Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 334

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 334, abbreviated VMFA-334 and nicknamed the Falcons, was a United States Marine Corps aviation squadron whose lineage extended from World War II scout-bomber operations through the jet age and the Vietnam War. The squadron was associated at different times with Marine Aircraft Group 15 and Marine Aircraft Group 33 and operated from several Marine Corps and naval air installations in the United States and the Pacific. The unit was first commissioned as Marine Scout Bomber Squadron 334, or VMSB-334, at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point on 1 August 1943. It initially flew the Douglas SBD Dauntless. During its first year the squadron moved around the United States for training. It was decommissioned on 10 October 1944 during a broader wartime reorganization and reduction involving a number of Marine scout-bomber units. VMA-334 was reactivated at Marine Corps Air Station Miami on 31 May 1952 as part of the expansion of the United States military associated with the Korean War. The reactivated squadron moved through several aircraft types, including the F6F Hellcat, F4U Corsair, and F9F Panther. On 23 January 1954 it transitioned to the FJ Fury and was redesignated Marine Fighter Squadron 334, or VMF-334. Its subsequent aircraft changes reflected the rapid shift from piston-powered naval aviation to high-performance jet fighters. In early 1957 VMF-334 made its first overseas deployment, spending more than a year at Naval Air Station Atsugi in Japan. After returning to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro in January 1958, it became the first West Coast Marine squadron to transition to the Vought F8U-1 Crusader. The transition placed the unit within the Marine Corps' emerging supersonic fighter capability. The squadron received its best-known designation, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 334, on 1 August 1967. At approximately the same time it transitioned to the McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II, a multirole aircraft suited to both air-to-air combat and strike missions. VMFA-334 departed MCAS El Toro on 20 August 1968 and arrived at Da Nang Air Base in South Vietnam on 1 September. Combat operations began soon afterward. In early 1969 the squadron relocated to Chu Lai, continuing Marine aviation operations in the Vietnam theater. In September 1969 VMFA-334 moved to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. From Japan, its aircraft provided air support for operations connected with the USS Pueblo, a United States Navy intelligence ship captured by North Korea. The squadron returned to MCAS El Toro in March 1971 and was decommissioned on 30 December 1971. It has remained an inactive Marine Corps squadron since that date.

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 334 began its lineage during World War II. Marine Scout Bomber Squadron 334 was commissioned at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point on 1 August 1943 and equipped with the Douglas SBD Dauntless. Rather than immediately entering an overseas combat deployment, the squadron spent roughly a year moving among United States locations for training. It was decommissioned on 10 October 1944, during a period in which several Marine scout-bomber squadrons were also being disbanded or reorganized. The unit returned to the Marine Corps order of battle on 31 May 1952 as Marine Attack Squadron 334. Its reactivation took place at MCAS Miami amid the broader military expansion associated with the Korean War. The squadron initially operated the F6F Hellcat and later flew the F4U Corsair and F9F Panther. On 23 January 1954, after adopting the FJ Fury, it became Marine Fighter Squadron 334. This change reflected both its new fighter role and the Marine Corps' transition to jet aircraft. VMF-334 undertook its first overseas deployment in early 1957, deploying to Naval Air Station Atsugi in Japan for more than a year. Following its return to MCAS El Toro in January 1958, the squadron became the first West Coast Marine squadron to transition to the F8U-1 Crusader. The Crusader gave the unit a supersonic fighter capability and represented another stage in its progression from propeller-driven attack aircraft to advanced jet aviation. On 1 August 1967 the squadron was redesignated Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 334. It subsequently transitioned to the F-4J Phantom II, a platform capable of performing both fighter and ground-attack missions. VMFA-334 left MCAS El Toro on 20 August 1968 for the Vietnam theater and arrived at Da Nang Air Base on 1 September. Combat operations began soon after arrival. Early in 1969 the squadron moved to Chu Lai, continuing operations in support of United States and allied forces. In September 1969 VMFA-334 redeployed to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. During this period it flew air-support missions associated with the USS Pueblo, a United States Navy intelligence vessel that had been seized by North Korea. The deployment demonstrated the squadron's continuing role in Pacific contingency operations after its Vietnam combat service. VMFA-334 returned to MCAS El Toro in March 1971. The Marine Corps decommissioned the squadron on 30 December 1971. Although the unit is no longer active, its lineage records the changing structure of Marine aviation across three decades: wartime scout-bombing, post-Korean War reactivation, conversion to several generations of fighters, combat in Vietnam, and Cold War operations in the Western Pacific.

• 1971

  Decommissioned

  [1]VMFA-334en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron returned to MCAS El Toro in March and was decommissioned on 30 December.

• 1969

  Relocated to Chu Lai and later Japan

  [1]VMFA-334en.wikipedia.org

  VMFA-334 moved to Chu Lai early in the year and redeployed to MCAS Iwakuni in September, where it supported Pacific operations.

