VMFA-134

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Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 134

VMFA-134 Insignia
Active March 1, 1943 - April 30, 1946
April 15, 1958 - April 1, 2007
Country United States
Branch USMC
Type Fighter/Attack
Role Close air support
Air interdiction
Aerial reconnaissance
Part of Inactive
Nickname "Smoke"
Motto "Smoke'em if you got'em"
Tail Code MF
Engagements World War II
Operation Iraqi Freedom

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 134 (VMFA-134) is a reserve F/A-18 Hornet squadron in the United States Marine Corps. Known as "Smoke", the squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California and is falls 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

[edit] Mission

Conduct air-to-air and air-to-ground operations in support of the Marine rifleman.

[edit] History

[edit] 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 Espirtitu 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 VMFA-134 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, VMFA-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.

[edit] 1958-1986

The squadron was reactivated on April 15, 1958 at Naval Air Station Los Alamitos, California, as Marine Fighter Squadron 134 (VMF-314) 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. The last redesignation of the squadron occurred on October 1, 1983 as Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 134 with a new assignment to Marine Aircraft Group 46.

[edit] Awards

  • Navy Unit Commendation Streamer
    • Peleliu - 1944
  • Asiatic - Pacific Campaign Streamer with Three Bronze Stars
  • World War II Victory Streamer
  • China Service Streamer

[edit] See also

United States Marine Corps Portal

[edit] References

Notes
This article incorporates text in the public domain from the 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 on 2007-04-07.
  2. ^ LtGen John Castellaw (2007). "2007 Marine Aviation Plan". . Headquarters Marine Corps Retrieved on 2007-11-18.

[edit] External links

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