Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, abbreviated VMFA-121 and traditionally known as the Green Knights, is a United States Marine Corps aviation squadron operating the F-35B Lightning II. It is based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, and is assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 12 within the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. The squadron uses the tail code VK and the radio call sign “Combat.” Its present role combines expeditionary fighter, attack, air-defense, and close-air-support capabilities with the F-35B’s short-takeoff and vertical-landing design. The unit was activated on 24 June 1941 as Marine Fighting Squadron 121, or VMF-121. During the Pacific War it flew the F4F Wildcat and later the F4U Corsair, becoming part of the Cactus Air Force during the Guadalcanal campaign. It operated from a succession of forward Pacific bases, including Espiritu Santo, Turtle Bay, Bougainville, Emirau, and Peleliu. The squadron was credited with 208 Japanese aircraft destroyed in aerial combat and produced fourteen fighter aces, including Major Joseph J. Foss, a Medal of Honor recipient. VMF-121 was deactivated in September 1945 after the war. After reactivation, the squadron moved through several aircraft and mission identities. It became Marine Attack Squadron 121, or VMA-121, in 1951 and flew the F4U Corsair, F8F Bearcat, and A-1 Skyraider. During the Korean War it operated from K-6 Airfield at Pyongtaek, conducting strikes against airfields, supply facilities, bridges, and rail infrastructure in support of ground forces. In June 1953, sixteen of its Skyraiders delivered 156 tons of bombs against the Sui-ho Dam, then a Marine single-day ordnance-delivery record. After Korea, the unit transitioned through the F9F-8B Cougar and A-4 Skyhawk and became involved in special-weapons delivery training and recurring deployments to the western Pacific. The Green Knights flew A-4E Skyhawks in combat during the Vietnam War from Chu Lai, supporting major operations and setting another Marine attack-squadron ordnance record in 1967. In 1969, the squadron converted to the all-weather A-6 Intruder and was redesignated VMA(AW)-121. It later became the Marine Corps’ first F/A-18D night-attack squadron under the designation VMFA(AW)-121. The unit deployed aboard USS Ranger during Operations Earnest Will and later flew combat missions during Operation Desert Storm, Operation Southern Watch, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. A major transformation occurred in 2012. VMFA(AW)-121 ended its F/A-18D era, moved from Marine Aircraft Group 11 at Miramar to Marine Aircraft Group 13 at Yuma, and was redesignated VMFA-121. It received its first F-35B aircraft on 20 November 2012, becoming the first operational F-35B squadron in the Marine Corps operating forces and the first operational F-35 squadron in any United States military service. In January 2017 it relocated permanently from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, becoming the first permanently forward-deployed F-35B squadron. The unit remains an expeditionary Marine aviation formation rather than a commercial brand, and its public identity is associated with the Green Knights name, combat history, and fifth-generation aircraft capability.

