Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 142
A United States Marine Corps Reserve fighter-attack squadron that served from 1942 until being placed in cadre status in 2008.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 142, commonly identified by the designation VMFA-142 and nicknamed the Flying Gators, was a United States Marine Corps Reserve aviation unit. Its lineage began on 1 March 1942 at Camp Kearny, California, when it was activated as Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 142, or VMSB-142. During the Second World War, the squadron operated Douglas SBD Dauntless aircraft and deployed to Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides in late 1942. It supported Marine operations in and around Guadalcanal and participated in campaigns in the Guadalcanal, Southern Solomons, Luzon, and Southern Philippines areas. The unit’s wartime record included approximately ten months of operations in support of Guadalcanal without losing a pilot in combat during that period. After World War II, the squadron was deactivated in September 1945 and reactivated at Naval Air Station Miami in July 1946 as Marine Fighting Squadron 142, or VMF-142. It remained associated with the Marine Air Reserve Training structure in Florida through a series of administrative redesignations. In 1958 it became Marine Attack Squadron 142, or VMA-142, and moved to Naval Air Station Jacksonville the following year. Its postwar aircraft evolution reflected the changing requirements of Marine reserve aviation. The squadron operated A-4 Skyhawk variants, including the A-4L, A-4F, and later A-4M Skyhawk II. The unit’s modern fighter-attack identity was established when it converted from the A-4M to the F/A-18A Hornet. It was formally redesignated Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 142 on 21 December 1990. The squadron moved from Cecil Field, Florida, to Naval Air Station Atlanta in 1997 as part of the closure process associated with the 1993 Base Realignment and Closure decisions. At Atlanta, it operated within Marine Aircraft Group 42 and the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, while also participating in the Department of the Navy’s Tactical Aviation integration concept. Under this arrangement, Marine F/A-18 reserve squadrons could integrate with Navy strike-fighter formations and carrier air-wing structures. VMFA-142 achieved a notable reserve aviation milestone in 2000 when five of its Marine Hornets joined Carrier Air Wing Reserve Twenty for carrier qualification. All five pilots qualified, and three aircraft subsequently continued to Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, for additional fleet training. In February 2005, the squadron became the first fixed-wing Marine Corps Reserve fighter unit activated for combat since the Korean War. It deployed to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, conducting combat-support missions in Al Anbar province until September 2005. The squadron’s operational existence ended amid another round of force-structure and infrastructure changes. The closure of Naval Air Station Atlanta and its transfer to the Air Force Reserve Command as part of Dobbins Air Reserve Base led to VMFA-142 being placed in cadre status in July 2008. A later proposal to transition the unit to the F-35B Lightning II by 2019 was not carried forward in subsequent Marine Corps aviation planning. Accordingly, VMFA-142 is treated as an inactive or defunct squadron rather than an active Marine Corps aviation unit.
History
VMFA-142 traces its lineage to Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 142, activated on 1 March 1942 at Camp Kearny, California. Initially assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 14 and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, the squadron moved among Marine aircraft groups during 1942 before deploying to Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides between October and November. Equipped with Douglas SBD Dauntless aircraft, it supported combat operations connected with Guadalcanal for approximately ten months. Its World War II campaign participation included Guadalcanal, the Southern Solomons, Luzon, and the Southern Philippines. In August 1943 it returned to California and was reassigned to Marine Base Defense Aircraft Group 41, later moving to Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Hawaii, in April 1944. The squadron was deactivated on 21 September 1945. The unit was reactivated on 1 July 1946 at Naval Air Station Miami, Florida, as Marine Fighting Squadron 142. It became part of the Marine Air Reserve Training structure and underwent several organizational redesignations. In 1949 it was redesignated as a Marine Fighter Squadron, and in 1953 it was placed within a Marine Air Reserve Training Detachment. On 15 May 1958 it became Marine Attack Squadron 142 and moved to Naval Air Station Jacksonville in March 1959. During the 1970s, the squadron operated A-4 Skyhawk aircraft, first using the J-65-powered A-4L and subsequently the J52-P-408-powered A-4F. The last A-4L aircraft left the unit in 1976. During the 1980s, A-4M Skyhawk IIs replaced