Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 124

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 124, commonly identified by the designation VMFA-124, was a United States Marine Corps aviation unit whose lineage began as Marine Fighting Squadron 124, or VMF-124, in 1942. Known as the Wild Aces, the squadron became one of the Marine Corps' notable World War II fighter formations. It was among the first Marine squadrons to operate the Vought F4U Corsair and later became one of the first Marine units to be based aboard an aircraft carrier. The squadron was commissioned on 2 September 1942 at Camp Kearney in San Diego, California, and was declared operational later that year. It deployed to Guadalcanal in February 1943, where it immediately began combat operations in the Solomon Islands campaign. Its missions included fighter escort, air defense, and attacks connected with operations around the Russell Islands, New Georgia, and Vella Lavella. The squadron's wartime record included 78 credited air-to-air victories against Japanese aircraft. First Lieutenant Kenneth A. Walsh, a VMF-124 pilot, became the first F4U Corsair pilot to receive the Medal of Honor, after a 30 August 1943 mission during which he destroyed four Japanese aircraft before ditching his damaged aircraft. After its initial Solomon Islands combat deployment, VMF-124 returned to the United States for reconstitution and training at Marine Corps Auxiliary Airfield Mojave. In 1944 it deployed again to Hawaii and was attached to Navy Air Group 4 aboard USS Essex. Together with VMF-213, it formed part of the first group of Marine squadrons to be based on an aircraft carrier. From Essex, the unit participated in operations over the Philippines, Formosa, the Ryukyu Islands, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and the Japanese home-island area. On 3 January 1945, its aircraft participated in an early Marine land strike launched from a carrier against Formosa and the Ryukyu Islands. The unit was reestablished after World War II as part of the Marine Air Reserve Training Command at Naval Air Station Memphis. It initially operated the F4U-4 Corsair and became the first squadron in the newly organized Marine Air Reserve Training Command to reach full strength. In 1965 it was redesignated Marine Attack Squadron 124, or VMA-124, reflecting its transition to the attack role and its adoption of the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. During the 1970s and 1980s it operated successive A-4 variants in the Marine reserve structure. Its activities included annual training and participation in large-scale Marine air-ground exercises; in 1969, fourteen A-4Bs supported a Reserve Marine Expeditionary Brigade landing exercise described as the largest Marine air-ground maneuver held in the continental United States at that time. In 1994 the squadron moved to Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth and was redesignated Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 124, or VMFA-124. The intended transition to McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornets did not occur. The unit consequently existed largely as a nominal or paper squadron for approximately two years while awaiting aircraft that never arrived. It was ultimately deactivated on 19 June 1999. Although defunct, its historical identity remains associated with early Marine Corsair operations, carrier-based Marine aviation, the Wild Aces nickname, and the World War II combat record of VMF-124.

VMF-124 was commissioned on 2 September 1942 at Camp Kearney, San Diego, during the rapid expansion of United States Marine Corps aviation in World War II. The squadron reached operational status on 28 December, despite its pilots having relatively limited experience on the new aircraft. It was among the first Marine formations to fly the Vought F4U Corsair, a fighter whose speed, range, and armament made it particularly valuable in Pacific operations. The unit reached Guadalcanal on 12 February 1943 under Major William Gise. It flew its first mission before noon on the day of arrival, escorting a PBY Catalina on a long-range rescue mission to Sandfly Bay near Vella Lavella. VMF-124 subsequently fought throughout the Solomon Islands area, including operations over the Russell Islands, New Georgia, and Vella Lavella. Its wartime identity became closely connected with the nickname Wild Aces. By the end of World War II, the squadron had been credited with 78 air-to-air victories against Japanese aircraft. One of the unit's most prominent pilots was First Lieutenant Kenneth A. Walsh. On 30 August 1943, Walsh shot down four Japanese aircraft during a combat mission before being forced to ditch a borrowed Corsair. He became the first F4U Corsair pilot to receive the Medal of Honor. Other VMF-124 pilots credited with at least five enemy aircraft destroyed included William E. Crowe, Howard J. Finn, and Wallace E. Sigler. Following its Solomon Islands service, the squadron was disbanded and reconstituted in the United States. It trained at Marine Corps Auxiliary Airfield Mojave for roughly a year before receiving new deployment orders. In September 1944 it left the United States for Hawaii, where it was attached to Navy Air Group 4 operating from USS Essex. Alongside VMF-213, VMF-124 was among the first Marine squadrons to be based on an aircraft carrier. Its carrier operations covered a wide area of the Pacific war, including missions connected with Lingayen and Luzon, Formosa, Tokyo, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. On 3 January 1945, VMF-124 and VMF-213 took part in a carrier-launched strike against Formosa and the Ryukyu Islands. The unit was also involved in a 12 January friendly-fire incident in which three of its aircraft shot down a four-engine bomber over French Indochina after the aircraft failed to identify itself and fired on the Marine aircraft. The bomber was later identified as a B-24 Liberator of the United States Army Air Forces' 374th Bombardment Squadron. After the war, the squadron was reformed at Naval Air Station Memphis as part of the Marine Air Reserve Training Command. It flew the F4U-4 Corsair and was the first squadron in that newly formed reserve command to reach full strength. The unit's reserve mission continued through the jet era. On 1 May 1965 it was redesignated Marine Attack Squadron 124, or VMA-124, and transitioned to the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. During the 1970s and 1980s it operated different A-4 versions. Its annual training included participation in major exercises, including a 1969 Marine Expeditionary Brigade landing exercise in which fourteen A-4Bs supported what was then described as the largest Marine air-ground maneuver in the continental United States. In 1994, VMA-124 moved to Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth and became VMFA-124. The redesignation reflected an intended move into the fighter-attack role with McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornets. The aircraft transition never occurred, and the unit existed largely as a paper squadron while awaiting aircraft. VMFA-124 was finally deactivated on 19 June 1999. Its principal historical significance rests on its pioneering Corsair service, early Marine carrier operations, Pacific combat record, and long postwar service in the Marine Air Reserve.