VMFA-121 was activated on 24 June 1941 as Marine Fighting Squadron 121. Its early combat identity was formed during the Pacific War, when it flew F4F Wildcats and F4U Corsairs as part of the Cactus Air Force during the Guadalcanal campaign. It subsequently operated from forward bases in the South and Southwest Pacific, including Espiritu Santo, Turtle Bay, Bougainville, Emirau, and Peleliu. The squadron remained on Peleliu from September 1944 until July 1945 and was deactivated in the United States on 9 September 1945. Its wartime record included 208 claimed aerial victories and fourteen fighter aces, among them Major Joseph J. Foss, who received the Medal of Honor. The unit was reactivated at Naval Air Station Glenview, Illinois, after the war. On 15 May 1951 its designation changed to Marine Attack Squadron 121, reflecting a shift from a primarily fighter mission toward attack operations. It flew several piston-engine types, including the Corsair, Bearcat, and Skyraider. During the Korean War, reserve personnel were activated and the squadron moved through Marine Corps Air Station El Toro and Japan before deploying to K-6 Airfield at Pyongtaek. Beginning its first strike on 27 October 1951, VMA-121 supported ground forces and attacked airfields, supply dumps, bridges, and railway targets. Its Skyraiders delivered a particularly large volume of ordnance, including a 156-ton attack on the Sui-ho Dam in June 1953. After Korea, the squadron remained in the western Pacific rotation system and transitioned to jet aircraft. It operated the F9F-8B Cougar and later the A-4 Skyhawk. The Cougar introduced a nuclear-capable loft-bombing capability, while the Skyhawk period included intensive special-weapons delivery training. The unit also responded to the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 by deploying to NAS Cecil Field in Florida. In 1966, VMA-121 ferried A-4E Skyhawks to Japan and began combat operations from Chu Lai, South Vietnam, in December. It supported numerous major operations and set a Marine attack-squadron ordnance record in 1967 by delivering more than 1,750 tons during a six-month period. In 1969, it was reconstituted at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and redesignated VMA(AW)-121 after converting to the A-6 Intruder. The new all-weather attack role allowed the squadron to locate and strike surface targets at night and in adverse weather. It continued deployments and exercises around Japan, the Philippines, and Korea. In 1982, the unit received a Meritorious Unit Commendation associated with 43,000 accident-free flight hours. The squadron’s late-Cold-War history included carrier operations. Operational control moved to Carrier Air Wing Two aboard USS Ranger in 1985, and the squadron deployed on WestPac and Indian Ocean cruises in 1987 and 1989. During Operation Earnest Will, it helped protect reflagged Kuwaiti tankers. Operational control returned to 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing after the 1989 cruise. On 8 December 1989, VMA(AW)-121 was redesignated VMFA(AW)-121 and became the Marine Corps’ first F/A-18D Hornet night-attack squadron. During Operation Desert Storm, it flew 557 sorties and 1,655.5 combat hours. In the 1990s it continued the Marine unit-deployment rotation and moved from MCAS El Toro to MCAS Miramar in 1994. In 2000 it returned to combat operations over Iraq in support of Operation Southern Watch, flying 287 sorties from Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base in Kuwait. The squadron supported the post-2001 conflicts with deployments to Kyrgyzstan and Kuwait. In 2002 it flew more than 900 combat sorties over Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. From February through May 2003 it flew more than 750 combat sorties over Iraq in support of Operation Southern Watch and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Later deployments included Iraq in 2007 and repeated Unit Deployment Program rotations to Iwakuni between 2008 and 2012. An F/A-18D crashed into the Pacific southwest of San Diego on 17 August 2011; both crew members ejected safely. The most consequential institutional change came in 2012. On 28 September, a change of command marked the end of the Hornet era and the squadron’s move from MAG-11 at Miramar to MAG-13 at Yuma. On 20 November it was redesignated VMFA-121 and accepted its first F-35B aircraft, becoming the first operational F-35B squadron in the Marine Corps operating forces and the first operational F-35 squadron in any United States military service. The unit transferred permanently to MCAS Iwakuni in January 2017, establishing a forward-deployed F-35B presence in Japan. It remains an active Marine Corps fighter-attack squadron assigned to MAG-12 and 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.

• 2017

  Permanent move to Japan

  [1]VMFA-121en.wikipedia.org

  VMFA-121 relocated from Yuma to Iwakuni as the first permanently forward-deployed F-35B squadron.

• 2012

  F-35B conversion

  [1]VMFA-121en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron was redesignated VMFA-121 and received its first F-35B aircraft on 20 November.

• 1991

  Operation Desert Storm

  [1]VMFA-121en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron flew 557 sorties and 1,655.5 combat hours during the Gulf War air campaign.

• 1989

  F/A-18D night-attack identity

  [1]VMFA-121en.wikipedia.org

  The unit became VMFA(AW)-121 and the Marine Corps’ first F/A-18D night-attack squadron.

• 1969

  Transition to A-6 Intruder

  [1]VMFA-121en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron was redesignated VMA(AW)-121 for the all-weather attack mission.

• 1966

  Vietnam deployment

  [1]VMFA-121en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron began combat operations from Chu Lai after deploying A-4E Skyhawks to the western Pacific.

• 1953

  Sui-ho Dam strike

  [1]VMFA-121en.wikipedia.org

  Sixteen Skyraiders delivered 156 tons of bombs in a single-day attack on the Sui-ho Dam.

• 1951

  Redesignated VMA-121

  [1]VMFA-121en.wikipedia.org

  The unit became Marine Attack Squadron 121 on 15 May and deployed to Korea later that year.

• 1942

  Guadalcanal combat operations

  [1]VMFA-121en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron joined the Cactus Air Force and began combat operations in the Guadalcanal campaign.

• 1941

  Squadron activated

  [1]VMFA-121en.wikipedia.org

  Marine Fighting Squadron 121 was activated on 24 June.

An expeditionary United States Marine Corps fighter-attack squadron positioned around short-takeoff and vertical-landing F-35B operations, forward deployment, and integrated air support for Marine and joint forces.

• Fighter-attack aircraft · 2012

  F-35B Lightning II

  The squadron’s current aircraft is the F-35B, a short-takeoff and vertical-landing multirole fighter. VMFA-121 became the first operational Marine Corps F-35B squadron in 2012 and has used the aircraft for expeditionary fighter, attack, air-defense, and integrated sensor operations from its forward base in Japan.