the reserve squadron’s earlier A-4F aircraft as active-duty Marine units transitioned toward the AV-8B. In January 1971 the squadron was reassigned to the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing. It moved from Naval Air Station Jacksonville to nearby Naval Air Station Cecil Field in December 1978, followed by additional assignments within Marine Aircraft Group 42 during 1979 and 1980. The conversion to the F/A-18A Hornet marked the squadron’s transition into a modern fighter-attack role. On 21 December 1990 it was redesignated Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 142. In August 1997, the impending closure of Naval Air Station Cecil Field under the 1993 Base Realignment and Closure process prompted a move to Naval Air Station Atlanta in Marietta, Georgia. The squadron became part of Marine Aircraft Group 42, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, and participated in the Department of the Navy’s Tactical Aviation integration concept, which connected Marine F/A-18 reserve squadrons with Navy strike-fighter units and carrier air-wing organizations. In May 2000, five VMFA-142 Hornets took part in carrier qualification with Carrier Air Wing Reserve Twenty. All five pilots qualified, and three aircraft continued to Naval Station Roosevelt Roads for further fleet training. The squadron later made Marine Corps Reserve aviation history when it became the first fixed-wing Marine reserve fighter unit activated for combat since the Korean War. Its 2005 deployment to Al Asad Air Base supported Operation Iraqi Freedom and combat operations in Al Anbar province until September of that year. The squadron was placed in cadre status in July 2008 after the closure of Naval Air Station Atlanta and the installation’s transfer to the Air Force Reserve Command as part of Dobbins Air Reserve Base. A proposed conversion to the F-35B Lightning II was discussed in planning for the 2010s, but the proposal was not included in the later Marine Corps Aviation Plan 2017. VMFA-142 therefore remains a historical Marine Corps Reserve aviation designation rather than an active squadron.
- 2008
Placed in cadre status
[1]VMFA-142 was placed in cadre status in July following the closure and restructuring of Naval Air Station Atlanta.
- 2005
Operation Iraqi Freedom deployment
[1]The squadron deployed to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq from February through September in support of combat operations in Al Anbar province.
- 2000
Carrier qualification with CVWR-20
[1]Five Marine Hornets joined Carrier Air Wing Reserve Twenty for carrier qualification, with all five pilots qualifying.
- 1997
Relocation to Naval Air Station Atlanta
[1]The squadron moved from Cecil Field to Naval Air Station Atlanta because of the planned closure of Cecil Field under BRAC-related restructuring.
- 1990
Redesignation as VMFA-142
[1]After converting from the A-4M to the F/A-18A, the unit was formally redesignated Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 142 on 21 December.
- 1959
Move to Naval Air Station Jacksonville
[1]The squadron relocated from Miami to Naval Air Station Jacksonville in March.
- 1958
Redesignation as VMA-142
[1]On 15 May, the squadron became Marine Attack Squadron 142.
- 1946
Reactivation at Naval Air Station Miami
[1]The unit returned to service on 1 July as Marine Fighting Squadron 142 within the Marine Air Reserve Training system.
- 1945
Postwar deactivation
[1]The World War II-era squadron was deactivated on 21 September.
- 1942
Activation as VMSB-142
[1]The unit was activated on 1 March at Camp Kearny, California, as Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 142.
Products and positioning
A Marine Corps Reserve fighter-attack squadron focused on tactical aviation, reserve readiness, training, mobilization, and operational support to the Fleet Marine Force.
Scout bomber
Douglas SBD Dauntless
The SBD Dauntless was the squadron’s principal aircraft during its World War II activation as VMSB-142. The twin-seat carrier-derived scout bomber provided dive-bombing and reconnaissance capability during the unit’s South Pacific deployment and its support of Guadalcanal-related operations.
Attack aircraft
A-4L Skyhawk
The J-65-powered A-4L formed part of the squadron’s Marine Reserve attack-aircraft fleet during the early 1970s. It was subsequently replaced, with the final A-4L aircraft departing the squadron in the summer of 1976.
Attack aircraft
A-4F Skyhawk
The A-4F, powered by the J52-P-408 engine, followed the squadron’s A-4L aircraft during its reserve attack role. These aircraft were later superseded by A-4M Skyhawk IIs as Marine aviation modernized.
Attack aircraft
A-4M Skyhawk II
The A-4M Skyhawk II represented the squadron’s later Skyhawk generation during the 1980s. It replaced earlier reserve A-4F aircraft before the squadron converted to the F/A-18 Hornet.
Fighter-attack aircraft
F/A-18A Hornet
The F/A-18A Hornet became the squadron’s principal aircraft after its conversion from the A-4M. The aircraft supported reserve tactical aviation training, carrier qualification, integrated Navy–Marine exercises, and the squadron’s 2005 Iraq deployment.
