Marine Fighting Squadron 111
VMF-111, nicknamed the "Devil Dogs," was a United States Marine Corps reserve fighter squadron that served from 1925 until its deactivation in 1965.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Marine Fighting Squadron 111, commonly identified by its designation VMF-111 and nicknamed the "Devil Dogs," was a United States Marine Corps fighter squadron with roots in the early development of Marine aviation. It was established at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, on September 1, 1925, originally as Marine Fighting Squadron 2, or VF-2M. The unit's initial purpose was to train pursuit pilots and support the testing and development of pursuit aircraft. During its early years it underwent several designation changes, becoming VF-9M in 1927, VF-5M in 1928, returning to VF-9M in 1930, and later VMF-1 in 1937 before receiving the VMF-111 designation on July 1, 1941. Its location near Washington, D.C., gave the squadron an unusual public profile. It became a Marine aviation demonstration or show unit, representing the service at public events and helping attract national attention to Marine aviation during the interwar period. In 1937, the squadron also served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga under the command of Captain William Halsey, who later became a prominent United States Navy admiral. The unit's equipment reflected the rapid development of American military aviation. It replaced Boeing F4B-4 fighters with Grumman F3F-2 aircraft in 1938 and was operating Grumman F4F Wildcats when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. During World War II, VMF-111 was assigned to the defense of the Samoan area. It reached Tafuna Airfield on Tutuila on March 10, 1942, becoming the first Marine squadron to operate in Samoa. After construction work at Faleolo Airfield on Upolu, the squadron moved there in July 1942. It remained in Samoa through 1944, initially flying the F4F Wildcat and later transitioning to the Vought F4U Corsair in early 1943. Rather than being committed directly to the principal Solomon Islands fighting, it served for a period as a replacement and training resource for Marine fighter units engaged in that campaign. VMF-111 moved to the Central Pacific in January 1944. For the remainder of the war it conducted operations against Japanese positions that had been bypassed by advancing Allied forces. During this phase, eight of its Corsairs carried out an early experimental dive- or level-bombing operation using 1,000-pound bombs against Japanese anti-aircraft positions on Mili Atoll. The action demonstrated the Corsair's potential as a fighter-bomber and reflected the expanding ground-attack role of Marine fighter aviation. After World War II, the squadron returned to the United States and was deactivated on November 26, 1945. It was reactivated on June 1, 1948, as part of the Marine Air Reserve and based at Naval Air Station Dallas. The Korean War led to a recall to active duty on July 23, 1950, but VMF-111 did not conduct combat operations in Korea. Instead, it resumed a training function, including the preparation of pilots in a role that echoed its earlier reserve and replacement-unit responsibilities. It was released from active duty in July 1953 and continued operating at NAS Dallas until October 22, 1965, when it was finally deactivated. Its personnel and aircraft were transferred to VMF-112. VMF-111 is therefore best understood not as a commercial brand but as a historic Marine Corps aviation organization whose identity was associated with early fighter development, public demonstration, Pacific defense, Corsair operations, and postwar reserve training.
History
VMF-111 originated during the formative period of United States Marine Corps aviation. On September 1, 1925, Marine Fighting Squadron 2, designated VF-2M, was commissioned at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. Its stated function was to develop and train pursuit pilots while contributing to the evaluation and improvement of pursuit aircraft. The unit was redesignated VF-9M on July 1, 1927, VF-5M on July 1, 1928, and VF-9M again on August 1, 1930. These changes reflected the evolving administrative and operational structure of Marine aviation rather than a change in the squadron's basic fighter role. Because Quantico was close to Washington, D.C., the squadron became a prominent Marine aviation demonstration unit. Its public appearances helped present the Marine Corps as a modern aviation service and brought it national attention during the interwar years. In 1937, the unit operated for a period aboard USS Saratoga, commanded at the time by Captain William Halsey. On July 1 of that year it became VMF-1. In 1938, it exchanged its Boeing F4B-4 fighters for Grumman F3F-2 aircraft, illustrating the rapid transition from early biplane fighters to more capable carrier-era designs. On July 1, 1941, as the Marine Corps expanded before the United States entered World War II, the unit was redesignated VMF-111. At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, VMF-111 flew the Grumman F4F Wildcat. On March 10, 1942, it arrived at Tafuna Airfield on Tutuila in American Samoa. This made it the first Marine squadron to operate in Samoa. Following the completion of Faleolo Airfield on Upolu by Seabee construction personnel, the squadron relocated there in July 1942. It formed part of the Samoa Defense Garrison Area and remained in the region for roughly two years. In early 1943, the squadron transitioned to the Vought F4U Corsair, a type that became central to Marine fighter and fighter-bomber operations in the Pacific. VMF-111's Samoa assignment combined local defense, operational readiness, and support for the wider Marine aviation system. It served as a source of replacement personnel and aircraft for squadrons fighting in the Solomon Islands campaign. In January 1944, the squadron left Samoa for the Central Pacific. During the rest of the war, it attacked Japanese installations that Allied forces had isolated or bypassed. One notable operation involved eight Corsairs carrying 1,000-pound bombs against substantial anti-aircraft positions on Mili Atoll. Conducted under Major William E. Classen, the mission was an early experimental use of Corsairs in a bombing role and helped illustrate the aircraft's flexibility beyond air-to-air combat. Following Japan's defeat, VMF-111 returned to the United States and was deactivated on November 26, 1945. The postwar reserve system brought it back into service on June 1, 1948, when it was reactivated as a Marine Air Reserve squadron at Naval Air Station Dallas, Texas. The Korean War prompted a recall to active duty on July 23, 1950. VMF-111 did not deploy for Korean combat; instead, it performed a training mission, including the preparation of pilots in a role related to its wartime replacement function. It returned from active duty in July 1953 and continued as a reserve unit at NAS Dallas. The squadron was permanently deactivated on October 22, 1965. Its personnel and aircraft were transferred to VMF-112. Although no longer active, VMF-111 remains associated with the early institutional history of Marine fighter aviation, the public image of the Marine Corps during the interwar period, the defense of Samoa, Corsair operations in the Central Pacific, and the postwar Marine Air Reserve.
