VMFA(AW)-242

Marine All- Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242 (VMFA(AW)-242) is a United States Marine Corps squadron flying F/A-18D Hornets. The squadron, known as the "Bats", is based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 12 (MAG-12) and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW).

World War II
Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 242 (VMTB-242) was activated on September 15, 1943. Upon activation, the squadron began training at Marine Corps Air Station El Centro, California, flying the TBM Avenger. The squadron was then deployed to Espiritu Santo in the Southwest Pacific aboard the USS Kitkun Bay in February 1944. Thus began the squadron’s long combat history, starting in the Northern Solomon’s, later shifting to the Battle of Saipan and Battle of Tinian, and finally to Battle of Iwo Jima where the squadron landed on D+17 and flew anti-submarine patrols until the end of World War II. On November 5, 1945, the squadron left Guam for San Diego and 18 days later was deactivated on November 23, 1945

Reactivation


On 1 October 1960 at Cherry Point, North Carolina the squadron was reactivated as Marine Attack Squadron 242 flying the A4D Skyhawk. During the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, VMA-242 deployed to Key West, FL and maintained a ready posture until the Soviet withdrawal of offensive weapons from Cuba. In September 1963, VMA-242 embarked for duty with the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. The squadron operated from Iwakuni, Japan until its return to Cherry Point in September 1964, at which time it transitioned to the A-6A Intruder and was redesignated VMA(AW)-242.

Vietnam War
In late 1966, VMA(AW)-242 joined the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing at Da Nang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam and by November of that year, was participating in combat operations against the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army. Initially the squadron supported allied ground forces, but during April 1967, the Bats were also assigned to the first of many Operation Rolling Thunder missions (deep strikes) over North Vietnam. The squadron, utilizing the unique capabilities of the A-6, flew patrols over North Vietnam until the bombing halt late in 1968. Until the squadron’s departure from Vietnam on September 8, 1970, the Bats continued supporting allied forces in South Vietnam, as well as flying sorties against the Ho Chi Minh Trail in North Vietnam and central Laos. During the squadron’s tour in the Republic of Vietnam, VMA(AW)-242 logged 16,783 combat sorties and delivered 85,990 tons of ordnance. During the Vietnam War, the squadron was known as the Batmen. At some date after the war this was modified to the Bats.

Post Vietnam and the 1980s
VMA(AW)-242 arrived at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California on September 12, 1970 and became the first A-6A squadron in the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. In September 1977, the squadron transitioned to the A-6E aircraft. After ten years at MCAS El Toro, the Bats again deployed overseas to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan as part of the six-month Unit Deployment Program (UDP). During this deployment, the squadron deployed and trained in such places as the Philippines, Okinawa, Japan, and Korea. Upon its return to MCAS El Toro on April 22, 1981, VMA(AW)-242 began receiving the latest model Intruder, the A-6E TRAM, in preparation for redeployment to MCAS Iwakuni in April 1982.

During August 1983, VMA(AW)-242 was the first Marine squadron to deploy to the African continent as part of Operation Eastern Wind in Berbera, Somalia. While in country, the Bats conducted very successful joint operations with the Somali Army Air Defense Force and the United States Navy and Air Force.

In April 1984 and November 1985, the squadron participated in its third and fourth UDP deployments to the Western Pacific. Returning to MCAS El Toro in May 1986, the squadron was awarded the Lawson H. M. Sanderson trophy as the Marine Corps Attack Squadron of the Year for 1986. In April 1987, the Bats made their fifth WestPac UDP deployment. October 1988 saw VMA(AW)-242 redeploy to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan for the sixth and final WestPac UDP with the venerable A-6E Intruder.

The Gulf War & the 1990s
In August 1990, the squadron initially deployed as part of MAG-70 in Operation Desert Shield but got no further than MCAS Cherry Point for a few days in August 1990. Ten aircraft were flown to MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina with the intent to trade four 3-G limited aircraft for unlimited aircraft from VMA(AW)-224 so that the squadron would have ten aircraft that were not impacted by the wing fatigue limitation program. However, at the last minute, it was decided to not deploy the squadron. All the squadron's aircraft were transferred to USMC and USN squadrons, and the Bats' Marines returned to El Toro to begin transitioning to the F/A-18D Hornet a month earlier than originally planned.

On December 14, 1990, VMA(AW)-242 was re-designated as Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242, and the Bats began conversion to the F/A-18D Hornet. VMFA(AW)-242 received its first aircraft in February 1991 with the final Hornet being accepted in August of that year. It was during the transition to the F/A-18D that the squadron adopted its motto, "Mors ex tenebris."

The Global War on Terror
From August 4, 2004 to March 18, 2005, the Bats supported Operation Iraqi Freedom. Utilizing the combat callsign “Profane”; VMFA(AW)-242 spent seven months flying out of Al Asad, Iraq. During this time they provided close air support for the 1st Marine Division during Operation Phantom Fury. Profane sections flew cyclic missions dropping over 300,000 pounds of ordnance in support of Marines and Soldiers on the ground overtaking the city. During this battle precision guided ordnance was dropped dangerously close to friendly forces with zero cases of fratricide. Just two months later, in January 2005, VMFA(AW)-242 proudly played a major role in Iraq’s first democratic elections ever. For a five-day period Bat aircraft were airborne twenty four hours a day in order to deter the insurgent’s efforts to undermine the election. The squadron received the Robert M. Hanson “Marine Fighter Squadron" of the Year award in October 2005.

Due to a re-organization within Marine aviation, VMFA(AW)-242 moved from MAG-11 at MCAS Miramar to MAG-12 in its current home at Iwakuni in 2008. Since then, the Bats have been providing recon along North Korea in the effort of global security. The squadron maintains a high state of readiness throughout the area by deploying constantly and keeping operations high. "If a balloon goes up, the Bats are going to be the first ones there.