Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211, commonly designated VMFA-211, is a United States Marine Corps aviation unit whose lineage reaches back to its commissioning on 1 January 1937 as Marine Fighting Squadron 4M. The squadron is associated with the informal names “The Avengers,” “Wake Island Avengers,” and “Bastion Defenders.” It is based at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, and is assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 13 within the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. The squadron’s identity was shaped decisively by the defense of Wake Island at the beginning of the Pacific War. In November 1941, part of the unit’s aircraft and pilots traveled to Wake Island aboard USS Enterprise. After Japan attacked on 8 December, the remaining Marine aircraft conducted repeated defensive missions against Japanese air and naval forces. The garrison resisted until the island fell on 23 December 1941. The squadron lost its aircraft and many personnel, but its resistance became a central part of its institutional heritage. Henry T. Elrod, one of its pilots, received the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions during the defense. After rebuilding, the unit adopted the Avengers name in remembrance of its Wake Island personnel. During the Second World War, the squadron operated aircraft including the Brewster F2A Buffalo, Grumman F4F Wildcat, and Vought F4U Corsair. It participated in operations across the Southwest Pacific, including the Treasury-Bougainville, Northern Solomon, Leyte Gulf, and southern Philippine campaigns. After the war it served in the occupation of China and helped cover the evacuation of American personnel before returning to the United States. The unit became Marine Attack Squadron 211, or VMA-211, on 30 June 1952 while transitioning to the Douglas AD-4N Skyraider. It later became a long-serving A-4 Skyhawk operator, flying successive Skyhawk variants from the late 1950s through the late 1980s. The squadron moved to MCAS Yuma in December 1987 and transitioned to the AV-8B Harrier II in the early 1990s. Its Harrier period included deployments in support of operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the broader war against terrorism. In 2012, an attack on Camp Bastion destroyed or severely damaged several squadron aircraft and killed the commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Christopher K. Raible, and another Marine. The squadron completed its last AV-8B flight on 6 May 2016. It received its first two F-35B Lightning II aircraft three days later and was redesignated VMFA-211 on 30 June 2016. The F-35B, a short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing stealth fighter, expanded the squadron’s ability to conduct strike, air-defense, electronic-warfare, reconnaissance, and network-enabled operations from amphibious assault ships and austere land bases. In September 2018, an aircraft from the squadron conducted a precision strike in Afghanistan from USS Essex, contributing to the first United States combat employment of the F-35. In 2021, the squadron formed the fixed-wing element of the United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group’s inaugural operational deployment aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth alongside Royal Air Force No. 617 Squadron.