- 1965
Final deactivation
[1]VMF-111 was decommissioned on October 22, with its personnel and aircraft transferred to VMF-112.
- 1950
Recalled to active duty during the Korean War
[1]The squadron was recalled on July 23 but performed training duties rather than Korean combat operations.
- 1948
Reactivated in the Marine Air Reserve
[1]VMF-111 was reactivated on June 1 and based at Naval Air Station Dallas.
- 1945
Deactivated after World War II
[1]The wartime squadron returned to the United States and was deactivated on November 26.
- 1944
Moved to the Central Pacific
[1]VMF-111 left Samoa in January and conducted operations against isolated Japanese positions for the rest of the war.
- 1943
Transitioned to the F4U Corsair
[1]The squadron began operating Vought F4U Corsairs in early 1943.
- 1942
Deployed to Samoa
[1]VMF-111 arrived at Tafuna Airfield on Tutuila on March 10 and became the first Marine squadron to operate in Samoa.
- 1941
Redesignated VMF-111
[1]The squadron received the VMF-111 designation on July 1 during the Marine Corps expansion preceding World War II.
- 1938
Received Grumman F3F-2 fighters
[1]The squadron replaced its Boeing F4B-4 aircraft with Grumman F3F-2 fighters.
- 1937
Redesignated VMF-1
[1]After its association with USS Saratoga, the unit became VMF-1 on July 1.
Products and positioning
A historic United States Marine Corps fighter squadron positioned within Marine aviation as an early training, demonstration, operational defense, and reserve unit.
Fighter aircraft
Boeing F4B-4
The Boeing F4B-4 was an early fighter operated by the squadron before the transition to newer Grumman aircraft. VMF-111's replacement of this type in 1938 marked part of its movement away from earlier-generation Marine biplane fighters.
Fighter aircraft · 1938
Grumman F3F-2
The Grumman F3F-2 entered squadron service in 1938, replacing the Boeing F4B-4. It represented the Marine Corps' continuing modernization of carrier-capable and land-based fighter aviation during the late interwar period.
Fighter aircraft
Grumman F4F Wildcat
VMF-111 was flying the Grumman F4F Wildcat when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. The type formed the squadron's principal fighter equipment during its initial World War II deployment to Samoa.
Fighter-bomber aircraft · 1943
Vought F4U Corsair
The squadron transitioned to the Vought F4U Corsair in early 1943. In the Central Pacific, VMF-111 used Corsairs for attacks on bypassed Japanese positions, including an experimental bombing mission against anti-aircraft defenses on Mili Atoll.
Marketing campaigns
- 1944Central Pacific operations
Central Pacific
After leaving Samoa, VMF-111 conducted attacks against Japanese garrisons and installations that had been bypassed by advancing Allied forces.
Outcome. The unit continued these operations through the end of World War II and then returned to the United States.
- 1942Samoa Defense Garrison Area
American Samoa · Western Samoa
VMF-111 operated from Tafuna Airfield on Tutuila and later Faleolo Airfield on Upolu as part of the defense of the Samoan area. The squadron also served as a replacement resource for Marine aviation units engaged elsewhere in the Pacific.
Outcome. The squadron remained in Samoa until January 1944 before moving to the Central Pacific.
Brand decisions
1965
Final deactivation and transfer to VMF-112OtherBackground
VMF-111 had continued as a Marine Air Reserve squadron at Naval Air Station Dallas after its post-Korean War release from active duty.
Action taken
The Marine Corps deactivated the squadron on October 22 and transferred its personnel and aircraft to VMF-112.
Aftermath
VMF-111 ceased to exist as an active or reserve squadron.
1944
Experimental Corsair bombing operationOtherBackground
Marine aviation was expanding the Corsair's role beyond air combat to include attacks on fortified and anti-aircraft positions.
Action taken
Eight VMF-111 Corsairs carried 1,000-pound bombs against heavy Japanese anti-aircraft positions on Mili Atoll.
Aftermath
The mission provided an early operational demonstration of the Corsair's fighter-bomber capabilities.
1943
Transition to the Vought F4U CorsairGeneration changeBackground
The squadron was serving in the Samoa Defense Garrison Area during World War II and required modern fighter equipment.
Action taken
VMF-111 transitioned from the Grumman F4F Wildcat to the Vought F4U Corsair in early 1943.
Aftermath
The Corsair enabled the squadron to perform both fighter and ground-attack missions in the Central Pacific.
1938
Re-equipment with Grumman F3F-2 fightersGeneration changeBackground
The squadron was modernizing its aircraft during a period of rapid development in Marine and naval fighter aviation.
Action taken
It replaced Boeing F4B-4 aircraft with Grumman F3F-2 fighters.
Aftermath
The change preceded the squadron's later transition to monoplane fighters and its World War II deployment.
Sources1 sources
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