VMFA(AW)-121

Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 121
VMFA(AW)-121 insignia
Active	June 24, 1941 - present
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	Green Knights Wolfraiders (Korean War)
Motto	"Have Gun Will Travel"
Tail Code	VK
Engagements	World War II * Battle of Guadalcanal * Battle of New Georgia Korean War * Attack on the Sui-ho Dam Vietnam War Operation Desert Storm Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom * 2003 invasion of Iraq
Commanders
Current commander	LtCol Michael Waterman
Aircraft flown
Attack	AD-2 Skyraiders A-4 Skyhawk A-6 Intruder
Fighter	F4F Wildcat F4U Corsair F8F Bearcat F9F-8B Cougar F/A-18D Hornet

Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 121 (VMFA(AW)-121) is a United States Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet squadron. The squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 11 (MAG-11) and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (3rd MAW).

History

World War II

Squadron's logo when it was VMF-121

Marine Fighting Squadron 121 (VMF-121) was activated on June 24, 1941. The Green Knights began combat operations flying the F4F Wildcat and later the F4U Corsair as charter members of the Cactus Air Force and throughout the Battle of Guadalcanal. The squadron also fought from the forward air bases of Espirito Santo, Turtle Bay, Bougainville, and Emirau. On September 15, 1944, the Green Knights landed on Peleliu and fought there until July 25, 1945. They returned to the United States on board the USS Lookout (YAGR-2) to be deactivated on September 9, 1945^[1]. During the Pacific War, VMF-121 produced fourteen fighter aces, more than any other squadron, including Medal of Honor recipient, Major Joseph J. Foss. VMF-121 downed 208 Japanese aircraft^[2] (165 flying Wildcats and another 44 flying Corsairs) in aerial combat.

After WWII, the squadron was reactivated at United States and Naval Air Station, Glenview, Illinois where the squadron's designation was changed to Marine Attack Squadron 121 (VMA-121). During this time they flew a variety of aircraft including the F4U Corsair, F8F Bearcat and A-1 Skyraider.

Korean War

In mid 1951, VMA-121 received orders to activate its reserve members and departed Glenview, Illinois for Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California. After completion of training in the Skyraider, the Squadron was transported aboard the carrier USS Sikko Bay to Yokosuka, Japan to begin final preparations for a combat deployment to the Republic of Korea. In June 1953 they also set a then Marine record for a single day's ordnance delivery when 16 AD-2 Skyraiders dropped 156 tons of bombs during the attack on the Sui-ho Dam.^[3]

VMA-121 deployed to K-6 Airfield at Pyongtaek, Republic of Korea on October 19, 1951 and conducted their first strike on October 27. Their mission was to conduct strike missions in support of infantry operations. The squadron dropped more bomb tonnage during the Korean War than any other Navy or Marine Corps squadron, devastating enemy airfields, supply dumps, bridges, and railroad yards.

During the Korean War the Squadron insignia depicted Al Capp's "WolfGirl" from the comic strip L'il Abner. The "Wolf Raiders" of VMA-121 remained in South Korea for several years after the s:Korean Armistice Agreement was signed in 1953. Returning to MCAS El Toro in 1957, the squadron assumed its role in the Unit Deployment Program with scheduled rotations to Japan and traded in its AD Skyraider aircraft and joined the jet age with the F9F-8B. The Cougar equipped with the LABS system for loft bombing, was the first aircraft flown by the squadron capable of delivering nuclear weapons.

In late 1958, the Squadron traded the Cougars for brand new A-4 Skyhawks. Spending most of the next year at the likes of NAS Fallon, MCAS Yuma, and China Lake, the "Green Knights" became the first squadron to complete the entire special weapons delivery syllabus. During November 1962, the "Green Knights" deployed their new A-4s to NAS Cecil Field on the coast of Florida in response to the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Vietnam War

In August, 1966, the Green Knights ferried their Skyhawks to Chu Lai Air Base, Republic of Vietnam. After six months of combat operations, the Squadron rotated back to Iwakuni, Japan and Naha Air Base, Okinawa before returning to Chu-Lai for another combat tour in 1968. During the first six months of that deployment, VMA-121 supported 118 major operations. In early 1969 the Squadron was reconstituted at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina and newly designated VMA(AW)-121 to reflect the Squadron's transition to the all weather attack mission with the Grumman A-6 Intruder. The Green Knights were now capable of acquiring and destroying surface targets in any weather, day or night, with a wide variety of ordnance. The Green Knights were assigned at MCAS El Toro in the early 1980's.