• 1968

  Vietnam deployment

  [1]VMFA-334en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron left MCAS El Toro on 20 August and arrived at Da Nang Air Base on 1 September, beginning combat operations soon afterward.

• 1967

  Redesignated VMFA-334

  [1]VMFA-334en.wikipedia.org

  The unit adopted the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 334 designation on 1 August and transitioned to the F-4J Phantom II.

• 1958

  Transitioned to the F8U-1 Crusader

  [1]VMFA-334en.wikipedia.org

  After returning to MCAS El Toro in January, the squadron became the first West Coast Marine squadron to transition to the F8U-1 Crusader.

• 1957

  First overseas deployment

  [1]VMFA-334en.wikipedia.org

  VMF-334 deployed to Naval Air Station Atsugi, Japan, for more than a year.

• 1954

  Redesignated VMF-334

  [1]VMFA-334en.wikipedia.org

  After transitioning to the FJ Fury, the squadron was redesignated Marine Fighter Squadron 334 on 23 January.

• 1952

  Squadron reactivated as VMA-334

  [1]VMFA-334en.wikipedia.org

  Marine Attack Squadron 334 was reactivated at MCAS Miami on 31 May during the military expansion associated with the Korean War.

• 1944

  World War II-era squadron decommissioned

  [1]VMFA-334en.wikipedia.org

  VMSB-334 was decommissioned on 10 October after a year of training activity in the United States.

• 1943

  VMSB-334 commissioned

  [1]VMFA-334en.wikipedia.org

  Marine Scout Bomber Squadron 334 was commissioned at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point on 1 August and equipped with the Douglas SBD Dauntless.

A United States Marine Corps combat aviation unit that evolved from a World War II scout-bomber squadron into a jet fighter and attack squadron. Its identity was centered on expeditionary aviation, aircraft conversion, and combat support rather than commercial products or services.

• Scout bomber aircraft

  Douglas SBD Dauntless

  The aircraft operated by VMSB-334 when it was commissioned in 1943. The Dauntless formed the squadron's initial World War II-era equipment and supported its scout-bomber training role.

• Carrier-based fighter aircraft

  F6F Hellcat

  One of the early aircraft types used after the squadron's 1952 reactivation as VMA-334.

• Fighter-attack aircraft

  F4U Corsair

  A piston-powered fighter and attack aircraft operated by the reactivated squadron before its transition to jet aircraft.

• Jet fighter aircraft

  F9F Panther

  A jet fighter used by the squadron during its post-Korean War modernization period.

• Jet fighter aircraft

  FJ Fury

  The aircraft transition that accompanied the squadron's redesignation as VMF-334 in January 1954.

• Supersonic fighter aircraft · 1958

  F8U-1 Crusader

  Adopted after the squadron returned from Japan in 1958. VMF-334 became the first West Coast Marine squadron to transition to this aircraft.

• Fighter-attack aircraft · 1967

  F-4J Phantom II

  The principal aircraft associated with VMFA-334's Vietnam War service and later Pacific operations. Its multirole design supported both air-combat and strike missions.

• 1969USS Pueblo support operations

  Korean Peninsula · Western Pacific

  Following its move to MCAS Iwakuni, VMFA-334 flew air support over the USS Pueblo, the United States Navy intelligence ship captured by North Korea.

  Outcome. The squadron continued Pacific contingency support until its return to MCAS El Toro in March 1971.

  Source
• 1968Vietnam War combat deployment

  Vietnam

  After arriving at Da Nang Air Base in September 1968, VMFA-334 began combat operations in the Vietnam theater and later relocated to Chu Lai in early 1969.

  Outcome. The squadron remained in the Vietnam theater until its September 1969 relocation to Japan.

  Source

• 1967

  Transitioned to the F-4J Phantom IIGeneration change

  Background

  The Marine Corps required a multirole aircraft capable of supporting both fighter and attack missions.

  Action taken

  The squadron adopted the F-4J Phantom II and received the VMFA-334 fighter-attack designation.

  Aftermath

  The Phantom II became the squadron's combat aircraft during its Vietnam deployment and subsequent Pacific operations.

  Source

• 1958

  Transitioned to the F8U-1 CrusaderGeneration change

  Background

  After its first overseas deployment and return to MCAS El Toro, the squadron entered the supersonic fighter era.

  Action taken

  VMF-334 became the first West Coast Marine squadron to transition to the F8U-1 Crusader.

  Aftermath

  The transition expanded the squadron's high-performance fighter capability before its later conversion to the F-4J Phantom II.

  Source

• 1954

  Transitioned from piston-era aircraft to the FJ FuryGeneration change

  Background

  The reactivated squadron was moving from earlier Hellcat, Corsair, and Panther operations toward a jet-fighter role.

  Action taken

  The squadron adopted the FJ Fury on 23 January and was redesignated VMF-334.

  Aftermath

  The change established its postwar identity as a Marine fighter squadron and preceded later transitions to the Crusader and Phantom II.

  Source

1. 1VMFA-334en.wikipedia.org