VMFA(AW)-224

Marine Corps All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224
Active	May 1, 1942 - present
Country	United States
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Type	All Weather Fighter/Attack
Role	Close air support Air interdiction Aerial reconnaissance
Part of	Marine Aircraft Group 31 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
Garrison/HQ	Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort
Nickname	"Fighting Bengals" Fighting Wildcats (WWII)[1]
Tail Code	WK
Engagements	World War II * Battle of Guadalcanal * Battle of Okinawa Vietnam War Operation Desert Storm Operation Joint Endeavor Operation Iraqi Freedom
Commanders
Current commander	LtCol Peter L. McArdle
Aircraft flown
Attack	A4D Skyhawk A-6 Intruder
Fighter	F4F Wildcat F4U Corsair F2H-2 Banshee F9F Panther F/A-18D Hornet

Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224 (VMFA(AW)-224) is a United States Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet squadron. Also known as the "Bengals", 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).

Mission

Attack and destroy surface targets, day or night, under the weather; conduct multi-sensor imagery reconnaissance; provide supporting arms coordination; and intercept and destroy enemy aircraft under all-weather conditions.

History

World War II

Marine Fighter Squadron 224 (VMF-224) was commissioned on May 1, 1942 at Naval Air Station Barbers Point, Hawaii. Flying Grumman F4F Wildcats, the Bengals entered World War II as part of the Cactus Air Force stationed on Henderson Field, Guadalcanal. Led by Medal of Honor recipient Maj Robert Galer, the squadron accounted for over sixty Japanese aircraft being destroyed in less than two months. The squadron also conducted close air support (CAS) missions while under constant attack from Japanese naval, air, and ground forces. VMF-224’s contributed significantly to the American victory during the Guadalcanal Campaign, which in turn, helped stem the tide of the Japanese advance across the Southern Pacific and secured a crucial foothold in the long island-hopping campaign against Japan.

Squadron logo when they were VMF-224

After Guadalcanal, the squadron was refitted with the Vought F4U Corsair and participated in the Marshall Islands Campaign. The spring of 1945 found VMF-224 participating in the last great battle of the Pacific Campaign. During the Battle of Okinawa the squadron operated for the duration of the campaign from the newly captured airfield at Yomitan. Throughout the struggle for Okinawa, the Bengals flew infantry support and counter air missions accounting for an additional fifty-five enemy aircraft being destroyed.

1950s - 1970s

The squadron entered the jet era in 1951 with the acceptance of the F2H-2 Banshee. In 1952, after completing a Mediterranean Cruise aboard the USS Roosevelt, the squadron accepted the Grumman F9F Panther, and was re-designated Marine Attack Squadron 224 (VMA-224).

A newly delivered F4U-5 at MCAS Cherry Point in 1948

On September 29, 1956, the squadron became the first Marine unit to field the A4D Skyhawk aircraft^[2].^[3] In 1965, the Bengals deployed to South Vietnam as part of the United States' buidup during the Vietnam War. For nearly a year the Bengals operated their “Scooters” from the expeditionary field at Chu Lai. On November 1, 1966, the squadron acquired the Grumman A-6 Intruder and was re-designated as Marine All Weather Attack Squadron 224 (VMA(AW)-224). In 1971, the Bengals deployed to the South China Sea aboard the USS Coral Sea (CV-43). As part of Carrier Air Wing 15, the squadron completed six line periods on Yankee Station and participated in numerous operations including the historic mining of Hai Phong Harbor.

The Gulf War & the 1990s

An A-6 Intruder from VMA(AW)-224 on the flightline at MCAS Cherry Point in 1984.

The Bengals deployed to Southwest Asia, on August 28, 1990. Operating from Shaikh-Isa Air Base, Bahrain the squadron participated in Operation Desert Shield. From January 16, to February 28, 1991, the Bengals participated in Operation Desert Storm, expending more than 2.3 million pounds of ordnance during 422 combat sorties.

An F/A-18D from VMFA(AW)-224 at Aviano Airbase during Operation Joint Endeavor.

Shortly after their return to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, on May 24, 1992, the Bengals celebrated their 50th anniversary. Less than a year later on March 5, 1993, the squadron was re-designated VMFA(AW)-224 and moved to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina where the Bengals received the multi-mission F/A-18D Hornet.

A tigerstripe-painted F/A-18D of VMFA(AW)-224 at Al Asad.

From April to September 1994 the Bengals deployed to Aviano, Italy, as part of the United Nations force for Operation Deny Flight and Operation Provide Promise in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The squadron flew 1150 sorties for 3485 flight hours including 1150 night hours. The Marines of VMFA(AW)-224 again deployed to Aviano, Italy in September 1995, as part of NATO Operation Deliberate Force and Operation Joint Endeavor.

Global War on Terror

On January 11, 2005, VMFA(AW)-224 deployed to Al Asad Airbase, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). While in support of OIF, the Bengals employed 65,225 lb of ordnance and flew over 2500 sorties and 7000 hours in direct support of Marine, Army and Coalition ground units. On March 12, 2010 an F/A-18D Hornet from the squadron crashed 35 miles off the coast of St. Helena Sound north of Beaufort due to an engine fire. The pilot and Weapons Systems Officer were able to safely eject.^[4]

Misc

See also

United States Marine Corps portal

• United States Marine Corps Aviation
• List of active United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons
• List of inactive United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons

Notes

1. ^ DeChant (1947), p.225.
2. ^ "McDONNELL-DOUGLAS A-4M "SKYHAWK"". Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation and Aviation Museum. http://www.flyingleathernecks.org/jets.html#skyhawk. Retrieved 2007-12-16. 
3. ^ SKYHAWK - "FIRST & LAST" MILESTONES
4. ^ 2 Marine fighter pilots rescued; SC crash probed

References

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

Bibliography

• De Chant, John A. (1947). Devilbirds - The Story of United States Marine Aviation in World War II. New York: Harper & Brothers. pp. 4–5. 
• 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. 

Web

• VMFA(AW)-224's official website

External links

• Video recounting VMFA(AW)-224's 2005 deployment to Iraq