VMF-111
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| Marine Fighting Squadron 111 | |
|---|---|
 VMF-111 Insignia |
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| Active | September 1, 1925 — October 22, 1965 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | USMC |
| Type | Fighter squadron |
| Role | Air interdiction |
| Part of | Inactive |
| Nickname | Devil Dogs |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Marine Fighting Squadron 111 (VMF-111) was a reserve fighter squadron in the United States Marine Corps. They were a part of Marine Aircraft Group 41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing and stationed at Naval Air Station Dallas. Also known as the “Devil Dogs”, the squadron was one of the first avaition squadron in the Marine Corps and it fought in World War II. The squadron was decommissioned on October 22, 1965.
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[edit] History
[edit] Early years
Fighting Squadron 2 (VF-2) was activated on September 1, 1925 at Quantico, Virginia. They were designated VF-9M on July 1, 1927 which was changed again to VF-5M on July 1, 1928. Because they were located so close to Washington D.C., the squadron became the "show unit" for Marine Aviation. The squadron reverted back to the previous designation of VF-9M on August 1, 1930. In 1937, after a stint aboard the USS Saratoga (CV-3) under the command of then Captain Bull Halsey, VF-9M was again redesignated, becomming VMF-1. The squadron finally became VMF-111 on July 1, 1941 during the massive expansion of the Marine Corps that began just prior to World War II.
[edit] World War II
At the time of the Attack on Pearl Harbor, VMF-111 pilots were flying the F4F Wildcat. On March 11, 1942, the squadron landed in Samoa, its new base of operations. They spent the next year as part of the Samoa garrison and finally transitioned to the F4U Corsair in early 1943. The squadron remained in Samoa until 1944, serving as a replacement pool for other squadrons engaged in the Solomon Islands Campaign.
VMF-111 left Samoa in January of 1944 for the Central Pacific and participated in raids against bypassed Japanese garrisons for the rest of the war. Following the war the squadron returned to the States where it was deactivated on November 26, 1945.
[edit] Post war years
Reactivated on June 1, 1948 as part of the Marine Air Reserve, VMF-111 was stationed at NAS Dallas. They were recalled to active duty on July 23, 1950 due to the Korean War but did not see any action. Instead they assumed there WWII role of training pilots. They were released from active duty in July of 1953 and remained in Dallas until their deactivation October 22, 1965. Upon deactivation, their personnel and aircraft were turned over to VMF-112.
[edit] Squadron Aces
- George L. Hallowell
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- *Crowder, Michael J. (2000). United States Marine Corps Aviation Squadron Lineage, Insignia & History - Volume One - The Fighter Squadrons. Turner Publishing Company. ISBN 1-56311-926-9.
- Marine Gunfighters
