VMFAT-101
Former United States Marine Corps fighter attack training squadron responsible for preparing F/A-18 Hornet replacement aircrews.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
VMFAT-101, formally Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101 and nicknamed the Sharpshooters, was a United States Marine Corps fleet replacement squadron specializing first in the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II and later in the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet. Rather than operating as a conventional deployable combat squadron, it provided advanced transition and tactical instruction for Marine and Navy aviators, naval flight officers, and aviation maintenance personnel before they joined operational units. The squadron was commissioned at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California, on 3 January 1969. Its initial mission was to train replacement aircrews in the employment of the F-4 Phantom II. VMFAT-101 flew its first training sortie on 20 February 1969 and completed its first fighter aircrew class by August. It moved to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, during the summer of 1970, where it became a major center for Marine Corps Phantom training. During its Phantom era, the squadron developed a record emphasizing flight safety and high-volume instruction. It received its first Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Safety Award in 1972 after more than 18,300 mishap-free flight hours. In July 1974, it absorbed the assets of VMFAT-201 and became the Marine Corps' largest fixed-wing tactical jet squadron and its sole remaining F-4 training squadron. It later received additional aviation safety recognition in 1976, 1978, and 1979, and the Marine Corps Aviation Association's Robert M. Hanson Award in 1983. VMFAT-101 trained its last F-4 replacement aircrew on 20 May 1987. That July, its remaining ten Phantom aircraft were flown to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, for storage. Across approximately eighteen years of Phantom operations, the unit recorded more than 125,000 flight hours while preparing Marine and Navy aircrews for fleet service. The squadron returned to El Toro on 29 September 1987 and began converting to the F/A-18 fleet replacement mission. In 1988 it joined Marine Aircraft Group 11 after the deactivation of Marine Combat Crew Readiness Training Group 10. By October 1988 it operated 21 Hornets and had established a cadre of qualified instructor pilots. In 1989 it graduated 23 new F/A-18 pilots and accumulated more than 11,000 mishap-free Hornet flight hours. As an F/A-18 replacement squadron, VMFAT-101 trained pilots for both the single-seat F/A-18C and the two-seat F/A-18D, as well as naval flight officers serving as F/A-18D weapon systems officers. Its syllabus normally lasted about 44 weeks and covered transition, air-to-ground employment, air-to-air combat, and carrier qualification. Training included aircraft systems, navigation, night and formation flying, radar intercepts, close air support, precision-guided weapons, night-vision-goggle operations, basic fighter maneuvers, and carrier landing preparation. The unit also developed Marine and Navy maintenance specialists by exposing them to a large fleet of training aircraft and extensive qualification requirements. VMFAT-101 supported the Marine Corps' deployable F/A-18 force by producing replacement aircrews for fleet squadrons and refreshing aviators who had lost currency. Its graduates could proceed to operational assignments supporting expeditionary and carrier-based missions, including deployments connected with United States Central Command requirements and the Marine Corps Unit Deployment Program in Japan. After 54 years of service, VMFAT-101 was decommissioned on 29 September 2023. It was the last remaining F/A-18 Hornet training squadron in the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Following its deactivation, VMFA-323 assumed responsibility for training replacement F/A-18 pilots while the Hornet remained in the Marine Corps inventory.
History
VMFAT-101 was commissioned at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California, on 3 January 1969, within Marine Combat Crew Readiness Training Group 10 of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. Its original role was to train replacement aircrews in the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. The squadron conducted its first training sortie on 20 February 1969 and completed its first class by August of that year. The unit relocated to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, in the summer of 1970. Its early record was marked by extensive flight activity and formal recognition for aviation safety. In 1972 it earned its first Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Safety Award after surpassing 18,300 mishap-free flight hours. In July 1974, VMFAT-101 absorbed the assets of VMFAT-201 from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. The consolidation made VMFAT-101 the Marine Corps' largest fixed-wing tactical jet squadron and its only remaining F-4 training squadron. The Sharpshooters continued to receive recognition for safety and operational excellence, including the 1976 CNO Aviation Safety Award and Fleet Marine Forces Pacific Aviation Safety Awards in 1978 and 1979. In 1983, the squadron received the Marine Corps Aviation Association Robert M. Hanson Award as the finest fighter squadron in Marine aviation. On 20 May 1987 it trained its final F-4 replacement aircrew. During July, its last ten F-4s were transferred to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base for permanent storage. The squadron had accumulated more than 125,000 Phantom flight hours over roughly eighteen years. VMFAT-101 returned to El Toro on 29 September 1987 to transition to the F/A-18 Hornet and become the Marine Corps' dedicated Hornet fleet replacement squadron. Marine Combat Crew Readiness Training Group 10 was deactivated on 31 March 1988, after which VMFAT-101 joined Marine Aircraft Group 11. By October 1988 it had 21 F/A-18s and 25 qualified instructor pilots. By May 1989 it had graduated 23 new Hornet pilots and recorded more than 11,000 mishap-free Hornet flight hours. The F/A-18 mission encompassed both single-seat and two-seat aircraft. The squadron trained pilots and, following the Marine Corps' replacement of the A-6 Intruder, also trained naval flight officers serving as F/A-18D weapon systems officers. Its replacement-aircrew syllabus normally lasted 44 weeks and was divided into transition, air-to-ground, air-to-air, and carrier-qualification phases. The program progressed from aircraft systems, navigation, formation, night flying, and radar intercepts to strike tactics, close air support, precision weapons, night-vision-goggle operations, basic fighter maneuvers, and field carrier landing practice. VMFAT-101 also supported the development of aviation maintenance personnel. Its relatively large aircraft inventory created opportunities for maintainers to gain qualifications and assume supervisory responsibilities. The squadron supplied trained replacement aircrews to the Marine Corps' deployable fleet squadrons and refreshed aviators who were out of currency, helping graduates enter operational units prepared for expeditionary, carrier, and overseas missions. The squadron was last based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, under Marine Aircraft Group 11 and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. It was decommissioned on 29 September 2023 after 54 years. At the time of its closure, it was the final F/A-18 Hornet training squadron in the Navy and Marine Corps. VMFA-323 assumed the replacement-training function until the Hornet could be retired from the Marine Corps inventory.