• 1999

  Deactivation

  [1]VMFA-124en.wikipedia.org

  VMFA-124 was deactivated on 19 June after the planned F/A-18 transition did not occur.

• 1994

  Redesignation as VMFA-124

  [1]VMFA-124en.wikipedia.org

  The unit moved to Fort Worth and was redesignated Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 124 in preparation for an F/A-18 transition.

• 1965

  Redesignation as VMA-124

  [1]VMFA-124en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron became Marine Attack Squadron 124 and adopted the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk.

• 1945

  Carrier strike against Formosa and the Ryukyu Islands

  [1]VMFA-124en.wikipedia.org

  On 3 January, VMF-124 participated in an early Marine land strike launched from a carrier.

• 1944

  Assignment to USS Essex

  [1]VMFA-124en.wikipedia.org

  VMF-124 joined Navy Air Group 4 aboard USS Essex and became one of the first Marine squadrons to operate from an aircraft carrier.

• 1943

  Deployment to Guadalcanal

  [1]VMFA-124en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron arrived at Guadalcanal on 12 February and entered combat operations in the Solomon Islands.

• 1942

  VMF-124 is commissioned

  [1]VMFA-124en.wikipedia.org

  Marine Fighting Squadron 124 was commissioned on 2 September at Camp Kearney in San Diego, California.

• 1942

  The squadron reaches operational status

  [1]VMFA-124en.wikipedia.org

  VMF-124 was declared fully operational on 28 December and became an early Marine operator of the Vought F4U Corsair.

A Marine Corps fighter and attack squadron distinguished by its World War II Corsair service, early carrier deployment, reserve aviation role, and Wild Aces identity.

• Carrier and land-based fighter aircraft · 1942

  Vought F4U Corsair

  The Corsair was the defining aircraft of VMF-124's World War II service. The squadron was among the first Marine units to fly it and used the type for escort, air defense, and offensive missions in the Pacific. Its Corsair operations contributed to the unit's reputation as the Wild Aces and to its credited wartime air-to-air victories.

• Light attack aircraft · 1965

  Douglas A-4 Skyhawk

  After its 1965 redesignation as VMA-124, the Marine reserve squadron operated the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. It flew different A-4 versions through the 1970s and 1980s, supporting reserve training and large Marine air-ground exercises.

• Planned fighter-attack aircraft transition · 1994

  McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet

  The unit's 1994 redesignation to VMFA-124 anticipated conversion to the F/A-18 Hornet. The aircraft were never delivered, and the squadron remained largely inactive as a paper unit before its 1999 deactivation.

• 1969Marine Expeditionary Brigade landing exercise

  Continental United States

  Fourteen reserve A-4Bs supported a two-week annual training exercise centered on a Marine Expeditionary Brigade landing.

  Outcome. The exercise was described as the largest Marine air-ground maneuver conducted in the continental United States at that time.

  Source
• 1944Carrier operations aboard USS Essex

  Pacific Ocean · Philippines · Formosa · Ryukyu Islands

  Assigned to Navy Air Group 4, VMF-124 operated from USS Essex during the later Pacific war.

  Outcome. The squadron participated in operations connected with Luzon, Formosa, the Ryukyus, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and the Japanese home-island area.

  Source
• 1943Solomon Islands campaign

  Solomon Islands

  VMF-124 deployed to Guadalcanal and conducted combat missions over the Russell Islands, New Georgia, and Vella Lavella.

  Outcome. The squadron completed a major combat deployment and was credited with 78 air-to-air victories by the end of World War II.

  Source

• 1999

  Deactivation of VMFA-124Strategy

  Background

  The squadron's planned aircraft transition had not occurred and its operational future in the reserve structure was unresolved.

  Action taken

  The Marine Corps deactivated the squadron on 19 June 1999.

  Aftermath

  The unit ceased to exist as an active Marine Corps squadron, although its historical lineage and wartime record remain documented.

  Source

• 1994

  Planned transition to the F/A-18 HornetGeneration change

  Background

  The squadron moved to Fort Worth and was redesignated as a fighter attack squadron in preparation for a new aircraft type.

  Action taken

  VMA-124 became VMFA-124, with an intended conversion to McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornets.

  Aftermath

  The Hornets never materialized, leaving the unit as a paper squadron for approximately two years before deactivation.

  Source

• 1965

  Transition from Corsairs to SkyhawksGeneration change

  Background

  The reserve unit's mission and aircraft role changed as postwar Marine aviation adopted newer jet attack aircraft.

  Action taken

  The squadron was redesignated VMA-124 and equipped with Douglas A-4 Skyhawks.

  Aftermath

  VMA-124 continued operating A-4 variants through the 1970s and 1980s.

  Source

1. 1VMFA-124en.wikipedia.org