Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 333
A former United States Marine Corps fighter-attack squadron known as the Fighting Shamrocks.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 333, commonly designated VMFA-333, was a United States Marine Corps aviation squadron whose lineage extended from its commissioning as Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 333 in 1943 to its deactivation in 1992. Its informal names, the Fighting Shamrocks and Trip Trey, reflected the three-leaf shamrock markings carried on the vertical stabilizers of its aircraft. The unit operated successively in reconnaissance, bombing, fighter, and fighter-attack roles, adapting to a series of major aircraft types and to changing Marine Corps operational requirements. The squadron was established at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, on 1 August 1943 as VMSB-333. During the Second World War it trained for anti-submarine and expeditionary operations, including a detachment period at Naval Air Station Key West, Florida. After moving through San Diego and Hawaii, the squadron deployed to Midway Island, where it conducted anti-submarine patrols with Douglas SBD Dauntless aircraft. It briefly became Marine Fighter Bomber Squadron 333 in October 1944 while transitioning to the Vought F4U Corsair, then reverted to its earlier designation in December. The wartime squadron was deactivated at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Hawaii, on 1 November 1945. The unit returned to active service on 1 August 1952 as Marine Attack Squadron 333 at Marine Corps Air Station Miami. It initially operated Grumman F6F Hellcats before moving through Corsairs and Douglas A-1 Skyraiders. In 1957 it became Marine Fighter Squadron 333 and transitioned to the Grumman FJ-3 Fury. The squadron relocated to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in 1958 and became the first Marine Corps squadron to receive the Vought F-8 Crusader three years later. Its deployment during the Cuban Missile Crisis was one of the squadron's most notable Cold War assignments. In August 1962, it conducted a non-stop, aerially refueled movement to Puerto Rico and Guantanamo Bay. Aircraft maintained armed alert duties at Guantanamo while the remainder of the reinforced unit conducted training and air-defense activities from Roosevelt Roads. When the crisis intensified in October, the squadron helped form a combined Puerto Rico air-defense arrangement with Marine Attack Squadron 331 and Puerto Rico Air National Guard F-86 aircraft. It returned to Beaufort in December after the crisis subsided. The squadron received all-weather F-8 aircraft in 1966 and was redesignated Marine All Weather Fighter Squadron 333 in February. In June of the same year it became VMFA-333 as it converted to the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. Its Vietnam War deployment took place aboard USS America in 1972. Operating from Yankee Station, the squadron flew combat sorties over Vietnam and recorded its sole air-to-air victory when Major Lee T. Lasseter and Captain John D. Cummings shot down a North Vietnamese MiG-21 near Hanoi. The engagement was described as the only all-Marine air-to-air kill of the Vietnam War. The aircraft later suffered flak and surface-to-air missile damage, forcing the crew to eject near Haiphong. VMFA-333 remained associated with Carrier Air Wing 8 through 1978 and also deployed aboard USS Nimitz in 1976. It was the last regular Marine Corps squadron to operate the F-4 Phantom and finally converted to the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet in October 1987. During its final operational period, the squadron deployed to the Persian Gulf for Operation Desert Storm in 1990–1991. It flew more than 700 combat missions, delivered over two million pounds of ordnance, and reported no aircraft losses during that deployment. VMFA-333 was deactivated on 31 March 1992, ending the active service of the Fighting Shamrocks.
History
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 333 traced its lineage to Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 333, commissioned at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point on 1 August 1943. During the Second World War, elements of the squadron trained for anti-submarine work at Naval Air Station Key West before the unit moved through San Diego and Hawaii toward Midway Island. There it conducted anti-submarine patrols with SBD Dauntless bombers. The squadron briefly received the designation Marine Fighter Bomber Squadron 333 on 14 October 1944 as it transitioned to the F4U Corsair, but reverted to VMSB-333 in December. It was deactivated at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa on 1 November 1945. The unit was reactivated on 1 August 1952 as Marine Attack Squadron 333 at Marine Corps Air Station Miami. Its postwar aircraft succession included the F6F Hellcat, F4U Corsair, and A-1 Skyraider. In January 1957 the squadron became Marine Fighter Squadron 333 and moved to the FJ-3 Fury. After a Caribbean training deployment aboard USS Forrestal in 1958, it relocated to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina. In 1961 it became the first Marine Corps squadron to receive the F-8 Crusader. The squadron played an air-defense role during the Cuban Missile Crisis. In August 1962 it carried out an aerially refueled deployment to Puerto Rico and Guantanamo Bay, maintaining armed alert aircraft at Guantanamo while conducting tactical, gunnery, and missile training from Roosevelt Roads. During the crisis it worked with Marine Attack Squadron 331 and Puerto Rico Air National Guard F-86 aircraft in a combined air-defense structure. VMF-333 returned to Beaufort in December. After receiving all-weather F-8 Crusaders, the unit became VMF(AW)-333 in February 1966. It was redesignated VMFA-333 in June 1966 during conversion to the F-4 Phantom II. The squadron deployed aboard USS America in 1972 and flew combat missions from Yankee Station. On one mission, Major Lee T. Lasseter and Captain John D. Cummings shot down a MiG-21 near Hanoi. Their aircraft was subsequently damaged by anti-aircraft fire and an SA-2 missile, and both crew members ejected near Haiphong. The event was recognized as the only all-Marine air-to-air victory of the Vietnam War. The squadron remained linked to Carrier Air Wing 8 until 1978 and deployed aboard USS Nimitz in 1976. VMFA-333 was the final regular Marine Corps squadron to operate the F-4 Phantom. In October 1987 it transitioned to the F/A-18 Hornet. Its last combat deployment came during Operation Desert Storm in 1990–1991, when it flew more than 700 missions and released more than two million pounds of ordnance without an aircraft loss. The squadron was deactivated on 31 March 1992.
