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VMFA-211

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Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211
VMFA-211 squadron insignia
Active1 January 1937 – present[1]
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Marine Corps
RoleClose air support
Air interdiction
Aerial reconnaissance
Part ofMarine Aircraft Group 13
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
Garrison/HQMarine Corps Air Station Yuma
Nickname(s)"Wake Island Avengers"
Tail CodeCF
EngagementsWorld War II
*Battle of Wake Island
*Bougainville campaign (1943–45)
*Philippines campaign (1944–45)
*Battle of the Bismarck Sea
*Battle of Leyte Gulf
Vietnam War
Operation Enduring Freedom
*Camp Bastion attack
Operation Iraqi Freedom
*2003 invasion of Iraq
Commanders
Commanding OfficerLtCol. Stephen R. Miggins
Executive OfficerMaj. Theresa A. Ghannoum
Notable
commanders		Gen. Vernon E. Megee
LtCol. Christopher K. Raible
Aircraft flown
AttackAD-4N Skyraider(1952–57)
A-4 Skyhawk(1957–89)
AV-8B Harrier II(1985–2016)
FighterGrumman F3F-2(1937–42)
Brewster F2A-3
F4F Wildcat(1941–43)
F4U Corsair(1943–52)
F-35B Lightning II(2016–present)

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211(VMFA-211) is aUnited States Marine Corpsfighter attack squadron, currently consisting ofF-35B Lightning IIstealthSTOVLstrike fighterjets. Known as the "Wake Island Avengers" and the "Bastion Defenders", the squadron is based atMarine Corps Air Station Yuma,Arizonaand falls under the command ofMarine Aircraft Group 13(MAG-13) and the3rd Marine Aircraft Wing(3rd MAW).

Mission

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To attack and destroy surface targets, intercept and destroy enemy aircraft, provide electronic warfare support, and network enabled reconnaissance support across the full spectrum of combat operations.[2]

History

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Early history

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Grumman F3Fs of VMF-2

VMFA-211 was commissioned on 1 January 1937 as Marine Fighting Squadron 4 (VF-4M) atNaval Air Station San Diego,California.[1][3]Although it was the second time a VF-4M had existed, it is not considered in the same squadron lineage. The previous VF-4M was commissioned in 1931 and decommissioned in 1933 but was re-designated as VF-8M in 1935. On 1 July 1937, VF-4M was re-designated Marine Fighting Squadron 2 (VMF-2) and by the end of the year, had completely reequipped withGrumman F3F-2swhich replaced their F3F-1s and a few even older F2F-1s. The squadron participated in annual Fleet Problems while at San Diego and even played a part in the making of the movieDive Bomber.Several future Medal of Honor recipients served with the squadron during this period, includingHenry Elrod,Robert Galer,andGregory Boyington.In January 1941, the squadron moved toMarine Corps Air Station Ewa,Hawaii and was re-designated VMF-211 on 1 July 1941.

World War II

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Wreckage of Captain Elrod'sF4F-3after the Japanese captured Wake Island

In November 1941, VMF-211 embarked 12 of its 24F4F-3 Wildcatsand 13 of its 29 pilots aboardUSSEnterprisefor movement toWake Island,the scene of the squadron's heroic battle, launching from the carrier and arriving at Wake on 3 December.[4]On 8 December 1941, the Japanese attacked Wake, destroying seven of the aircraft on the ground. Over the next two weeks, the remaining five planes repelled numerous attacks and inflicted great losses on the enemy.[3]

During the course of this defense, the Marine ground forces and VMF-211 caused the loss of at least four enemy warships, including the first major Japanese naval vessels sunk during the Pacific war. The squadron was also credited with 8 aircraft destroyed. After the loss of its last aircraft, the squadron became a ground unit and fought until the surrender of the atoll. The first Marine airman to be awarded theMedal of HonorinWorld War IIwas VMF-211'sHenry T. Elrod.A planned operation to reinforce Wake Island was deemed too dangerous by the fleet command, and on 23 December Wake Island was finally overrun by a numerically superior enemy.

VMF-211 F4U-4s onUSSCoral Seain 1952

The squadron's rear echelon atMarine Corps Air Station Ewalost all but one of its twelve F4F-3s during theattack on Pearl Harbor,and even this lone survivor was lost when it was transferred to theNavy.In February 1942, the squadron was commanded by futureMedal of HonorrecipientHarold W. Bauer.Slowly rebuilding as personnel and aircraft became available, the squadron, now under the command of Major Luther S. Moore was deployed in April 1942 toPalmyra Atollin theLine Islands[5]and adopted the name "Avengers" in memory of those squadron members who were killed or captured on Wake Island. When first deployed, VMF-211 was equipped with theBrewster F2A-3and it was not until July that sufficient numbers of GrummanF4F-4 Wildcatsbecame available to re-equip the squadron. As the Pacific Campaign continued the squadron transitioned to theF4U Corsairfor the remainder of the war. VMF-211 participated in theTreasury-Bougainville Campaign,Battle of the Bismarck Sea,Northern Solomon,Battle of Leyte Gulfand Southern Philippine campaigns.

