VMFA-334
Encyclopedia
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 334 (VMFA-334) was a United States Marine Corps
fighter squadron. Known as the “Falcons”, they were part of Marine Aircraft Group 15
and Marine Aircraft Group 33. They participated in action during World War II
and the Vietnam War
and were decommissioned in 1971.
Marine Scout Bomber Squadron 334 (VMSB-334) was activated on August 1, 1943 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
flying the Douglas
SBD Dauntless
. The squadron traveled around the United States for a year training until they were deactivated on October 10, 1944, a day that many other scout bomber squadrons were deactivated.
. At this time they were equipped with the F9F Panther
. Less than two years later, on January 23, 1954, the squadron transitioned to the FJ Fury
and was redesignated Marine Fighter Squadron 334 {VMF-334}.
VMF-334’s first overseas deployment came in Early 1957 when they were sent to Naval Air Station Atsugi for more than a year. They returned to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro
in January 1958 where they became the first West Coast squadron to transition to the F8U-1 Crusader
.
. The Falcons departed MCAS El Toro on August 20, 1968. The squadron arrived at Da Nang
on September 1. Initial combat operations began immediately. VMFA-334 relocated to Chu Lai
early in 1969. VMFA-334 remained in Vietnam
until September 1969 when they were relocated to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni
, Japan. From there they flew air support over the US Navy intelligence ship the USS Pueblo
, which had been attacked and captured by North Korea.
In March 1971 they returned to MCAS El Toro and were deactivated on December 30, 1971
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
fighter squadron. Known as the “Falcons”, they were part of Marine Aircraft Group 15
Marine Aircraft Group 15
Marine Aircraft Group 15 was a United States Marine Corps aviation group established during World War II. MAG-15, a transport and photo-reconnaissance training group, was commissioned on 1 March 1942, headquartered at Camp Kearny, San Diego. In addition to radio and photographic training, the...
and Marine Aircraft Group 33. They participated in action during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
and were decommissioned in 1971.
Early years
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point or MCAS Cherry Point is a United States Marine Corps airfield located in Havelock, North Carolina, USA, in the eastern part of the state...
flying the Douglas
Douglas Aircraft Company
The Douglas Aircraft Company was an American aerospace manufacturer, based in Long Beach, California. It was founded in 1921 by Donald Wills Douglas, Sr. and later merged with McDonnell Aircraft in 1967 to form McDonnell Douglas...
SBD Dauntless
SBD Dauntless
The Douglas SBD Dauntless was a naval dive bomber made by Douglas during World War II. The SBD was the United States Navy's main dive bomber from mid-1940 until late 1943, when it was largely replaced by the SB2C Helldiver...
. The squadron traveled around the United States for a year training until they were deactivated on October 10, 1944, a day that many other scout bomber squadrons were deactivated.
Post World War II years
Marine Attack Squadron 334 (VMA-334) was reactivated on May 31, 1952 at Marine Corps Air Station Miami as part of the general increase in the United States’ military brought on by the Korean WarKorean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. At this time they were equipped with the F9F Panther
F9F Panther
|-Popular culture:The Panther played a prominent role in the 1954 movie Men of the Fighting Lady . The F9F was featured in the flying sequences in the 1954 movie The Bridges at Toko-Ri, although in the 1953 James A...
. Less than two years later, on January 23, 1954, the squadron transitioned to the FJ Fury
FJ Fury
The North American FJ-2/-3 Fury were a series of swept-wing carrier-capable fighters for the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Based on the United States Air Force's F-86 Sabre, these aircraft featured folding wings, and a longer nose landing strut designed to both increase angle of attack upon...
and was redesignated Marine Fighter Squadron 334 {VMF-334}.
VMF-334’s first overseas deployment came in Early 1957 when they were sent to Naval Air Station Atsugi for more than a year. They returned to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro
Marine Corps Air Station El Toro
Marine Corps Air Station El Toro was a United States Marine Corps Air Station located near Irvine, California.Before it was decommissioned in 1999, it was the home of Marine Corps aviation on the West Coast. Designated as a Master Jet Station, its four runways could handle the largest aircraft...
in January 1958 where they became the first West Coast squadron to transition to the F8U-1 Crusader
F-8 Crusader
The Vought F-8 Crusader was a single-engine, supersonic, carrier-based air superiority jet aircraft built by Vought for the United States Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps, replacing the Vought F7U Cutlass...
.
Vietnam War
The Falcons were redesignated Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 334 (VMFA-334) on August 1, 1967 and again transitioned airframes to the F4-J Phantom IIF-4 Phantom II
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engined, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. It first entered service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. Proving highly adaptable,...
. The Falcons departed MCAS El Toro on August 20, 1968. The squadron arrived at Da Nang
Da Nang
Đà Nẵng , occasionally Danang, is a major port city in the South Central Coast of Vietnam, on the coast of the South China Sea at the mouth of the Han River. It is the commercial and educational center of Central Vietnam; its well-sheltered, easily accessible port and its location on the path of...
on September 1. Initial combat operations began immediately. VMFA-334 relocated to Chu Lai
Chu Lai
Chu Lai is a sea port, urban and industrial area in Dung Quat Bay, Núi Thành district, Quang Nam province of Vietnam. The city is served by Chu Lai Airport.-Vietnam War:...
early in 1969. VMFA-334 remained in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
until September 1969 when they were relocated to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni
Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni
Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni or MCAS Iwakuni is a United States Marine Corps air station located in the Nishiki river delta, southeast of the Iwakuni Station in the city of Iwakuni, Yamaguchi in Japan.-Tenant commands:...
, Japan. From there they flew air support over the US Navy intelligence ship the USS Pueblo
USS Pueblo (AGER-2)
USS Pueblo is an American ELINT and SIGINT Banner-class technical research ship which was boarded and captured by North Korean forces on January 23, 1968, in what is known as the Pueblo incident or alternatively as the Pueblo crisis or the Pueblo affair. Occurring less than a week after President...
, which had been attacked and captured by North Korea.
In March 1971 they returned to MCAS El Toro and were deactivated on December 30, 1971
See also
- United States Marine Corps AviationUnited States Marine Corps AviationUnited States Marine Corps Aviation is the air component of the United States Marine Corps. Marine aviation has a very different mission and operation than its ground counterpart, and thus, has many of its own histories, traditions, terms, and procedures....
- List of active United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons
- List of inactive United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons