Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 134
A United States Marine Corps reserve fighter attack squadron known as “Smoke.”
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 134, abbreviated VMFA-134 and nicknamed “Smoke,” is a United States Marine Corps aviation unit with a lineage extending from World War II torpedo and scout-bomber operations to modern reserve fighter aviation. The squadron’s mission has been to conduct air-to-air and air-to-ground operations in support of Marine Corps ground forces. It is therefore a military organization rather than a commercial airline, aircraft manufacturer, or consumer-facing brand. The unit was originally activated as Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 134 at Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara, California, on 1 May 1943. It was redesignated Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 134 on 1 June 1943 and deployed to the South Pacific later that year. During World War II, the squadron supported operations associated with Bougainville, the Bismarck Archipelago, and Peleliu. After the Pacific campaigns, it participated in the occupation of northern China, operating from Qingdao between October 1945 and April 1946. The wartime organization was deactivated on 30 April 1946. The squadron returned to service on 15 April 1958 at Naval Air Station Los Alamitos, California, as Marine Fighter Squadron 134 in the Marine Air Reserve. It became Marine Attack Squadron 134 in 1962 and was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 43 in 1965. In 1971, the unit moved to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro and operated Douglas A-4F Skyhawk aircraft as part of Marine Aircraft Group 46. Its present VMFA designation was adopted on 1 October 1983 when the squadron transitioned to the F-4 Phantom II. The unit later operated F/A-18 Hornets as a Marine Corps Reserve squadron based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. Its organization placed it under Marine Aircraft Group 46 and the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing. On 21 July 2004, two squadron F/A-18 aircraft collided during a low-altitude training exercise over the Columbia River region in Oregon. Two Marines were killed in the F/A-18B, while the pilot of the other aircraft ejected and survived with minor injuries. The incident remains the most prominent publicly documented safety event associated with the squadron. On 1 April 2007, VMFA-134 transitioned to cadre status. Its equipment and personnel were redistributed among other remaining Marine Corps F/A-18 squadrons. The unit has consequently not operated as an active conventional squadron in the same way as before that transition. Marine Corps planning material cited in the reference article indicated a possible return in 2031, equipped with F-35C aircraft and operating from MCAS Miramar; this is a future plan rather than a confirmed reactivation. The squadron’s historical honors include a Navy Unit Commendation streamer, an Asiatic-Pacific Campaign streamer with three bronze stars, a World War II Victory streamer, and a China Service streamer.
History
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 134 traces its institutional lineage to the Second World War. It was activated on 1 May 1943 at Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara, California, as Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 134. The squadron was redesignated Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 134 on 1 June 1943. Between October and November 1943 it deployed to Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides and was subsequently associated with Marine Aircraft Group 11 and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. During the Pacific War, the squadron supported Marine operations in the Bougainville campaign, the Bismarck Archipelago, and the Peleliu campaign. Its organizational assignments changed repeatedly as Marine aviation formations were reorganized, including transfers involving Marine Aircraft Groups 24, 14, 12, and 11. In the postwar period, the unit was assigned to Qingdao, China, from October 1945 through April 1946 as part of the occupation of northern China. It was deactivated on 30 April 1946 after returning from that deployment. The squadron was reactivated on 15 April 1958 at Naval Air Station Los Alamitos as Marine Fighter Squadron 134 in the Marine Air Reserve. On 1 July 1962 it became Marine Attack Squadron 134 and served within the Marine Air Reserve Training Detachment. In February 1965 it was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 43, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing. The unit moved to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro in 1971, joined Marine Aircraft Group 46, and operated Douglas A-4F Skyhawk aircraft. During this period it was associated with the “Skyhawks” designation. On 1 October 1983, the unit adopted the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron designation, becoming VMFA-134, and transitioned to the F-4 Phantom II. It later became an F/A-18 Hornet reserve squadron based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California. In that configuration it fell under Marine Aircraft Group 46 and the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing. Its operational purpose remained the provision of tactical air support, including air-to-air and air-to-ground missions supporting Marine ground forces. On 21 July 2004, two VMFA-134 F/A-18 aircraft collided over the Columbia River region approximately 120 miles east of Portland, Oregon. The aircraft were heading toward the Boardman Air Force Range for training. Two Marines aboard the F/A-18B were killed. The pilot of the other F/A-18 ejected and landed near a hillside west of Arlington, Oregon, with minor injuries. The event was reported as a training accident and is not described in the reference material as misconduct or a scandal. On 1 April 2007, VMFA-134 transitioned to cadre status. Its equipment and personnel were distributed among the remaining F/A-18 squadrons, ending its normal active reserve operating form. A future transition plan cited in the reference material projected a possible reactivation in 2031 at MCAS Miramar with the F-35C. Because this is a plan rather than a completed event, the squadron’s present operational status is recorded here as unknown. Its recorded honors include a Navy Unit Commendation streamer, an Asiatic-Pacific Campaign streamer with three bronze stars, a World War II Victory streamer, and a China Service streamer.
- 2007
Transition to cadre status
[1]The squadron’s equipment and personnel were redistributed among other F/A-18 squadrons.
- 2004
Fatal F/A-18 training collision
[1]Two squadron F/A-18 aircraft collided during training in Oregon, killing two Marines and injuring another pilot.
- 1983
Adoption of the VMFA designation
[1]The unit became Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 134 and transitioned to the F-4 Phantom II.
