VMFA-134

Last updated
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 134
VMFA-134 large.gif
VMFA-134 Insignia
ActiveMarch 1, 1943 - April 30, 1946
April 15, 1958 - April 1, 2007
Country United States
Allegiance United States of America
Branch United States Marine Corps
TypeFighter/Attack
Role Close air support
Air interdiction
Aerial reconnaissance
Part ofInactive
Nickname(s)"Smoke"
Motto(s)"Smoke'em if you got'em"
Tail Code MF
Engagements World War II
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Aircraft flown
Attack Douglas A-4 Skyhawk (1971-1983)
Bomber Grumman TBF Avenger (1943-46)
Fighter Grumman F9F Cougar (1956 - ?)
McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II (1983-1989)
F/A-18 Hornet (1989-2008)

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 134 (VMFA-134) was a reserve F/A-18 Hornet squadron in the United States Marine Corps. Known as "Smoke", the squadron was based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California and fell under Marine Aircraft Group 46 (MAG-46) and the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing (4th MAW). On April 1, 2007 the squadron was transitioned to cadre status and its gear and personnel were redistributed throughout the remaining F/A-18 Hornet squadrons. [1] [2]

Contents

Mission

Conduct air-to-air and air-to-ground operations in support of U.S. Marine Corps ground troops.

History

World War II

Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 134 (VMSB-134) was activated on May 1, 1943 at Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara, California, and assigned to Marine Base Defense Aircraft Group 42, Marine Fleet Air, West Coast. Shortly thereafter it was redesignated as Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 134 (VMTB-134) on June 1, 1943. From October to November 1943 the squadron deployed to Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, and detached from the Marine Base Defense Aircraft Wing. In November 1943 the squadron was reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.

During the course of World War II the squadron supported operations on Bougainville, the Bismarck Archipelago and Peleliu. Following these campaigns the squadron went through numerous reassignments to include the following:

Following the war, VMTB-134 was assigned to Tsingtao, China during October 1945 to participate in the occupation of Northern China from October 1945 to April 1946. During this time they were again reassigned in November 1945 to Marine Aircraft Group 32, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and to Marine Aircraft Group 12 in April 1946 upon their return from China. The squadron was deactivated on April 30, 1946.

1958-1986

A VMA-134 A-4F firing an AGM-45 Shrike in 1981. A-4F Skyhawk VMA-134 firing Shrike.jpg
A VMA-134 A-4F firing an AGM-45 Shrike in 1981.
VMA-134 Skyhawks Patch VMA 134 Patch Received in 1980.jpg
VMA-134 Skyhawks Patch
A VMFA-134 F/A-18A in 1993. F-18A Hornet VMFA-134 ElToro 1993.jpeg
A VMFA-134 F/A-18A in 1993.

The squadron was reactivated on April 15, 1958 at Naval Air Station Los Alamitos, California, as Marine Fighter Squadron 134 (VMF-134) in the Marine Air Reserve.

Redesignated again on July 1, 1962 as Marine Attack Squadron 134 (VMA-134), Marine Air Reserve Training Detachment, Marine Air Reserve Training Command, Los Alamitos, California. In February 1965 they were again reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 43, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing. 1971 saw the squadron move to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California, assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 46, flying Douglas A-4F (Skyhawk) aircraft and with squadron designation of, [the] Skyhawks. The last redesignation of the squadron occurred on October 1, 1983 as Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 134 with transition to the F-4 Phantom II, still attached to MAG 46.

1990s & 2000s

On July 21, 2004, two F/A-18 Hornets of VMFA-134 suffered a mid-air collision over the Columbia River, 120 miles east of Portland, Oregon, shortly after 1430, killing both Marines in F/A-18B, BuNo 162870. [3] The pilot of F/A-18A, BuNo 163097, 'MF-04', ejected [3] and landed nearby on a hillside west of Arlington, Oregon, suffering minor injuries. [4] The fighters were on their way to the Boardman Air Force Range, where the Oregon Air National Guard trains, when they collided. Another spokesman told the Associated Press that the planes were on a low-altitude training exercise. [5]

In the seventh season episode of The West Wing "The Mommy Problem" an F/A-18 with the call sign 'Badger' belonging to VMFA-134 is shown being piloted by Democratic Presidential candidate Matt Santos (Jimmy Smits) as part of his USMC Reserve duty.

Awards

See also

Related Research Articles

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VMFA-323

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VMFA-115

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VMFA-142

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VMFA-314

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VMFA-225

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, Arizona and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 13 (MAG-13) and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

VMFA(AW)-224

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VMFA-251

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VMFA-121

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VMFA-242

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VMFA(AW)-533

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VMFA(AW)-332

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VMFA-531

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VMA-124

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VMA-144

Marine Attack Squadron 144 (VMA-144) was a reserve Douglas A-4 Skyhawk attack squadron in the United States Marine Corps. Originally known as VMSB-144, the squadron saw its first combat in World War II as part of the Cactus Air Force during the Battle of Guadalcanal and also provided close air support during the Bougainville campaign (1943-1945). Following the war the squadron was deactivated but later became part of the Marine Air Reserve and was based out of Naval Air Station Jacksonville and then Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Florida.

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VMFA-124

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 A-4 Skyhawk. They were part of Marine Aircraft Group 42 and were decommissioned on 19 June 1999. The squadron is best known as the first Marine squadron to fly the F4U Corsair during World War II and also the first squadron to be based on an aircraft carrier. They were known as the “Wild Aces” and ended World War II with 78 air-to-air victories against Japanese aircraft.

References

Notes
PD-icon.svg This article incorporates  public domain material from websites or documents ofthe United States Marine Corps .
  1. ↑ Horst, Dane M. (April 8, 2007). "Sun sets on an era: Moonlighters transition to cadre status". Marine Corps News. Retrieved 2007-04-07.[ dead link ]
  2. ↑ LtGen John Castellaw (2007). "2007 Marine Aviation Plan" (PDF). Headquarters Marine Corps. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-11-27. Retrieved 2007-11-18.Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. 1 2 Allport, Dave, "Accident Report Updates", Air Forces Monthly, Stamford, Lincs., U.K., November 2005, Issue 212, page 76.
  4. ↑ Los Angeles, California, "Marines Killed in Midair Jet Collision Identified", Los Angeles Times, July 25, 2005, page B-5.
  5. ↑ Green, Kristen, and Steele, Jeanette, "Reservists on training mission; one injured", July 22, 2004, The San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego, California.
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