• All-weather fighter-attack aircraft · 1989

  F/A-18D Hornet

  The F/A-18D formed the squadron’s night-attack and all-weather identity from the late 1980s until the 2012 conversion to the F-35B. During this period the squadron supported Operation Desert Storm, Operation Southern Watch, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

• All-weather attack aircraft · 1969

  A-6 Intruder

  The A-6 Intruder supported the squadron’s all-weather attack mission after its 1969 redesignation as VMA(AW)-121. It was intended to locate and destroy surface targets during both day and night operations and carried a broad range of air-to-ground weapons.

• Attack aircraft · 1958

  A-4 Skyhawk

  The squadron operated A-4 Skyhawks from the late 1950s through the Vietnam-era transition to the A-6. The aircraft supported expeditionary attack missions, special-weapons delivery training, and combat operations from Chu Lai and other Pacific bases.

• Attack aircraft · 1951

  A-1 Skyraider

  The A-1 Skyraider was the principal aircraft associated with VMA-121 during the Korean War. Its heavy payload enabled sustained strike support against enemy logistics and infrastructure, including the squadron’s large-scale Sui-ho Dam attack.

• 2003Operation Iraqi Freedom

  Iraq · Kuwait

  Operating from Al Jaber Air Base, the squadron conducted F/A-18D missions over Iraq.

  Outcome. More than 750 combat sorties were flown between February and May 2003.

  Source
• 2002Operation Enduring Freedom

  Afghanistan · Kyrgyzstan

  The squadron deployed to Kyrgyzstan and conducted combat sorties over Afghanistan.

  Outcome. It flew more than 900 combat sorties before returning to MCAS Miramar.

  Source
• 1991Operation Desert Storm

  Kuwait · Iraq

  VMFA(AW)-121 flew F/A-18D combat missions during the Gulf War air campaign.

  Outcome. The squadron recorded 557 sorties and 1,655.5 combat hours.

  Source
• 1987Operation Earnest Will

  North Arabian Sea · Persian Gulf

  While deployed aboard USS Ranger, the squadron supported the escort of reflagged Kuwaiti tankers.

  Outcome. The deployment extended VMFA(AW)-121’s carrier-based maritime security role.

  Source
• 1966Vietnam War

  South Vietnam · Western Pacific

  VMA-121 flew A-4E Skyhawk combat missions from Chu Lai and supported numerous major operations.

  Outcome. The squadron set a Marine attack-squadron ordnance record in 1967 by delivering more than 1,750 tons during a six-month period.

  Source
• 1951Korean War

  Korean Peninsula

  VMA-121 conducted attack missions from K-6 Airfield in support of United Nations and Marine ground forces.

  Outcome. The squadron became a leading Navy and Marine Corps ordnance-delivery unit during the conflict.

  Source
• 1942Battle of Guadalcanal

  South Pacific

  Flying Wildcats and later Corsairs, the squadron operated as part of the Cactus Air Force during the Guadalcanal campaign.

  Outcome. The squadron became one of the Marine Corps’ most decorated World War II fighter units.

  Source

• 2017

  Permanent forward deployment to JapanStrategy

  Background

  The Marine Corps sought to place an F-35B squadron permanently within its western Pacific force structure.

  Action taken

  VMFA-121 moved from MCAS Yuma to MCAS Iwakuni in January.

  Aftermath

  The squadron became the first permanently forward-deployed F-35B unit.

  Source

• 2012

  Conversion to the F-35B Lightning IIGeneration change

  Background

  The Marine Corps began replacing legacy F/A-18D aircraft with a fifth-generation short-takeoff and vertical-landing fighter.

  Action taken

  The squadron ended its Hornet era, was redesignated VMFA-121, and accepted its first three F-35B aircraft.

  Aftermath

  VMFA-121 became the first operational F-35B squadron in the Marine Corps operating forces and later established a permanent forward base in Japan.

  Source

• 1989

  Transition to the F/A-18D HornetGeneration change

  Background

  The Marine Corps sought a modern night-attack platform to replace the squadron’s A-6 capability.

  Action taken

  VMA(AW)-121 was redesignated VMFA(AW)-121 and became the first Marine Corps F/A-18D night-attack squadron.

  Aftermath

  The Hornet period supported Gulf War and post-2001 combat operations.

  Source

• 1969

  Conversion to the A-6 IntruderGeneration change

  Background

  The squadron needed an all-weather attack capability for day-and-night surface strike missions.

  Action taken

  It was reconstituted and redesignated VMA(AW)-121 after transitioning to the A-6 Intruder.

  Aftermath

  The unit operated as an all-weather attack squadron during subsequent Pacific deployments.

  Source

1. 1VMFA-121en.wikipedia.org
2. 2United States Marine Corps 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing unit page3rdmaw.marines.mil