- 1971
Move to MCAS El Toro and Skyhawk operations
[1]The squadron moved to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, joined Marine Aircraft Group 46, and operated A-4F Skyhawk aircraft.
- 1962
Redesignation as VMA-134
[1]The squadron became Marine Attack Squadron 134.
- 1958
Reactivation in the Marine Air Reserve
[1]The unit was reactivated at Naval Air Station Los Alamitos as Marine Fighter Squadron 134.
- 1946
Deactivation
[1]The World War II-era organization was deactivated on 30 April after its China deployment.
- 1945
Deployment to Qingdao
[1]Following the war, the squadron deployed to Qingdao for the occupation of northern China.
- 1944
Pacific campaign operations
[1]The squadron supported operations connected with Bougainville, the Bismarck Archipelago, and Peleliu.
- 1943
Activation as VMSB-134
[1]Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 134 was activated at Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara, California, on 1 May.
Products and positioning
A Marine Corps reserve aviation unit organized around tactical fighter and attack capabilities, with a historical role in supporting Marine ground operations through air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.
Attack aircraft
Douglas A-4F Skyhawk
VMFA-134 operated the A-4F Skyhawk during its period at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro in the 1970s, when the unit carried the Marine Attack Squadron designation and was associated with Marine Aircraft Group 46.
Fighter aircraft · 1983
F-4 Phantom II
The squadron transitioned to the F-4 Phantom II when it adopted the VMFA-134 designation in October 1983. The aircraft represented the unit’s return to a fighter-attack role within Marine reserve aviation.
Fighter attack aircraft
F/A-18 Hornet
Before entering cadre status in 2007, VMFA-134 operated as a Marine Corps Reserve F/A-18 Hornet squadron from MCAS Miramar. The aircraft supported the unit’s air-to-air and air-to-ground mission set.
Fighter aircraft
F-35C Lightning II
The F-35C is identified in the cited future transition plan as the aircraft type that could equip the squadron if it returns to service in 2031. This remains a projected future arrangement.
Marketing campaigns
- 1945Occupation of northern China
Qingdao and northern China
After the Pacific War, the squadron operated from Qingdao from October 1945 to April 1946 in support of the occupation of northern China.
Outcome. The deployment ended with the unit’s return and deactivation in April 1946.
- 1944Bismarck Archipelago operations
Bismarck Archipelago
The squadron participated in operations in the Bismarck Archipelago as part of the Pacific campaign.
Outcome. The service is reflected in the unit’s World War II campaign honors.
- 1944Peleliu campaign
Peleliu · Palau Islands
The squadron supported the Peleliu campaign during World War II.
Outcome. Peleliu is specifically associated with the squadron’s Navy Unit Commendation streamer.
- 1943South Pacific deployment
South Pacific
After its World War II activation and redesignation, the squadron deployed to Espiritu Santo and entered the Pacific theater’s Marine aviation organization.
Outcome. The deployment established the squadron’s wartime operational role in the Pacific.
- 1943Bougainville operations
Bougainville · Pacific theater
The squadron supported Marine operations connected with Bougainville during World War II.
Outcome. The operation contributed to the squadron’s Asiatic-Pacific campaign service record.
Brand decisions
2007
Transition to cadre statusStrategyBackground
The Marine Corps reorganized its reserve and tactical aviation resources after the squadron’s F/A-18 operating period.
Action taken
VMFA-134 transitioned to cadre status on 1 April, and its aircraft-related equipment and personnel were redistributed among remaining F/A-18 squadrons.
Aftermath
The squadron no longer operated as a conventional active reserve F/A-18 squadron. A possible 2031 return with F-35C aircraft has since been cited as a future plan.
1983
Transition to the F-4 Phantom IIGeneration changeBackground
The reserve unit’s role evolved from attack aviation toward a combined fighter-attack mission.
Action taken
On 1 October, the squadron adopted the VMFA-134 designation and transitioned to the F-4 Phantom II.
Aftermath
The unit continued its fighter-attack lineage before later operating F/A-18 Hornets.
1958
Reactivation in the Marine Air ReserveStrategyBackground
The lineage was restored during the expansion and reorganization of Marine reserve aviation.
Action taken
The unit was reactivated at Naval Air Station Los Alamitos as Marine Fighter Squadron 134.
Aftermath
It later shifted through fighter and attack designations and aircraft types as Marine reserve aviation requirements changed.
1943
Redesignation from VMSB-134 to VMTB-134OtherBackground
The newly activated World War II squadron was reorganized under a torpedo-bomber designation shortly after activation.
Action taken
The Marine Corps redesignated the unit as Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 134 on 1 June.
Aftermath
The squadron continued Pacific theater operations under the new designation.
Recent events
- 2007
VMFA-134 transitions to cadre status[1]
Other
The squadron ceased normal operational status, with its equipment and personnel redistributed among other Marine Corps F/A-18 units.
- 2004
VMFA-134 aircraft collide during Oregon training exercise[1]
Other
Two squadron F/A-18 aircraft collided over the Columbia River area in Oregon while traveling toward the Boardman Air Force Range for low-altitude training. Two Marines died in the accident, while the pilot of the second aircraft ejected and sustained minor injuries.
Possible VMFA-134 return planned for 2031[1]
Other
The reference material describes a current transition plan that could return the squadron to service from MCAS Miramar with F-35C aircraft. The plan is prospective and does not establish that reactivation has occurred.
Sources1 sources
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