VMFA-211 was commissioned on 1 January 1937 at Naval Air Station San Diego as Marine Fighting Squadron 4M. It was redesignated VMF-2 in July of that year and re-equipped with Grumman F3F fighters. Before the Second World War, the squadron participated in fleet exercises and was associated with several later Marine aviation leaders and Medal of Honor recipients. The unit moved to Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Hawaii, in January 1941 and became VMF-211 on 1 July. In November, twelve of its F4F-3 Wildcats and thirteen pilots embarked aboard USS Enterprise for Wake Island, arriving on 3 December. Japan attacked Wake on 8 December, destroying most aircraft on the ground. The surviving aircraft and pilots repeatedly engaged Japanese forces for roughly two weeks. The squadron was credited with destroying enemy aircraft and contributing to the sinking of several Japanese vessels. When its last aircraft were lost, the Marines continued as a ground unit until Wake Island was captured on 23 December. Henry T. Elrod became the first Marine aviator to receive the Second World War Medal of Honor. The squadron’s rear echelon at Ewa also suffered heavy losses during the attack on Pearl Harbor. It began rebuilding in 1942, initially operating Brewster F2A-3 aircraft and later F4F Wildcats and F4U Corsairs. The unit adopted the Avengers name to commemorate its Wake Island personnel. It participated in major Pacific operations, including the Treasury-Bougainville campaign, the Battle of the Bismarck Sea, operations in the northern Solomon Islands, the Battle of Leyte Gulf, and campaigns in the southern Philippines. Following the war, VMF-211 took part in the American occupation of China and provided cover for the evacuation of American forces before returning to the United States in 1949. On 30 June 1952, it became Marine Attack Squadron 211, or VMA-211, during its transition to the AD-4N Skyraider. The squadron received the A4D-1 Skyhawk in 1957, moved to MCAS Iwakuni in 1958, and subsequently operated multiple Skyhawk variants, culminating in the A-4M. During the Vietnam War, VMA-211 made repeated deployments from Japan to Chu Lai. In 1972 it moved from Naha to Bien Hoa, where its A-4E aircraft provided close air support during the Easter Offensive and the fighting around An Loc. The squadron returned to MCAS El Toro in 1976. It marked thirty years of Skyhawk operations in 1987, then moved to MCAS Yuma in December of that year. It completed its final overseas A-4M deployment in 1989 and began transitioning to the AV-8B Night Attack Harrier in 1990. The unit later introduced the AV-8B II+ radar-equipped aircraft and received Marine Corps Aviation Association Attack Squadron of the Year honors in 1995, 1996, and 1998. After the September 2001 attacks, the squadron deployed aboard USS Bonhomme Richard to the Arabian Sea and flew combat missions over Afghanistan from January through March 2002. It subsequently supported Operation Iraqi Freedom from the Persian Gulf and made further deployments to Iraq, including operations from Al Asad Airbase and aboard USS Essex and USS Tarawa. In 2012, while deployed to Camp Bastion in Afghanistan, the squadron lost six Harriers and suffered damage to two more during a September attack. Lieutenant Colonel Christopher K. Raible and another Marine were killed. The squadron’s transition to the F-35B began in 2016. Its last Harrier flight took place on 6 May, its first two F-35Bs arrived on 9 May, and it was redesignated VMFA-211 on 30 June. In 2018, an F-35B from USS Essex conducted a strike in Afghanistan, marking the aircraft’s first United States combat use. In 2020, the squadron deployed to RAF Marham and trained with RAF No. 617 Squadron. The two units later formed the fixed-wing element of the United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group’s 2021 deployment aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth.

• 2021

  Joined the UK Carrier Strike Group deployment

  [1]VMFA-211en.wikipedia.org

  VMFA-211 and RAF No. 617 Squadron provided the fixed-wing component aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth.

• 2018

  First United States F-35 combat strike

  [1]VMFA-211en.wikipedia.org

  A squadron F-35B operating from USS Essex conducted a strike in Afghanistan.

• 2016

  Converted to the F-35B Lightning II

  [1]VMFA-211en.wikipedia.org

  The unit received its first F-35Bs and was redesignated VMFA-211 on 30 June.

• 1990

  Began AV-8B Harrier operations

  [1]VMFA-211en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron entered the AV-8B Night Attack Harrier era.

• 1987

  Moved to MCAS Yuma

  [1]VMFA-211en.wikipedia.org

  After decades of Skyhawk service, the squadron relocated to MCAS Yuma and joined Marine Aircraft Group 13.

• 1952

  Redesignated VMA-211

  [1]VMFA-211en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron became a Marine attack squadron while transitioning to the AD-4N Skyraider.

• 1941

  Redesignated VMF-211 and deployed to Wake Island

  [1]VMFA-211en.wikipedia.org

  The unit adopted the VMF-211 designation and sent aircraft and pilots to Wake Island shortly before the Pacific War began.

• 1937

  Commissioned as VF-4M

  [1]VMFA-211en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron was established on 1 January at Naval Air Station San Diego as Marine Fighting Squadron 4M.

An expeditionary Marine Corps fighter attack squadron positioned around fifth-generation F-35B strike capability, short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing operations, and a heritage of sustained combat service.

