake Island Avengers" and the "Bastion Defenders", the squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 13 (MAG-13) and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VMFA-311</span> United States Marine Corps fighter attack squadron

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 311 (VMFA-311) is a United States Marine Corps fighter attack squadron consisting of F-35C Lightning II. Known as the "Tomcats", the squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 11 (MAG-11) and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VMFAT-502</span> USMC fighter attack training squadron

Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 502 (VMFAT-502) is a United States Marine Corps fighter attack training squadron flying the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. Known as the "Flying Nightmares", the squadron maintains the history of Marine Attack Squadron 513 (VMA-513) which dates back to World War II and was decommissioned on 12 July 2013. The squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 11 and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VMFA-225</span> Military unit

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 225 (VMFA-225) is a United States Marine Corps fighter attack squadron flying the F-35B Lightning II. The squadron, known as the "Vikings", is based at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma in Arizona and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 13 (MAG-13) and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VMFA(AW)-224</span> Military unit

Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224 is a United States Marine Corps (USMC) F/A-18 Hornet squadron. Also known as the "Fighting Bengals", the squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 31 (MAG-31) and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. The Bengals are the only Marine F/A-18D Hornet Squadron currently operating out of MCAS Beaufort.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VMFA-251</span> United States Marine Corps fighter attack squadron

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251 (VMFA-251) was a United States Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet squadron. Known as the "Thunderbolts", the squadron was deactivated on 23 April 2020. If current plans hold, the squadron is to be re-activated by 2025 as a F-35C Lightning II and based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VMFA-121</span> Military unit

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 (VMFA-121), also known as the "Green Knights", is a United States Marine Corps aircraft squadron operating the F-35B Lightning II. The squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 12 (MAG-12) and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. Their tail code is VK and their radio call sign is "Combat".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VMFA-312</span> United States Marine Corps aircraft unit

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 (VMFA-312) is a United States Marine Corps F/A-18C Hornet squadron. Also known as the "Checkerboards", the squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 31 (MAG-31) and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. The Radio Callsign is "Check."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VMFAT-501</span> Military unit

Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 (VMFAT-501) is a training squadron in the United States Marine Corps, consisting of 27 F-35B Lightning II aircraft and serves as the Fleet Replacement Squadron. Known as the "Warlords," the squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina and falls administratively under Marine Aircraft Group 31 and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. The squadron has assumed the lineage of VMFA-451 which was originally known as the "Blue Devils" and saw action during World War II and Operation Desert Storm. They were decommissioned on 31 January 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VMFA-351</span> Military unit

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 351 (VMFA-351) was a fighter squadron in the Marine Forces Reserve. The squadron was based at Naval Air Station Atlanta and participated in action during World War II and was decommissioned in 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VMFA-334</span> Military unit

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 334 (VMFA-334) was a United States Marine Corps fighter squadron. Known as the "Falcons", it was part of Marine Aircraft Group 15 and Marine Aircraft Group 33. The squadron participated in action during World War II and the Vietnam War and was decommissioned in 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VMA-322</span> Military unit

Marine Attack Squadron 322 (VMA-322) was an attack squadron in the United States Marine Corps. The squadron, also known as the "Fighting Gamecocks", fought in World War II and later became a part of the Marine Forces Reserve based out of Naval Air Station South Weymouth, Massachusetts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VMA-217</span> Military unit

Marine Attack Squadron 217 (VMA-217) was a fighter squadron of the United States Marine Corps that was activated and fought during World War II. Known as "Max’s Wild Hares", they fought in many areas of the Pacific War including the Battle of Iwo Jima. Following the surrender of Japan, the squadron was deactivated on 10 March 1946. They were briefly reactivated as part of the Reserves but were again deactivated in 1964 and remain in an inactive status today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VMF-215</span> Military unit

Marine Fighting Squadron 215 (VMF-215) was a fighter squadron of the United States Marine Corps that was commissioned and fought during World War II. Known as "The Fighting Corsairs", the squadron fought in many areas of the Pacific War, including the Battle of Bougainville. During its four-and-a-half month tour, the squadron was credited with shooting down 137 enemy aircraft, fourth most in Marine Corps aviation history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VMF-213</span> Military unit

Marine Fighting Squadron 213 (VMF-213) was a reserve fighter squadron in the United States Marine Corps. Nicknamed the "Hell Hawks", the squadron fought during World War II in the Philippines and at the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. With its assignment to the USS Essex (CV-9) and Air Group 4, VMF-213 along with VMF-124 was one of the first two Marine squadrons to augment carrier air groups during World War II. The squadron was credited with downing 117 enemy aircraft during the war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VMA-324</span> Military unit

Marine Attack Squadron 324 (VMA-324) was an attack squadron in the United States Marine Corps. Nicknamed the "Devil Dogs," the squadron was based out of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina for most of its history however it spent its last three years at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona. Originally commissioned during World War II as a fighter squadron, VMF-324 deployed to Midway Atoll during the later months of the war never participating in combat operations. Following a post-war decommissioning, the squadron was reactivated during the Korean War as an attack squadron. VMA-324 conducted regular training evolutions and world-wide deployments until it was decommissioned on 29 August 1974.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.