- VMFA-235
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Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 235 
VMFA-235 InsigniaActive January 1, 1943 – June 14, 1996 Country United States Allegiance United States of America Branch United States Marine Corps Type Attack Role Close air support
Air interdiction
Aerial reconnaissancePart of Deactivated Nickname "Death Angels" Motto “Ride Nunc”
“Laugh Now”Tail Code DB Engagements World War II'
* Operation Cartwheel
* Battle of Bougainville
Vietnam War
Operation Desert StormMarine Fighter Attack Squadron 235 (VMFA-235) was a United States Marine Corps fighter squadron that most recently flew F/A-18 Hornets . Known as the "Death Angels", the squadron participated in action during World War II, the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm and were decommissioned on June 14, 1996.
Contents
History
World War II
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron was commissioned on January 1, 1943 at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California as Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 235 (VMSB-235). During World War II they flew the SBD Dauntless and participated in Operation Cartwheel, the Battle of Bougainville and operations in and around Rabaul. The squadron was decommissioned on November 10, 1944.
1950s
FJ-3 Furies of VMF-235, 1957.
The squadron was recalled to active duty in September 1950 as part of Marine Aircraft Group 15 at MCAS El Toro flying the F4U Corsair. In September 1952 they transitioned to the F9F Panther and in March 1954 they again transitioned to the FJ Fury. In 1957 the squadron relocated to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort.
A VMF(AW)-235 F-8E at Da Nang, South Vietnam, in 1966.The Vietnam War
VMF(AW)-235 deployed to Vietnam on February 1, 1966 flying the F-8E Crusader. Between February 2 and November 15, 1966 the “Death Angels” flew over 6,000 combat sorties in support of over 22 major operations.[1] They returned to Vietnam on February 15, 1967 this time for over a year until May 11, 1968. They were the last active duty Crusader squadron. Upon leaving Vietnam, the squadron moved to Marine Corps Base Hawaii and transitioned to the F-4 Phantom.
The 1980s & 1990s
A VC-1 A-4E refueling a F-4J of VMFA-235 in 1977
Ordnance on a VMFA-235 Hornet during Operatin Desert Storm, 1991.In November 1989, VMF(AW)-235 transitioned to the F/A-18 Hornet and were renamed Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 235 (VMFA-235). After Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in August 1990, the squadron was deployed to the Shaikh Isa Air Base, Bahrain, on August 22, 1990 in support of Operation Desert Shield. They were the first Fighter squadron in theater, and were recognized with the "Phoenix Award", a highly prestigious Department of Defense award, for outstanding performance. During Operation Desert Storm they flew over 2800 sorties in support of coalition forces. In March, 1990, after seven months of operations, VMFA-235 redeployed to MCAS Kaneohe Bay.
The squadron moved to MCAS El Toro in 1994 and was attached to Marine Aircraft Group 11. They moved again to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in 1996 and were decommissioned later that year on June 14.
See also
- Orson Swindle
- United States Marine Corps Aviation
- List of active United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons
- List of inactive United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons
Notes
References
- 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.
- Mersky, Peter B. (1983). U.S. Marine Corps Aviation - 1912 to the Present. Nautical and Aviation Publishing Company of America. ISBN 0-933852-39-8.
- 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
Categories:- United States Marine Corps fixed wing squadrons
- Inactive units of the United States Marine Corps
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