• Fighter attack aircraft · 2016

  F-35B Lightning II

  The squadron’s current aircraft is the short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing F-35B. It provides stealth strike, air-to-air combat, electronic-warfare, reconnaissance, and networked operations from amphibious assault ships, aircraft carriers, and austere expeditionary bases.

• Attack aircraft · 1990

  AV-8B Harrier II

  VMFA-211 previously operated the AV-8B Harrier II, including Night Attack and radar-equipped AV-8B II+ variants. The aircraft supported close air support and expeditionary strike missions until the squadron completed its final Harrier flight in May 2016.

• Light attack aircraft · 1957

  A-4 Skyhawk

  The Skyhawk was the squadron’s principal aircraft for approximately three decades. VMA-211 operated several versions, including the A-4B, A-4C, A-4E, and A-4M, across training, expeditionary, and combat deployments.

• Fighter-bomber

  F4U Corsair

  The squadron operated the Corsair during the later part of the Second World War, following earlier service with the Wildcat and Brewster Buffalo.

• 2021United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group deployment

  United Kingdom · Mediterranean · Middle East · Indo-Pacific

  VMFA-211 operated F-35Bs alongside RAF No. 617 Squadron as the fixed-wing component of HMS Queen Elizabeth’s inaugural carrier strike group deployment.

  Outcome. The deployment demonstrated integrated United States–United Kingdom fifth-generation carrier aviation.

  Source
• 2012Operation Enduring Freedom at Camp Bastion

  Afghanistan

  The squadron deployed to Afghanistan, moving from Kandahar to Camp Bastion during the operation.

  Outcome. A September attack destroyed six Harriers, damaged two others, and killed Lieutenant Colonel Christopher K. Raible and another Marine.

  Source
• 2003Operation Iraqi Freedom

  Iraq · Persian Gulf

  The squadron deployed aboard USS Bonhomme Richard and flew more than 360 sorties during approximately one month of combat operations.

  Outcome. The unit returned to MCAS Yuma in May 2003 and made further Iraq deployments in later years.

  Source
• 2002Operation Enduring Freedom

  Afghanistan · Arabian Sea

  Operating from USS Bonhomme Richard, the squadron flew combat missions against targets in Afghanistan.

  Outcome. The deployment ran from January through March 2002.

  Source
• 1965Vietnam War deployments

  South Vietnam

  VMA-211 made repeated deployments from Japan to Chu Lai and later supported operations from Bien Hoa.

  Outcome. Its A-4 Skyhawks provided sustained close air support during the conflict.

  Source
• 1942Southwest Pacific campaigns

  Solomon Islands · New Guinea · Philippines

  The rebuilt squadron participated in operations including Treasury-Bougainville, the Bismarck Sea, the northern Solomons, Leyte Gulf, and the southern Philippines.

  Outcome. The unit remained active through the Pacific campaign and transitioned to Corsair operations.

  Source
• 1941Defense of Wake Island

  Wake Island

  VMF-211 flew defensive missions against Japanese attacks before its aircraft were exhausted and the unit continued as a ground force.

  Outcome. Wake Island fell on 23 December 1941, but the defense became the squadron’s defining historical tradition.

  Source

• 2016

  Converted from AV-8B Harrier II to F-35B Lightning IIGeneration change

  Background

  The Marine Corps was replacing aging Harrier attack aircraft with the fifth-generation short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing F-35B.

  Action taken

  VMFA-211 received its first F-35Bs and changed from VMA-211 to VMFA-211.

  Aftermath

  The squadron became one of the Marine Corps fleet units operating the F-35B and subsequently conducted carrier and expeditionary missions with the aircraft.

  Source

• 1952

  Transitioned from fighter to attack designationGeneration change

  Background

  The squadron adopted the AD-4N Skyraider as its primary aircraft.

  Action taken

  It was redesignated Marine Attack Squadron 211, or VMA-211.

  Aftermath

  The unit developed a long-term attack-aircraft identity that continued through Skyhawk and Harrier operations.

  Source

1. 1VMFA-211en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 official unit page3rdmaw.marines.mil