VMA-311

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= Marine Attack Squadron 311


caption= VMA-311 insignia
dates= *December 1, 1942 - present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= USMC
type= Attack
role= Close air support
Air interdiction
Aerial reconnaissance
size=
command_structure= Marine Aircraft Group 13
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
current_commander=
garrison= Marine Corps Air Station Yuma
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= Tomcats
Hells Belles (WWII)
patron=
motto=
colors=WL
colors_label=Tail Code
march=
mascot=
battles= World War II
* Battle of Okinawa
Korean War
* Attack on the Sui-ho Dam
Vietnam War
* Operation Starlite
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Iraqi Freedom
* 2003 invasion of Iraq
aircraft_fighter= SNJ Texan
F4U Corsair
TO-1 Shooting Star
F9F Panther
A4D-2 Skyhawk
AV-8B Harrier II
anniversaries=

Marine Attack Squadron 311 (VMA-311) is a United States Marine Corps fighter squadron consisting of AV-8B Harrier (V/STOL) jets. Known as the "Tomcats", the squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 13 (MAG-13) and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (3rd MAW).

History

World War II

Born during the national call-to-arms immediately following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Marine Fighting Squadron 311 (VMF-311) was first organized on December 1, 1942. Quickly transitioning from a training squadron flying the SNJ Texan to a combat squadron flying the F4U Corsair, VMF-311 participated in what was one of the earliest American catapult operations involving the Corsair when 21 F4U’s launched from the USS Nassau (CVE-16) on October 6, 1943. During World War II, VMF-311 was one of the first to utilize and develop tactics for the Corsair in a ground attack mode, foreshadowing the squadron’s future role as an attack squadron. Indicative of its combat effectiveness the squadron destroyed 71 Japanese aircraft in a four-month period during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945.

Korean War

In 1949 VMF-311 became the first West Coast Marine jet squadron when it started flying the TO-1 Shooting Star. Coincidently the squadron was re-designated Marine Fighter Squadron 311 (VMF-311). The squadron quickly transitioned to the F9F Panther in October 1949 and found itself once again preparing for war by November 1950. Arriving in Korea on December 7, 1950, VMF-311 was the first land-based Marine jet squadron to be used in combat providing close air support for the Marines and Soldiers on the groundcite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = F9F-2 Panther
work =
publisher = National Museum of Naval Aviation
date =
url = http://collections.naval.aviation.museum/emuwebdoncoms/pages/doncoms/Display.php?irn=16001491&QueryPage=%2FDtlQuery.php
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-12-16 ] . In late-June 1952 the squadron participate in the attack on the Sui-ho DamAdditionally the squadron pioneered strip-alert tactics still practiced today. Legendary pilots during this era included Senator John Glenn and baseball star Ted Williams. In over 2 ½ years of action in Korea the squadron amassed 18,851 combat sorties. In 1957, the squadron finally was re-designated Marine Attack Squadron 311 (VMA-311). The nickname “Tomcats” was also bestowed during this era.

Vietnam War

The first A4D-2 Skyhawk was received by the "Tomcats" in the summer of 1958, initiating 30 years of Skyhawk service. In May of 1965 the squadron, now flying A4E's, deployed to Chu Lai in the Republic of Vietnam and on June 2, they conducted their first combat mission of the Vietnam War. In August 1965, VMA-311 supported the 7th Marine Regiment in Operation Starlite -- the first major American operation of the war. [Lehrack "The First Battle", p.68.] After almost eight years of operations in Vietnam the Tomcats totaled 54,625 combat sorties before leaving in January of 1973. Among the sortie count was an amazing four-day sortie total of 240 from 5 to 8 May 1968 in support of their fellow marines during the Battle of Khe Sahn. During most of their time they were based at Chu Lai [Dorr "Marine Air", p.205.] . In May of 1972 VMA-311 once again deployed to Vietnam with MAG-12 Forward to Bien Hoa, Vietnam.

The Gulf War

In 1988 VMA-311 received its first AV-8B Harrier and shortly thereafter headed into harm’s way again. On August 11, 1990, after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, VMA-311 deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield, leading all other Marine fixed-wing squadrons into Saudi Arabia. While there, the Tomcats were the most forward deployed fixed-wing squadron. On January 17, 1991 while in support of Operation Desert Storm the squadron became the first to utilize the AV-8B in combat when a flight of four destroyed an Iraqi artillery position.

Global War on Terror

On November 3, 2001, VMA-311 Harriers attached to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked aboard the USS "Peleliu" became the first Harriers to fly combat missions in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom.

On January 15, 2003, the Marines of VMA-311 deployed to the Northern Persian Gulf as part of Amphibious Task Force West. On March 21, 2003, almost 59 years to the day after VMF-311’s first combat sortie in World War II, the Tomcats flew their first combat sortie of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During the war they flew over 550 sorties while dropping 77 tons of precision ordnance, destroying or neutralizing 132 Iraqi targets while operating from two amphibious assault carriers, the USS "Bonhomme Richard" and the USS "Tarawa", a feat unmatched by any other squadron. The Tomcats returned from the Persian Gulf on July 24, 2003.

Squadron aces

A flying ace or fighter ace is a naval aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The following Marines from VMA-311 have been credited with more than five victories:

See also

* United States Marine Corps Aviation
* List of United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons

Notes

References

:Marine Corps

;Bibliography
*cite book
title=Marine Air - The History of the Flying Leathernecks in Words and Photos
author=Dorr, Robert F.
date = 2005
publisher=Penguin Books
id=ISBN 0-425-20725-0
*cite book
last = Lehrack
first = Otto
authorlink =
title = The First Battle - Operation Starlite and the Beginning of the Blood Debt in Vietnam
publisher = Casemate
date = 2004
location = Havertown, Pennsylvania
doi =
id = ISBN 1-93203-327-0

;Web
* [http://www.3maw.usmc.mil/mag13/vma311/default.asp VMA-311's official webpage]

External links

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zbpp2ZQha0w VMA-311 video from the 2003 invasion of Iraq]