- 2023
Decommissioned
[1]VMFAT-101 was decommissioned on 29 September after 54 years of service.
- 1988
Joined Marine Aircraft Group 11
[1]Following the deactivation of Marine Combat Crew Readiness Training Group 10 on 31 March, VMFAT-101 joined Marine Aircraft Group 11.
- 1987
End of F-4 training
[1]VMFAT-101 trained its last F-4 replacement aircrew on 20 May and transferred its remaining Phantom aircraft to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in July.
- 1987
F/A-18 conversion begins
[1]The squadron returned to El Toro on 29 September and began its transition to the F/A-18 fleet replacement mission.
- 1983
Robert M. Hanson Award
[1]The squadron received the Marine Corps Aviation Association Robert M. Hanson Award as the finest fighter squadron in Marine aviation.
- 1974
Absorption of VMFAT-201
[1]VMFAT-101 absorbed the assets of VMFAT-201 and became the Marine Corps' largest fixed-wing tactical jet squadron and sole remaining F-4 training squadron.
- 1972
First CNO Aviation Safety Award
[1]The unit received its first Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Safety Award after more than 18,300 mishap-free flight hours.
- 1970
Relocation to MCAS Yuma
[1]VMFAT-101 moved from El Toro to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, during the summer.
- 1969
Squadron commissioned
[1]VMFAT-101 was commissioned at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California, on 3 January to train F-4 Phantom II replacement aircrews.
- 1969
First training sortie
[1]The squadron flew its first training sortie on 20 February and completed its first fighter aircrew class by August.
Products and positioning
A high-capacity Marine Corps fleet replacement and tactical training organization that prepared aircrews and maintenance personnel for operational F/A-18 assignments.
Military aviation training · 1969
F-4 Phantom II replacement-aircrew training
VMFAT-101's original mission was to prepare Marine and Navy fighter aircrews to operate the F-4 Phantom II. Training covered the aircraft's systems and tactical employment, creating replacement personnel for operational fleet units. The squadron performed this role from its commissioning in 1969 until it trained its final F-4 replacement aircrew in May 1987.
Military aviation training · 1987
F/A-18 Hornet fleet replacement training
After converting from the Phantom, VMFAT-101 provided the Marine Corps' dedicated F/A-18 fleet replacement mission. Its approximately 44-week syllabus progressed from transition and aircraft systems work to air-to-ground tactics, air-to-air combat, and carrier qualification, preparing pilots for single-seat and two-seat Hornet assignments.
Military aviation training · 1988
F/A-18D weapon systems officer training
The squadron trained naval flight officers assigned as weapon systems officers in the two-seat F/A-18D. Instruction included tactical employment, air-to-ground support, forward air controller airborne procedures, and coordination with the pilot in combat scenarios.
Military technical training · 1969
Aviation maintenance qualification development
Because VMFAT-101 operated a comparatively large number of training aircraft, it served as an important environment for Marine and Navy maintenance personnel to earn qualifications, develop technical expertise, and assume leadership responsibilities within aviation maintenance organizations.
Brand decisions
2023
Decommissioning and transfer of replacement trainingStrategyBackground
After 54 years of operation, the Marine Corps ended VMFAT-101 as the F/A-18 training fleet evolved and the Hornet approached retirement from Marine service.
Action taken
The squadron was decommissioned on 29 September 2023, with VMFA-323 assuming the replacement F/A-18 pilot training role.
Aftermath
VMFAT-101 ceased to exist as an active unit, ending its status as the last F/A-18 Hornet training squadron in the United States Navy and Marine Corps.
1987
Transition from the F-4 Phantom II to the F/A-18 HornetGeneration changeBackground
The Marine Corps was moving from the F-4 Phantom II toward the F/A-18 Hornet as its principal fighter and attack aircraft, requiring a new fleet replacement training structure.
Action taken
VMFAT-101 trained its last F-4 replacement aircrew in May, transferred its remaining Phantom aircraft to storage in July, and returned to El Toro in September to begin the F/A-18 conversion.
Aftermath
The squadron became the Marine Corps' dedicated F/A-18 fleet replacement squadron and later trained both pilots and F/A-18D weapon systems officers.
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