VMFA-112
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| Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 | |
|---|---|
 VMFA-112 Insignia |
|
| Active | March 1, 1942 - September 10, 1945 July 1, 1946 - present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | USMC |
| Type | Fighter/Attack |
| Role | Close air support Air interdiction Aerial reconnaissance |
| Part of | Marine Aircraft Group 41 4th Marine Aircraft Wing |
| Garrison/HQ | NASJRB Fort Worth |
| Nickname | Cowboys |
| Tail Code | MA |
| Engagements | World War II * Battle of Guadalcanal Korean War Operation Iraqi Freedom |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
LtCol. Steven M. Roepke |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter | F4F Wildcat F4U-1 Corsair F9F Panther F8U-1 Crusader F-4 Phantom II F/A-18A Hornet |
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 (VMFA-112) is a reserve United States Marine Corps 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 (4th MAW).
Contents |
[edit] Mission
Conduct of Air-to-Air-to-Ground operations in support of the Marine rifleman.
[edit] History
[edit] World War II
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112, was originally activated as VMF-112, at San Diego, California on March 1, 1942. Its 140 air-to-air kills ranked it third among Marine Corps squadrons in World War II.
Deploying shortly after to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands in their F4F Wildcats, the Wolfpack joined the Cactus Air Force with Marine Aircraft Group 11. In recognition of its valor and its contributions to victory during its service on Guadalcanal, VMF-112 was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation (US) for August 7 – December 9, 1942.
VMF-112 was withdrawn from Guadalcanal to Espiritu Santo for a respite. There it began to switch to the Vought F4U-1 Corsair, the aircraft that it would fly for the rest of World War II. VMF-112 returned to the United States on September 5, 1943 and took up duty at MCAS Miramar, outside of San Diego. It was there that VMF-112 was redesignated VMF(CVS)-112, denoting that the squadron was carrier qualified. In December 1944, VMF-112 was assigned to Air Group 82 aboard USS Bennington for its second combat tour. In mid-May of 1945, Lieutenant Robert Cook scored the only downing of a barrage balloon by a Marine squadron during the war when he shot one down over Kyūshū.[1] Following the surrender of Japan VMF-112 returned to the United States where it was deactivated on September 10, 1945.
[edit] Post World War II
The squadron was reactivated on July 1, 1946 as the Marine Air Detachment, Marine Air Reserve Training Command, Naval Air Station (NAS) Dallas, Texas. VMF-112 was reactivated with the Corsair, but eventually flew the Grumman F9F Panther and Vought F8U-1 Crusader.
When VMF-111 was deactivated, its aircraft passed to VMF-112, which became the Marines' largest reserve squadron. Upon receipt of the all-weather D/E model of the Crusader, the squadron was redesignated VMF(AW)-112 and flew several more versions of the F-8 until 1975, when it switched to the McDonnell F-4 Phantom II and was redesignated VMFA-112. On January 18, 1992, VMFA-112 retired the last active F-4S squadron in naval service[2]. Some F-4 Phantom II's remained in naval testing facilities after this. VMFA-112 flew the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A Hornet on their first official flight October 8, 1992. VMFA-112 moved to NAS Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base (JRB)in September of 1996 and continues to operate there.
[edit] See also
- United States Marine Corps Aviation
- List of active United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons
- List of inactive United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons
[edit] Notes
- ^ DeChant Devilbirds, p.217.
- ^ RF-4B Phantom II. National Museum of Naval Aviation. Retrieved on 2007-12-16.
[edit] References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from the United States Marine Corps.
- Bibliography
- Crowder, Michael J. (2000). United States Marine Corps Aviation Squadron Lineage, Insignia & History - Volume One - The Fighter Squadrons. Paducah, KY: Turner Publishing Company. ISBN 1-56311-926-9.
- Condon, John Pomeroy (1998). Corsairs and Flattops - Marine Carrier Air Warfare, 1944-45. Annapolis Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-127-0.
- De Chant, John A. (1947). Devilbirds - The Story of United States Marine Aviation in World War II. New York: Harper & Brothers.
- Rottman, Gordon L. (2002). U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle - Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War, 1939 - 1945.’’. Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-31906-5.
- Sherrod, Robert (1952). History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II. Washington, D.C.: Combat Forces Press.
- Web
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