After World War II

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A VMA-211 AD-4N overOnslow Beach

After World War II, VMF-211 participated in the occupation ofChinawhere they would eventually provide cover for American forces evacuating the country before the Communist takeover in December 1948.[6]Following this action they returned toMarine Corps Auxiliary Air Field Edenton,North Carolina,in 1949.[1]While operating aboardUSSCoral Seaon 30 June 1952, the squadron was re-designated Marine Attack Squadron 211 (VMA-211) when they transitioned to theAD-4N Skyraider.[7]In 1957, the squadron received its firstA4D-1 Skyhawksand subsequently moved toMarine Corps Air Station Iwakuniin Japan in 1958. VMA-211 flew several versions of the Skyhawk, receiving the A4D-2 (A-4B) in 1958, the A4D-2N (A-4C) in 1960, the A-4E in 1964, and the A-4M in 1976.[8]

Vietnam War

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VMA-211 A-4Es in 1971

With escalation of the Vietnam War, VMA-211 moved to IwakuniJapanin 1965 and commenced the first of four deployments toChu Lai Air Base,South Vietnam.LtCol. F.H. Thurston became the CO of the Squadron on 25 August 1967.

VMA-211 was deployed in the spring of 1972 toNaha Air Force Baseand on 16 May 1972 redeployed toBien Hoa Air Basein South Vietnam.[9]It reinforced the USAF8th Special Operations Squadronflying theA-37B Dragonfly,as well as F-4s tasked from Shaw AFB in support of operations against the North VietnamesePeople's Army of Vietnam(PAVN)Easter Offensive.

The other unit at Bien Hoa was anAH-1 Cobragunship squadron. The four different squadrons representing three branches of service were significant contributors to blunting, then rolling back the PAVN'ssiege of An Lộc,destroying significant numbers of PAVN armor being used for the first time in the war. VMA 211's A-4E were invaluable in close air support of the beleaguered ground troops in An Loc and surrounding areas. In August 1976, the squadron returned to MCAS El Toro.

Post Vietnam

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In September 1987, the squadron celebrated an aviation milestone when it passed 30 years of flying the McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. Following a UDP rotation to Westpac, VMA-211 relocated to MCAS Yuma, AZ on 10 December 1987 joining MAG-13.[3]After successfully completing the last overseas deployment with the A-4M Skyhawk in 1989, VMA-211 began transferring these aircraft to the4th Marine Aircraft Wingin preparation for transition to the AV-8B Night Attack aircraft. In June 1990 the squadron began flying the Night Attack variant of the Harrier. During this time the Avengers were awarded Marine Corps Aviation Association "Attack Squadron of the Year" three times, in 1995, 1996, and 1998.

In September 2000, the squadron began introduction of the latest Harrier variant, the AV-8B II+ radar aircraft. The squadron soon fielded a complement of both Radar and Night Attack Harriers.

Global War on Terror

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After the 11 September terror attacks, the squadron deployed to the Arabian Sea aboardUSSBonhomme Richard.The Avengers participated inOperation Enduring Freedom,flying combat missions against targets inAfghanistanfrom January to March 2002.

After a short break, the following January found the Avengers aboard USSBonhomme Richard.This time the squadron was headed for thePersian Gulf,in support ofOperation Iraqi Freedom(OIF). In one month of combat flying, the squadron flew over 360 sorties and 640 hours of flight time. The squadron returned toMarine Corps Air Station Yumain May 2003.

A VMA-211 Harrier II refueling over Iraq in October 2006

The squadron deployed to Iraq offUSSEssexfrom October 2004 through February 2005 where they were based atAl Asad Airbase.They again deployed to Al Asad fromUSSTarawain support of OIF from October 2005 until January 2006.

In September 2006, the Avengers again deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom toAl Asad Air Base.From January til August 2009, the squadron again deployed as part of the31st Marine Expeditionary Uniton board USSEssex.

In April 2012, the Avengers deployed in support ofOperation Enduring Freedom,moving fromKandahar Airfieldto British-runCamp Bastionin July.

