Tag Archives: VMFA-312

Checkerboard Fury: 110,743 rounds on Deployment

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From the February 1959 issue of Navy Aviation News comes this article about the month-long deployment of the “Checkerboards” of Marine Fighter Squadron (VMF) 312 to Cuba.

Sent “down south” during the height of the Cuban Revolution, their 24 FJ-2 Furies flew 1,300 flight hours of diplomacy and fired over 110,743 rounds in air-to-air target quals from their Colt Mk 12 cannons– that’s a lot of 20 Mike Mike!

VMF-312 hung up their FJ-2/3s for the F8U-1 Crusader in 1959, then became VMFA-312 when they moved to the monstrous F-4B Phantom in 1966, which they took to Vietnam.

In 1987, they became F-18C/Ds drivers, which they took to Bosnia and Iraq.

A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18C Hornet aircraft with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 312 flies loaded with six AIM-120D advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles and two AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles over the Pacific Ocean Oct. 27, 2022. (U.S. Marine Corps courtesy photo by Capt. Ryan Fronczek).

Currently, they are set to transition to the STOVL F-35B.

Word is, they are still a whizz with the 20mm. Some things never change.

VMF-312 Insignia, circa 1943

Celebrating 45 Years of the Hornet

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On 18 November 1978, the aircraft that would become the F/A-18 Hornet took its first flight.

Rolled out in September 1978, the first McDonnell Douglas YF-18A Hornet – before the F/A-18A– was marked “Marines” on the right

And “Navy” on the left

And, while the Rhino and Growler have come to play in a big way, a few legacy C and D model baby Hornets are still in the fleet.

A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18C Hornet aircraft with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 312 flies loaded with six AIM-120D advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles and two AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles over the Pacific Ocean Oct. 27, 2022. (U.S. Marine Corps courtesy photo by Capt. Ryan Fronczek).

NAVAIRSYSCOM has put together a great, high-octane, 11-minute film as they continue to celebrate the bird’s 45th anniversary, looking back on its life and legacy through the people who have built it, flown it, and commanded the program office that sustains it: The F/A-18 and EA-18G Program Office (PMA-265).

Fights On

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These great images from MCAS Beaufort, SC, showing a vintage squadron line up around an F4U Corsair, likely in WWII, and a newer image of a squadron with F/A-18 Charlies.

The unit in question is Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 (VMFA-312). Formed 1 June 1943 at Page Field, Parris Island, they fought at Okinawa and in the Japanese Home Islands then continued flying Corsairs off Jeep carriers in Korea. Flying Phantoms from 1966 through 1987, they switched to Hornets and haven’t looked back yet.

Their motto is “Fights on.”