Proposed fighter aircraft
F-35B Lightning II
A transition to the F-35B was contemplated in planning for the 2010s, with an earlier target of conversion by 2019. The proposal was later abandoned or omitted from subsequent Marine Corps aviation planning, and the squadron did not become an operational F-35B unit.
Marketing campaigns
- 2005Operation Iraqi Freedom
Iraq · Al Anbar province
After activation in February 2005, VMFA-142 deployed to Al Asad Air Base and provided combat support in Al Anbar province.
Outcome. The deployment concluded in September 2005 and represented the first combat activation of a fixed-wing Marine reserve fighter unit since the Korean War.
- 1945Southern Philippines campaign
Philippines
VMSB-142 participated in the Southern Philippines campaign as part of its wartime Marine aviation service.
Outcome. No additional campaign-specific outcome is provided in the reference material.
- 1944Luzon campaign
Philippines
The squadron is recorded as participating in the Luzon campaign during World War II.
Outcome. No additional campaign-specific outcome is provided in the reference material.
- 1942Guadalcanal campaign
Solomon Islands · South Pacific
VMSB-142 flew support missions connected with the Guadalcanal campaign after deploying to Espiritu Santo.
Outcome. The squadron completed approximately ten months of support operations without losing a pilot in combat during that period.
- 1942Southern Solomons campaign
Solomon Islands · South Pacific
The squadron’s World War II service included operations in the Southern Solomons using SBD Dauntless scout bombers.
Outcome. The campaign formed part of the squadron’s wartime Pacific service.
Brand decisions
2008
Placement in cadre statusStrategyBackground
The closure of Naval Air Station Atlanta and its transfer to the Air Force Reserve Command required changes to the squadron’s basing and organizational status.
Action taken
VMFA-142 was placed in cadre status in July 2008 and associated with the reorganization involving Marine Aircraft Group 41.
Aftermath
The squadron ceased functioning as an active operational unit. A later F-35B transition concept was not retained in the Marine Corps Aviation Plan 2017.
2005
Combat activation for Operation Iraqi FreedomStrategyBackground
The Marine Corps activated the reserve squadron to provide fixed-wing fighter support during the Iraq conflict.
Action taken
VMFA-142 deployed to Al Asad Air Base from February through September and conducted combat-support operations in Al Anbar province.
Aftermath
The deployment made VMFA-142 the first fixed-wing Marine reserve fighter unit activated for combat since the Korean War.
2000
Participation in carrier qualificationOtherBackground
The Department of the Navy’s Tactical Aviation concept linked Marine reserve Hornet units with Navy strike-fighter and carrier-air-wing structures.
Action taken
Five VMFA-142 Hornets joined Carrier Air Wing Reserve Twenty for carrier qualification; all five pilots qualified.
Aftermath
Three aircraft continued to Roosevelt Roads for further fleet training, demonstrating the squadron’s integration with broader naval aviation training.
1997
Relocation from Cecil Field to Naval Air Station AtlantaStrategyBackground
The move was driven by the planned closure of Naval Air Station Cecil Field under the 1993 Base Realignment and Closure process.
Action taken
VMFA-142 relocated to Naval Air Station Atlanta in Georgia in August 1997.
Aftermath
The squadron continued reserve F/A-18 operations from Atlanta until the later closure and restructuring of that installation.
1990
Conversion from the A-4M to the F/A-18AGeneration changeBackground
The squadron’s transition from Skyhawk attack aircraft to Hornet fighter-attack aircraft reflected the modernization of Marine tactical aviation.
Action taken
The unit converted to the F/A-18A and was redesignated VMFA-142 on 21 December 1990.
Aftermath
The conversion gave the reserve squadron a contemporary fighter-attack platform and enabled later carrier integration and combat deployment.
Recent events
- 2017
Proposed F-35B transition removed from later Marine aviation planning[1]
Product generation
Earlier planning contemplated transitioning VMFA-142 to the F-35B Lightning II, but the squadron did not appear in the later Marine Corps Aviation Plan 2017 transition plan.
- 2008
VMFA-142 placed in cadre status after Naval Air Station Atlanta closure[1]
Other
Following the planned closure and transfer of Naval Air Station Atlanta to the Air Force Reserve Command, the squadron was placed in cadre status.
- 2005
VMFA-142 deploys to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom[1]
Other
VMFA-142 was activated and deployed to Al Asad Air Base, where it provided combat support in Iraq’s Al Anbar province until September 2005.
Sources1 sources
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