The Gulf War & the 1990s

On December 8, 1989 the Squadron was redesignated as VMFA(AW)-121, becoming the first Marine Corps F/A-18D Night Attack Hornet Squadron. Slightly over one year later, the Squadron deployed in support of Operation Desert Storm. During the Desert Storm Air Campaign, the Squadron flew 557 sorties and 1,655.5 combat hours (more than any other Navy or Marine Corps tactical jet squadron).

Returning to El Toro following the cessation of hostilities, the Green Knights returned to the unit deployment rotation and relocated to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California during August 1994. The Green Knights made three deployments to the Western Pacific before returning to combat over Iraq in March 2000. The squadron flew 287 sorties in support of Operation Southern Watch while based at Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait.

Global War on Terror and beyond

In April 2002, the squadron deployed with six aircraft to Kyrgyzstan, followed by the remaining six aircraft and personnel a month later. The squadron flew more than 900 combat sorties over Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, returning to MCAS Miramar in October 2002.

Only 3 months after returning from Kyrgyzstan, the Green Knights deployed to Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait. From February to May 2003, the squadron flew more than 750 combat sorties over Iraq in support of Operation Southern Watch and Operation Iraqi Freedom, and returned to MCAS Miramar on May 12.

In March 2005, the squadron deployed as part of the Unit Deployment Program to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan. The squadron returned to MCAS Miramar on September 15, 2005.

In February 2007, the squardron deployed to Al Asad Air Base, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08.

The squadron deployed as part of the Unit Deployment Program to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan from September 2008 to March 2009, and from March 2010 to September 2010.

Recently, an F/A-18D from VMFA(AW)-121 crashed into the Pacific Ocean approximately 85 miles southwest of San Diego. Both pilot and WSO ejected safely.

Gallery

• 

  Capt. Joe Foss, VMF-121 Medal of Honor recipient

• 

  VMA-121 AD-2 Skyraider, Korea

• 

  Plaque located at Camp Mujuk, Korea that commemorates LtCol Alfred Nelson Gordon, CO of VMA-121 who died during the Korean War

• 

  VMA-121 F9F-8 Cougar at MCAS El Toro, 1958

• 

  An A4D-2 after a wave-off from USS Coral Sea in 1960/61.

• 

  An A-4E from VMA-121 landing at Chu Lai, March 1967.

• 

  A-6 Intruder of VMA(AW)-121

• 

  VMF(AW)-121 Hornet damaged during the Gulf War in 1991

See also

United States Marine Corps portal

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

References

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

Notes

1. ^ Former 'Green Knights' reunite after 60 years
2. ^ Sherrod History, p. 430.
3. ^ Mersky USMC Aviation, p. 144-5.

Bibliography

• Crowder, Michael J. United States Marine Corps Aviation Squadron Lineage, Insignia & History - Volume One - The Fighter Squadrons. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, 2000. ISBN 1-56311-926-9.
• Doll, Thomas. Marine Fighting Squadron One-Twenty-One (VMF121). Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publishing, Inc., 1996. ISBN 0-89747-369-8.
• Mersky, Peter B. U.S. Marine Corps Aviation — 1912 to the Present. Annapolis, Maryland: The Nautical and Aviation Publishing Company of America, 1983. ISBN 0-933852-39-8.
• Rottman, Gordon L. U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle - Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War, 1939-1945. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 2002. ISBN 0-313-31906-5.
• Sherrod, Robert. History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II. Washington, D.C.: Combat Forces Press, 1952. OCLC 1261876.

External links

• VMFA(AW)-121's official website
• VMA121.net
• The Bent Prop Project: The Swamp Corsair. Accessdate 2007-03-30.
• Video of a VMFA(AW)-121 F/A-18D aerial refueling