VMFA-312

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Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312
F/A-18A/C/D Hornet

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 (VMFA-312) is a

F/A-18C Hornet squadron. Also known as the "Checkerboards", the squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 31 (MAG-31) and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
(2nd MAW). The Radio Callsign is "Check."

History

World War II

Marine Fighter Squadron 312 (VMF-312) was commissioned on 1 June 1943, at Page Field,

Technical Sergeant James R. Wroble.[4] In honor of their commanding officer, Major Richard M. Day, the men nicknamed their squadron "Day's Knights".[4] Also at this time, the Checkerboards emblem began to appear on both the cowling and rudder of the aircraft.[4]

VMF-312 launches from USS Hollandia off Okinawa, in April 1945.

In August 1943 the squadron was transferred to Marine Aircraft Group 32, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at the newly constructed Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. On 16 December 1943 the squadron received orders to prepare to move to the west coast of the United States beginning the first week of January 1944.[5] VMF-312 began movement to San Diego, California on 2 January 1944, eventually arriving at Miramar. The squadron departed MCAS Miramar on 28 February 1944 bound for Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Hawaii. VMF-312 trained at MCAS Ewa for three months and then headed out for Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides[6] to become part of Marine Aircraft Group 11 (MAG-11), 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (2nd MAW).[7]

Assigned to

Zeros and scored eight kills without a loss.[8] VMF-312 continued to operate from Kadena Air Base on Okinawa until the cessation of hostilities. By war's end, the squadron had accounted for 59.5 air combat kills in the Pacific Theater.[9]

Between September 1945 and February 1946 VMF-312 participated in the occupation force stationed on

Okinawa, Japan
.

1946-1950

Returning to the United States in February 1946, the squadron began operations at

F4U-4s, a higher performance model.[10]

The Korean War, 1950-1955

1st Marine Division during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir.[11] Redeployed in March 1951 aboard the light carrier USS Bataan (CVL-29), the Checkerboards were assigned escort and blockade missions.[12] Leaving the ship in June 1951, the squadron amassed 4,945 accident-free hours of carrier operations while logging 1,920 carrier landings. After a short period of ground-based close air support operations, the squadron returned to sea, first with Bairoko, then with Bataan, and later with Sicily.[13] On 1 March 1952, the squadron was redesignated as Marine Attack Squadron 312 (VMA-312).[14]

While aboard Bataan, the Checkerboards became the first piston engine squadron to shoot down a jet aircraft, when Captain Jesse Folmar shot down a

Marine Corps Air Station Miami, Florida.[16]

The 1960s through the 1990s

An FJ-2 of VMF-312, ca. in 1955.
An F-8E Crusader of VMF-312, ca. 1964.

The Panthers were replaced with

F-4B Phantom II, and redesignation as Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA-312). Crewed with a pilot and Radar Intercept Officer, and capable of speeds of up to mach
2, the Phantom served with VMFA-312 for over 20 years.

During the Vietnam War, the "Checkerboards" performed the vital mission of training combat aircrews prior to their deployment to Southeast Asia.[17] In 1973, the squadron received the newer F-4J aircraft, with its much improved radar and avionics, as well as improved aerodynamic design.

In 1979, the Checkerboards became the first 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing fighter squadron to deploy to the

F/A-18A Hornet.

VMFA-312 F-4S in 1986.

In 1993, VMFA-312 participated in Operation Provide Promise and Operation Deny Flight over Yugoslavia. They also flew missions over Iraq in support of Operation Southern Watch while operating from the Red Sea.

In March 1995, the squadron deployed once again with

Carrier Air Wing 8 aboard Theodore Roosevelt for its second consecutive Mediterranean deployment. During the cruise, VMFA-312 participated in Operations Southern Watch from the Red Sea and Persian Gulf, then Operation Sharp Guard and Operation Deny Flight from the Adriatic Sea
.

In late August and September 1995, the "Checkerboards" conducted their first direct combat sorties since Vietnam in support of the United Nations resolutions in Operation Deliberate Force. NATO's decision to conduct immediate air strikes against Bosnian-Serb ammunition bunkers, communication and control facilities, and logistical storage buildings heavily tasked both the air wing and the Checkerboards.

The Checkerboards along with

AGM-154 JSOW
and (6) over 95,500 lb of ordnance loaded. In the four nights of operations, the "Checkerboards" had zero injuries or casualties.

An F/A-18C of VMFA-312 launches from USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), in 2010.

Carrier Air Wing Three entered the North Persian Gulf and began Operation Southern Watch missions on 3 January 2001. On 20 January, a VMFA-312 jet destroyed an anti-aircraft artillery site, which was threatening coalition aircraft in Southern Iraq. On 16 February, five VMFA-312 aircraft participated in a large force strike against numerous targets in the vicinity of Baghdad.

Global War on Terror

The Checkerboards deployed aboard

Operation Iraqi Freedom
(OIF). In November, VMFA-312 became the first squadron in the carrier air-wing to release ordnance in support of OIF. The Checkerboards remained in their area of operations until the end of January before transiting towards home.

The Checkerboards deployed several more times in support of

Global War on Terror. They deployed in 2010 aboard the Harry S. Truman and aboard the Theodore Roosevelt in 2017-2018.[18]

Notable former members

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Rottman 2002, pp. 443.
  2. ^ DeChant 1947, pp. 225.
  3. ^ Crowder 2000, pp. 114.
  4. ^ a b c Sambito 1978, pp. 1.
  5. ^ "3d Marine Aircraft Wing Operations Order 8-43" (PDF). United States Marine Corps. 16 December 1943. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  6. ^ Sherrod 1952, pp. 467.
  7. ^ Sambito 1978, pp. 21.
  8. ^ Tillman 1979, pp. 143.
  9. ^ Shettle 2001, pp. 122.
  10. ^ Crowder 2000, pp. 117.
  11. ^ Crowder (2000), p.118.
  12. ^ Tillman 1979, pp. 167–68.
  13. ^ Crowder 2000, pp. 119.
  14. ^ "United States Marine Corps Muster Rolls - 1949-1953" (PDF). NARA. United States Marine Corps. p. 24. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  15. ^ Tillman 1979, pp. 171–73.
  16. ^ Mersky 1983, pp. 194.
  17. ^ Crowder 2000, pp. 120.
  18. ^ "About".
  19. ^ "Marine Corps pilot Robert Klingman took down enemy using his propeller". We Are The Mighty. 23 February 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
Bibliography
Web

External links

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