History VMFA-211

1 history

1.1 history
1.2 world war ii
1.3 after world war ii
1.4 vietnam war
1.5 post vietnam
1.6 global war on terror
1.7 transition f-35b lightning ii

history
early history

grumman f3fs of vmf-2

vmfa-211 can trace lineage 1 january 1937 when marine fighting squadron 4 (vf-4m) activated @ naval air station san diego, california. although second time vf-4m had existed, previous 1 decommissioned in 1931 , not considered same squadron. squadron decommissioned in 1933 recommissioned vf-8m in 1935. on 1 july 1937, vf-8m re-designated marine fighting squadron 2 (vmf-2) , end of year, had reequipped grumman f3f-2s replaced f3f-1s , few older f2f-1s. squadron participated in annual fleet problems while @ san diego , played part in making of movie dive bomber. several future medal of honor recipients served squadron during period, including henry elrod, robert galer, , gregory boyington. in january 1941, squadron moved marine corps air station ewa, hawaii , re-designated vmf-211 on july 1, 1941.

world war ii

wreckage of capt elrod s f4f-3 after japanese captured wake island

in november 1941, vmf-211 embarked 12 of 24 f4f-3 wildcats , 13 of 29 pilots aboard uss enterprise movement wake island, scene of squadron s heroic battle. on december 8, 1941 japanese attacked wake, destroying 7 of aircraft on ground. on next 2 weeks, remaining 5 planes repelled numerous attacks , inflicted great losses on enemy.

during course of defense, marine ground forces , vmf-211 caused loss of @ least 4 enemy warships, including first major japanese naval vessels sunk during pacific war. squadron credited 8 aircraft destroyed. after loss of last aircraft, squadron became ground unit , fought until surrender of atoll. first marine airman awarded medal of honor in world war ii vmf-211 s henry t. elrod. planned operation reinforce wake island deemed dangerous fleet command, , on december 23 wake island overrun numerically superior enemy.

vmf-211 f4u-4s on coral sea in 1952

the squadron s rear echelon @ marine corps air station ewa lost 1 of twelve f4f-3s during attack on pearl harbor, , lone survivor lost when transferred navy. in february 1942, squadron commanded future medal of honor recipient harold w. bauer. rebuilding personnel , aircraft became available, squadron, under command of major luther s. moore deployed in may 1942 palmyra atoll in south pacific , adopted name avengers in memory of squadron members killed or captured on wake island. when first deployed, vmf-211 equipped brewster f2a-3 , not until july sufficient numbers of grumman f4f-4 wildcats became available re-equip squadron. pacific campaign continued squadron transitioned f4u corsair remainder of war. vmf-211 participated in treasury-bougainville campaign, battle of bismarck sea, northern solomon, battle of leyte gulf , southern philippine campaigns.

after world war ii

a vma-211 ad-4n on onslow beach

after world war ii, vmf-211 participated in occupation of china provide cover american forces evacuating country before communist takeover in december 1948. following action returned marine corps auxiliary air field edenton, north carolina, in 1949. while operating aboard uss coral sea (cv-43) in 1952, squadron redesignated marine attack squadron 211 (vma-211) when transitioned ad-4n skyraider. in 1957, squadron received first a4d-1 skyhawks , subsequently moved marine corps air station iwakuni in japan in 1958. vma-211 flew several versions of skyhawk, receiving a4d-2 (a-4b) in 1958, a4d-2n (a-4c) in 1960, a-4e in 1964, , a-4m in 1976.

vietnam war

vma-211 a-4es in 1971

with escalation of vietnam war, vma-211 moved iwakuni japan in 1965 , commenced first of 4 deployments republic of vietnam chu lai. ltcol. f.h. thurston became co of squadron on august 25, 1967. in august 1976, squadron returned mcas el toro.

vma-211 deployed in spring of 1972 naha air force base on okinawa , within 3 months redeployed bien hoa air base in viet nam. strategic american fighting unit left in viet nam except small army air cav unit in bien hoa.

post vietnam

in september 1987, squadron celebrated aviation milestone when passed 30 years of flying mcdonnell douglas a-4 skyhawk. after completing last overseas deployment a-4m skyhawk in 1989, vma-211 began transferring these aircraft 4th marine aircraft wing in preparation transition av-8b night attack aircraft. in june 1990 squadron began flying night attack variant of harrier. during time avengers awarded marine corps aviation association attack squadron of year 3 times, in 1995, 1996, , 1998.

in september 2000, squadron began introduction of latest harrier variant, av-8b ii+ radar aircraft. squadron fielded complement of both radar , night attack harriers.

global war on terror

after september 11 terror attacks, squadron deployed arabian sea aboard uss bonhomme richard (lhd-6). avengers participated in operation enduring freedom, flying combat missions against targets in afghanistan january march 2002.

after short break, following january found avengers aboard uss bonhomme richard. time squadron headed persian gulf, in support of operation iraqi freedom (oif). in 1 month of combat flying, squadron flew on 360 sorties , 640 hours of flight time. squadron returned marine corps air station yuma in may 2003.

a vma-211 harrier ii refueling on iraq in october 2006

the squadron deployed iraq off uss essex (lhd-2) october 2004 through february 2005 based @ al asad airbase. again deployed al asad uss tarawa in support of oif october 2005 until january 2006.

in september 2006, avengers again deployed in support of operation iraqi freedom al asad air base. january til august 2009, squadron again deployed part of 31st marine expeditionary unit on board uss essex (lhd-2).

in april 2012, avengers deployed in support of operation enduring freedom, moving kandahar airfield british-run camp bastion in july.

while @ camp bastion, avengers experienced 6 harriers destroyed, , 2 severely damaged, during attack on base in september. 2 marines killed, including squadron commander ltcol. christopher k. raible. occurring during heat of 2012 presidential campaign, john gresham on defense media network called successful taliban attack arguably worst day in [u.s. marine corps] aviation history since tet offensive of 1968.

in september 2014, avengers deployed bahrain support fight on terrorism in iraq , syria until april 2015.

transition f-35b lightning ii

a vmfa-211 f-35b in june 2016.

the avengers conducted last av-8b harrier flight on 6 may 2016 , received first 2 f-35b lightning iis on 9 may. on 30 june 2016, vma-211 redesignated vmfa-211, becoming second fleet squadron in marine corps operate f-35b lightning ii primary aircraft.