- 1992
Deactivation
[1]The squadron was deactivated on 31 March, ending its active service.
- 1987
Transition to the F/A-18 Hornet
[1]VMFA-333 replaced its F-4 Phantom II aircraft with F/A-18 Hornets.
- 1972
Vietnam War air-to-air victory
[1]A VMFA-333 crew shot down a MiG-21 near Hanoi during the squadron's USS America deployment.
- 1966
Redesignated VMFA-333
[1]The unit adopted the VMFA designation as it transitioned to the F-4 Phantom II.
- 1962
Cuban Missile Crisis deployment
[1]The squadron deployed to Puerto Rico and Guantanamo Bay and supported a combined regional air-defense arrangement during the crisis.
- 1961
First Marine Corps F-8 Crusader squadron
[1]VMF-333 became the first Marine Corps squadron to receive the F-8 Crusader.
- 1957
Redesignated VMF-333
[1]The unit became a Marine fighter squadron and began transitioning to the FJ-3 Fury.
- 1952
Reactivated as VMA-333
[1]The squadron returned to service at Marine Corps Air Station Miami as Marine Attack Squadron 333.
- 1944
Transition to the F4U Corsair
[1]The squadron was redesignated VMBF-333 while converting from the SBD Dauntless to the F4U Corsair.
- 1943
Squadron commissioned as VMSB-333
[1]Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 333 was commissioned at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina.
Products and positioning
A Marine Corps fighter-attack unit distinguished by a long operational lineage, repeated aircraft transitions, carrier-based deployments, and the Fighting Shamrocks identity.
Scout bomber
SBD Dauntless
The squadron used SBD Dauntless aircraft for anti-submarine patrols from Midway Island during the Second World War.
Fighter-bomber
F4U Corsair
The Corsair became the squadron's principal fighter-bomber during its wartime transition from the Dauntless and was used during the latter part of the Second World War.
Fighter
F-8 Crusader
VMFA-333 and its predecessor designations operated the F-8 Crusader, including all-weather variants. The unit was the first Marine Corps squadron to receive the type.
Fighter-attack aircraft
F-4 Phantom II
The F-4 Phantom II formed the squadron's principal combat platform during the Vietnam War and later deployments. VMFA-333 was the last regular Marine Corps squadron to operate the type.
Fighter-attack aircraft · 1987
F/A-18 Hornet
The squadron converted to the F/A-18 Hornet in 1987 and used it during its final operational period, including Operation Desert Storm.
Marketing campaigns
- 1990Operation Desert Storm
Persian Gulf · Iraq
During its final deployment, the squadron flew more than 700 combat missions against Iraqi forces and delivered more than two million pounds of ordnance.
Outcome. The deployment was completed without a reported aircraft loss, preceding the squadron's deactivation in 1992.
- 1972Vietnam War
North Vietnam · Yankee Station
Operating from USS America, VMFA-333 flew combat sorties over Vietnam and achieved an air-to-air victory against a MiG-21 near Hanoi.
Outcome. The squadron completed its carrier deployment; the aircraft involved in the MiG engagement was damaged by flak and a surface-to-air missile, and its crew ejected safely.
- 1962Cuban Missile Crisis
Puerto Rico · Guantanamo Bay · Caribbean
The squadron deployed aircraft to Puerto Rico and Guantanamo Bay, maintained armed alert duties, and supported combined air-defense operations during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Outcome. The crisis ended without combat against Cuba, and the squadron returned to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in December 1962.
Brand decisions
1992
Squadron deactivationStrategyBackground
Following its final combat deployment in the Persian Gulf, the Marine Corps ended the unit's active service.
Action taken
VMFA-333 was deactivated effective 31 March 1992.
Aftermath
The Fighting Shamrocks ceased to operate as an active Marine Corps squadron.
1987
Conversion to the F/A-18 HornetGeneration changeBackground
The squadron was modernized as the Marine Corps moved away from the aging F-4 Phantom II.
Action taken
VMFA-333 transitioned to F/A-18 Hornets in October 1987.
Aftermath
The Hornet served as the squadron's final aircraft type during Operation Desert Storm and until deactivation.
1966
Conversion from the F-8 Crusader to the F-4 Phantom IIGeneration changeBackground
The Marine Corps was expanding the squadron's fighter-attack and all-weather capabilities during the Vietnam-era modernization period.
Action taken
The squadron was redesignated VMFA-333 and transitioned to the F-4 Phantom II.
Aftermath
The Phantom II became the squadron's principal combat aircraft through the Vietnam War and later deployments.
Recent events
- 1992
VMFA-333 deactivated[1]
Other
The Fighting Shamrocks were deactivated effective 31 March 1992.
- 1990
VMFA-333 deployed for Operation Desert Storm[1]
Other
The squadron conducted more than 700 combat missions and delivered over two million pounds of ordnance during its final Persian Gulf deployment.
- 1972
VMFA-333 recorded a MiG-21 victory during the Vietnam War[1]
Other
During its deployment aboard USS America, a VMFA-333 crew shot down a North Vietnamese MiG-21 near Hanoi in an engagement identified as the sole all-Marine air-to-air kill of the war.
- 1943
Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 333 commissioned[1]
Other
The unit was established at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point as Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 333.
Sources1 sources
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