VMA-231

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Marine Attack Squadron 231
Image:Vma231-logo.gif VMA-231 Insignia
Active	February 8, 1919 - August 31, 1962 May 15, 1973 - present
Country	United States
Branch	USMC
Type	VSTOL Squadron
Role	Close air support Air interdiction aerial reconnaissance
Part of	Marine Aircraft Group 14 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
Garrison/HQ	Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
Nickname	Ace of Spades
Battles/wars	Battle of Octal World War II Operation Desert Storm Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom

Marine Attack Squadron 231 (VMA-231) is a United States Marine Corps fixed wing attack squadron that consists of AV-8B Harrier (V/STOL) jets. The squadron, known as the "Ace of Spades", is based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina and is attached to Marine Aircraft Group 14 (MAG-14), 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (2nd MAW).

1 History
2 See also
3 References
4 External links

[edit] History

[edit] Early years

VMA-231 began as the 1st Division, Squadron 1, on February 8, 1919, a unit that emerged from the Northern Bombing Group of Northern France in 1918. By the end of February, the newly activated squadron arrived in Santo Domingo for duty with the Second Brigade where, it served until July 1924. During its deployment to Santo Domingo, the squadron was designated Marine Observation Squadron One (VO-1M) on 1 July 1922

From Santo Domingo the squadron traveled to San Diego, California and became the first Marine squadron on the West Coast and was designated as the aviation assest to accompany Marine Expeditionary Forces. During the West Coast interlude, the late Major General Ross E. Rowell, then a Major and Commanding Officer concentrated on training in dive-bombing tactics. Such tactics were to prove invaluable to the squadron in Nicaragua, during July 1927, where the squadron had been ordered the previous February. Shortly after its redesignation on 1 July 1927 to VO-8M, the squadron participated in the Battle of Octal on 16 July when ten personnel of the squadron came to the rescue of the beleaguered Marine garrison at Ocotal and executed the first recorded dive bombing attack against an organized enemy, dispersing the insurgents and saving the garrison. Among the first Marine Aviators ever to receive the Distinguished Flying Cross were Major Rowell and Lieutenant Hayne Boyden, to whom it was awarded for their participation in the Battle of Ocotal.

Returning to San Diego in 1928, the squadron traded in its World War I era O2B-1s for new Curtiss F8C-1s and F8C-3s, which were soon redesignated OC-1s and OC-2s. Shortly after receiving the F8C/OCs, the squadron, along with VO-10M took part in the filing of the 1929 movie "Flight" and later the movie "Devil Dogs of the Air." As Marine aviation reorganized and consolidated in the early 1930s, several long established squadrons ceased to exist, and on 1 July 1933, VO-8M was deactivated. Unlike the fate that befell her sister squadrons, VO-8M was reactivated on 15 November 1934 when it was decided to deactivate VS-14M and VS-15M and use the aircraft and personnel from these two carrier squadrons to reorganize VO-8M. Equipped with Vought O3U-6 "Corsairs" the squadron continued to operate from San Diego and participated in the annual Fleet Problems, operating from the carriers USS Langley, USS Ranger, and USS Saratoga at different times. In 1936, the squadron was selected to represent Marine aviation at the National Air Races was still flying the O3U-6 when it was redesignated Marine Scouting Squadron Two (VMS-2) on 1 July 1937. Later that year, the squadron traded in its "Corsairs" for Curtiss SOC-3 Seagulls a type it would operate for the next four years.

With the rest of Marine Air Group Two, the squadorn deployed to Ewa, Territory of Hawaii in January 1941, and was the second sqaudron to receive the new Vought SB2U-3 "Vindicator," eventually receiving 27 of the type in 1941. Along with the new aircraft came a new designation, and on July 1, 1941, the squadron was redesignated Marine Scout-Bombing Squadron Two Thirty-One (VMSB-231.) With the prospect of war growing, the squadron was embarked upon the USS Lexington the first week of December and was on its way to Midway when word of the attack on Pearl Harbor reached the carrier.

[edit] World War II

Although the squadron was aboard the U.S.S. Lexington during the attack on Pearl Harbor, the rear echelon still at Ewa suffered the loss of 7 of the spare SB2U-3s which had been left behind. The squadron returned to Ewa on 10 December, but one week later it was headed back to Midway, but not aboard a carrier. Fitted with an extra fuel tank and accompanied by a PBY acting as a plane guard, the squadron conducted the longest overwater flight by single engine aircraft on record at that time and arrived at Midway without the loss of a single aircraft or crew. Setteling in at Midway, the squadron flew routine patrols and awaited the expected Japanese attack. On 1 March 1942, while still at Midway, the squadron was split in two when VMSB-241 was created and the two squadrons operated side by side, even flying the same aircraft. Shortly thereafter, VMSB-231 was officially transferred back to Ewa, but a majority of its personnel and all of its aircraft remained at Midway.

Reorganizing at Ewa, the squadron received Douglas SBDs and was transferred to Marine Aircraft Group 23 (MAG-23). Slowly receiving new SBD-3s and pilots, the squadron was notified in July that it would be deployed for duty beyoned the seas. Along with VMF-224, the squadron constituted the rear echelon of MAG-23 and was loaded aboard the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), an aircraft transport, the last week of August and shipped to the South Pacific. Arriving at Espiritu Santo, the squadron's aircraft were craned over to the escort carrier Long Island, and then catapulted off to the airfield. This was necessary due to the fact that no dock or yard facilities were available to facilitate the off-loading of the aircraft as would normally be done. After spending the night at Espiritu Santo, the squadron flew to Guadalcanal on 30 August 1942, arriving right before the daily air-raid. The squadron remained on the island until November 2, 1942 when they were shipped back to Naval Air Station San Diego on November 19 and then moved further north to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro in January of 1943.

The squadron again deployed to the Pacific Theater and began operations bombing by-passed Japanese garrisons in the Marshall Islands on February 4, 1944. In October of that year, they were redesignated VMBF-231 and converted to the F4U Corsair. Two months later on December 30, they reverted back to the name VMSB-231 and remained in the Marshalls until August 1945. During the course of World War II the squadron was credited with downing 7 Japanese aircraft in air to air engagements. <ref>Sherrod, Robert. (1952). History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II. pp. 430, 464. Combat Forces Press. ISBN 0-933852-58-4.</ref>

[edit] Post war years

The squadron served in a reserve status as VMF-231 in Akron, Ohio and Grosse Ile Township, Michigan until they were deactivated on August 31, 1962.

[edit] 1970s & 1980s

VMA-231 was reactivated on May 15, 1973, and the Marine Corps' oldest squadron became the Corps' newest, flying the Corps' newest aircraft, the Hawker-Siddeley AV-8A Harrier. The AV-8A was a high performance, high speed jet aircraft that was uniquely capable of vertical and short take off and landing (VSTOL).

October 4, 1976 saw VMA-231 deploying to the Mediterranean aboard USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42) with Carrier Air Wing 19. VMA-231’s journey included visits to Spain, Italy, Sicily, Kenya, and Egypt. Highlights of the cruise included a transit of the Suez Canal aboard USS Guam (LPH-9) and participation of VMA-231 in Kenya's Independence Day celebration by twelve AV-8A aircraft. VMA-231 rejoined the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing on April 20, 1977, as the squadron safely returned to MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina. Also in 1977, VMA-231 was named V/STOL Squadron of the Year, becoming the first recipient of this award.