VMFA(AW)-225

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 225
Active	January 1, 1943
Country	United States
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Type	Fighter/Attack
Role	Close air support Air interdiction Aerial reconnaissance
Part of	Marine Aircraft Group 11 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
Garrison/HQ	Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
Nickname	"Vikings"
Tail Code	CE
Engagements	World War II Vietnam War Operation Iraqi Freedom
Commanders
Current commander	LtCol Jack Bolton
Aircraft flown
Attack	AD-4B Skyraider A-4 Skyhawk A-6 Intruder
Fighter	F4U Corsair F/A-18D Hornet

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 225 (VMFA-225) is a United States Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet squadron. The squadron, known as the "Vikings", is based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 11 (MAG-11) and 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (3rd MAW).

History

World War II

Unofficial first squadron logo during WWII when they were VMF-225

Marine Fighting Squadron 225 (VMF-225) was commissioned January 1, 1943 at Marine Corps Air Station Mojave, California.^[1] From August 1944 to January 1945, the F4U Corsairs of VMF-225 participated in numerous combat operations in the New Hebrides Islands.

Returning to the United States in February 1945, VMF-225 was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, with interim stops at MCAS Mojave and Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara, California.

Vietnam War

In the early 1960s the squadron had been trained for "special weapons" delivery. This meant they were certified to deliver nuclear weapons^[2] On June 1, 1965, skyhawks from VMA-225 were the first tactical fixed-wing aircraft to land at Chu Lai^[3] for participation in combat operations against Viet Cong forces in South Vietnam. Several hours after landing, Lieutenant Colonel Robert W. Baker, VMA-225 Commanding Officer, lead the first combat mission from the base striking the enemy six miles to the north.^[4]

VMA-225 returned to MCAS Cherry Point in October 1965. In April 1966 the Grumman built A-6 Intruder replaced the A-4 Skyhawk as the squadron's combat ready aircraft. With the advent of the Intruder and it's all weather capability, the squadron was redesignated VMA(AW)-225. While stationed at MCAS Cherry Point, VMA(AW)-225 provided air support for units of the 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic. The squadron also deployed several times to MCAS Yuma, Arizona, for live weapons training.

In January 1969, VMA(AW)-225 deployed to Danang Air Base, Vietnam. The primary mission of Marine All Weather Attack Squadron 225 was to provide close air support and direct air support for ground elements for allied forces in the I Corp area of South Vietnam. The squadron attacked and destroyed surface targets day and night, and in all weather conditions. A secondary mission was to utilize the Intruder's unique search radar Airborne Moving Target Indicator (AMTI) features in the interdiction of trucks on the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Southeast Asia. During May 1971, VMA(AW)-225 returned to MCAS El Toro, California, and the squadron was deactivated on June 15, 1972.

A Douglas AD-4B Skyraider of VMA-225 in 1956

The Gulf War & the 1990s

The squadron was reactivated on July 1, 1991, at MCAS El Toro, California, and redesignated as Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 225.

The Global War on Terror

VMFA(AW)-225 was the first Marine Corps fighter squadron deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The squadron was deployed in January 2003 from its home base at MCAS Miramar in San Diego, CA to Ahmed Al Jabar Air Base in Kuwait. From Kuwait, the "Vikings" took part in Operation Southern Watch, assisting the US Air Force in patrolling the Southern No-Fly-Zone set up by the United Nations in Iraq. In March 2003, VMFA(AW)-225 began flying combat sorties in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Joining 225 were other members of Marine Aircraft Group 11.

F/A18D "vikings" color scheme

See also

United States Marine Corps portal

• List of active United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons
• United States Marine Corps Aviation
• Organization of the United States Marine Corps

Notes

1. ^ "The Mojave Virtual Museum - The "Mojave Marines": Life at MCAAS Mojave". Mojave Transportation Museum. http://www.mojave.ca.us/museum/mcas-squadrons.htm. Retrieved 2008-06-25. 
2. ^ Lehrack (2004), p.31.
3. ^ Stoffey (1992), p.27.
4. ^ "H&MS-13 & MAG-13". The Skyhawk Association. http://www.a4skyhawk.com/4e/mag13/mag13.htm. Retrieved 2009-03-02. 

References

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

Bibliography

• Crowder, Michael J. (2000). United States Marine Corps Aviation Squadron Lineage, Insignia & History - Volume One - The Fighter Squadrons. Paducah, KY: Turner Publishing Company. ISBN 1-56311-926-9. 
• Lehrack, Otto (2004). The First Battle - Operation Starlite and the Beginning of the Blood Debt in Vietnam. Havertown, Pennsylvania: Casemate. ISBN 1-93203-327-0. 
• 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. ISBN 0-313-31906-5. 
• Sherrod, Robert (1952). History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II. Washington, D.C.: Combat Forces Press. 
• Stoffey, Bob (1993). Cleared Hot!: A Marine Combat Pilot's Vietnam Diary. St. Martin's Paperbacks. ISBN 0-31292-941-2. 

Web

• VMFA-225's official website
• "VMA-225 Vagabonds & Vikings". Skyhawk Association. http://www.skyhawk.org/4e/vma225/vma225.htm. Retrieved 2007-03-28.