While at Camp Bastion, the Avengers experienced six Harriers destroyed, and two severely damaged, during anattack on the basein September. Two Marines were also killed, including the squadron commander Lt. Col. Christopher K. Raible.[10][11][12]Occurring during the heat of the 2012 Presidential campaign, John Gresham on the Defense Media Network called this successful Taliban attack "arguably the worst day in [U.S. Marine Corps] aviation history since the Tet Offensive of 1968."[citation needed]

In September 2014, the Avengers deployed to Bahrain to support the fight on terrorism in Iraq and Syria until April 2015.

Transition to F-35B Lightning II

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A VMFA-211 F-35B in June 2016.

The Avengers conducted their last AV-8B Harrier flight on 6 May 2016 and received their first two F-35B Lightning IIs on 9 May. On 30 June 2016, VMA-211 was redesignated as VMFA-211, becoming the second fleet squadron in the Marine Corps to operate the F-35B Lightning II as their primary aircraft.

In September 2018 VMFA-211 deployed aboard USSEssexas part of theEssexAmphibious Ready Groupdeployed to theUnited States Central Commandarea of operations.[13]On 27 September 2018 an F-35B fromEssexcarried out an air strike using a precision-guided bomb against a Taliban position in Afghanistan, marking the first US combat use of the F-35.[14]

On 4 September 2020 the squadron deployed toRAF Marhamin theUnited Kingdom,with 10 F-35Bs.[15]The squadron trained alongside617 Squadronof theRoyal Air Forcein preparation for a deployment where the two squadrons formed the fixed-wing component embarked onHMSQueen Elizabethduring theUK Carrier Strike Group's debut deployment in 2021.[16]

Squadron Aces

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The following Marines from the squadron have been credited with more than five victories in aerial combats:

  • John C. Hundley - 6.0[17]
  • Julius W. Ireland - 5.333[18]

Awards

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See also

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References

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  1. ^abcRottman 2002,pp. 441.
  2. ^"Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211".Marines.mil.Retrieved8 May2024.
  3. ^abc"'Wildcat' to 'Harrier:' VMA-211 celebrates combat history ".University of Florida Digital Collections.Commander, Naval Air Forces. Fall 2009.Retrieved23 November2021.
  4. ^Shettle 2001,pp. 88.
  5. ^"Corrections to VMF-211 War Diaries from April, 1942 through September, 1942" Dated 21DEC1942; USMC, VMF-211, 4th Marine Aircraft Base Defense Wing, Fleet Marine Force
  6. ^Mersky 1983,pp. 121.
  7. ^"United States Marine Corps Muster Rolls - 1949-1953"(PDF).NARA.United States Marine Corps. p. 24.Retrieved23 November2023.
  8. ^"VMA-211 Wake Island Avengers".skyhawk.org.Archived fromthe originalon 20 August 2002.Retrieved13 January2022.
  9. ^"USMC Status of Forces January - June 1973"(PDF).usmcu.edu.United States Marine Corps. p. 172.Retrieved24 May2022.
  10. ^"Marine Attack Squadron loses eight Harrier jets in worst U.S. air loss in one day since the Vietnam War".theaviationist.16 September 2012.Retrieved2 November2017.
  11. ^Sterling, By Barbara Starr, Chris Lawrence and Joe (16 September 2012)."NATO releases details of brazen raid on base in Afghanistan - CNN".cnn.Retrieved2 November2017.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ^Rubin, Alissa J. (16 September 2012)."Taliban Raid on NATO Base Inflicted Severe Damage".The New York Times.Retrieved2 November2017– via nytimes.
  13. ^"Essex ARG 13th MEU with embarked F35B enters Central Command".US Navy. 11 September 2018. Archived fromthe originalon 12 September 2018.Retrieved12 September2018.
  14. ^"US Marine Corps' F-35B makes first air strike in Afghanistan".Flightglobal. 27 September 2018.Retrieved30 September2018.
  15. ^"US F-35 Jets arrive at RAF Marham".Royal Air Force.RAF MarHam. 4 September 2020.Retrieved5 October2020.
  16. ^"HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH WELCOMES UK AND US JETS FOR MAJOR EXERCISE".Royal Navy.23 September 2020.Retrieved5 October2020.
  17. ^Sherrod 1952,pp. 432.
  18. ^Tillman 2014,pp. 100.

Bibliography

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  • Mersky, Peter B. (1983).U.S. Marine Corps Aviation – 1912 to the Present.Nautical and Aviation Publishing Company of America.ISBN0-933852-39-8.
  • 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.ISBN0-313-31906-5.
Web
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