VMA-231

Marine Attack Squadron 231 (VMA-231) is a United States Marine Corps fixed wing attack squadron that consists of AV-8B Harrier (V/STOL) jets. The squadron, known as the "Ace of Spades", is based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina and fall under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 14 (MAG-14) and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (2nd MAW).

Early years
VMA-231 began as the 1st Division, Squadron 1 on February 8, 1919 &mdash; a unit that emerged from the Northern Bombing Group of Northern France in 1918. By the end of February, the newly activated squadron arrived in Santo Domingo for duty with the 2nd Brigade where it served until July 1924. During its deployment to Santo Domingo, the squadron was designated Marine Observation Squadron One (VO-1M) on 1 July 1922.



From Santo Domingo the squadron traveled to San Diego, California and became the first Marine squadron on the West Coast and was designated as the aviation asset to accompany Marine Expeditionary Forces. During the West Coast interlude, the late Major General Ross E. Rowell, then a Major and Commanding Officer concentrated on training in dive-bombing tactics. Such tactics were to prove invaluable to the squadron in Nicaragua, during July 1927, where the squadron had been ordered the previous February. Shortly after its redesignation on July 1, 1927 to VO-8M, the squadron participated in the Battle of Ocotal on 16 July when ten personnel of the squadron came to the rescue of the beleaguered Marine garrison at Ocotal and executed the first recorded dive bombing attack against an organized enemy, dispersing the insurgents and saving the garrison. Among the first Marine aviators ever to receive the Distinguished Flying Cross were Major Rowell and Lieutenant Hayne Boyden, to whom it was awarded for their participation in the Battle of Ocotal.



Returning to San Diego in 1928, the squadron traded in its World War I-era O2B-1s for new Curtiss F8C-1s and F8C-3s, which were soon redesignated OC-1s and OC-2s. Shortly after receiving the F8C/OCs, the squadron, along with VO-10M took part in the filming of the 1929 movie "Flight" and later the movie "Devil Dogs of the Air." As Marine aviation reorganized and consolidated in the early 1930s, several long established squadrons ceased to exist, and on July 1, 1933, VO-8M was deactivated. Unlike the fate that befell her sister squadrons, VO-8M was reactivated on November 15, 1934 when it was decided to deactivate VS-14M and VS-15M and use the aircraft and personnel from these two carrier squadrons to reorganize VO-8M. Equipped with Vought O3U-6 "Corsairs" the squadron continued to operate from San Diego and participated in the annual Fleet Problems, operating from the carriers USS Langley, USS Ranger, and USS Saratoga at different times. In 1936, the squadron was selected to represent Marine aviation at the National Air Races was still flying the O3U-6 when it was redesignated Marine Scouting Squadron Two (VMS-2) on 1 July 1937. Later that year, the squadron traded in its "Corsairs" for Curtiss SOC-3 Seagulls a type it would operate for the next four years.

With the rest of Marine Air Group Two, the squadron deployed to Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Hawaii in January 1941, and was the second squadron to receive the new Vought SB2U Vindicator eventually receiving 27 of the type in 1941. Along with the new aircraft came a new designation, and on July 1, 1941, the squadron was redesignated Marine Scout-Bombing Squadron 231 (VMSB-231.) With the prospect of war growing, the squadron was embarked upon the USS Lexington the first week of December and was on its way to Midway when word of the attack on Pearl Harbor reached the carrier.

World War II
Although the squadron was aboard the USS Lexington during the attack on Pearl Harbor, the rear echelon still at Ewa suffered the loss of 7 of the spare SB2U-3s which had been left behind. The squadron returned to Ewa on December 10, but one week later it was headed back to Midway, but not aboard a carrier. Fitted with an extra fuel tank and accompanied by a PBY Catalina acting as a plane guard, the squadron conducted the longest over water flight by single engine aircraft on record at that time and arrived at Midway without the loss of a single aircraft or crew. The squadron flew routine patrols and awaited the expected Japanese attack. On March 1, 1942, while still at Midway, the squadron was split in two when VMSB-241 was created and the two squadrons operated side by side, even flying the same aircraft. Shortly thereafter, VMSB-231 was officially transferred back to Ewa, but a majority of its personnel and all of its aircraft remained at Midway.



Reorganizing at MCAS Ewa, the squadron received Douglas SBDs and was transferred to Marine Aircraft Group 23 (MAG-23). Slowly receiving new SBD-3s and pilots, the squadron was notified in July that it would be deployed for duty overseas. Along with VMF-224, the squadron constituted the rear echelon of MAG-23 and was loaded aboard the USS Kitty Hawk, an aircraft transport, the last week of August and shipped to the South Pacific. Arriving at Efate, the squadron spent the night there and the squadron's aircraft were craned over to the escort carrier USS Long Island (CVE-1). The next day, the SBD's were catapulted from the USS Long Island and flown to Espiritu Santo. After another night's layover, the flight echelon flew to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal on August 30, 1942 arriving right before the daily air raid and becoming the second Marine scout-bomber squadron ashore. Major Leo Smith, and Captains Ruben Iden and Elmer Glidden led the squadron during the stay on Guadalcanal. Captain Iden died in combat on September 20, a day after he assumed command. While on Guadalcanal, eleven of the squadron's twelve original SBD's were lost or rendered inoperable from August 30 through October 3. During this time Lieutenant Glen Loeffel was awarded the Navy Cross of heroism for his lone attack on the Japanese cruiser Furutaka on October 4, causing substantial damage and rendering it inoperable and easy prey for sinking which eventually occurred on October 11. VMF-231 operated on Guadalcanal as part of the Cactus Air Force from August 30 before leaving on November 2, 1942. They were shipped back to Naval Air Station San Diego on November 19 and then moved further north to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro in January 1943.

The squadron again deployed to the Pacific Theater and began operations bombing by-passed Japanese garrisons in the Marshall Islands on February 4, 1944. In October of that year, they were redesignated VMBF-231 and converted to the F4U Corsair. Two months later, on December 30, they reverted to the name VMSB-231 and remained in the Marshalls until August 1945. During the course of World War II the squadron was credited with downing 7 Japanese aircraft in air to air engagements.

Post-war years
The squadron served in a reserve status as VMF-231 in Akron, Ohio and Grosse Ile Township, Michigan until they were deactivated on August 31, 1962.

1970s & 1980s


VMA-231 was reactivated on May 15, 1973, and the Marine Corps' oldest squadron became the Corps' newest, flying the Corps' newest aircraft, the Hawker Siddeley AV-8A Harrier. The AV-8A was a high performance, high speed jet aircraft that was uniquely capable of vertical and short take off and landing (VSTOL).

October 4, 1976 saw VMA-231 deploying to the Mediterranean aboard USS Franklin D. Roosevelt with Carrier Air Wing 19. VMA-231’s journey included visits to Spain, Italy, Sicily, Kenya, and Egypt. Highlights of the cruise included a transit of the Suez Canal aboard USS Guam (LPH-9) and participation of VMA-231 in Kenya's Independence Day celebration by twelve AV-8A aircraft. VMA-231 rejoined the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing on April 20, 1977, as the squadron safely returned to MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina. Also in 1977, VMA-231 was named V/STOL Squadron of the Year, becoming the first recipient of this award.

The Gulf War & the 1990s
June 1990 found VMA-231 deployed to Western Pacific as a squadron for the first time since World War II. Training continued in Iwakuni and Okinawa, Japan, as well as the Philippine Islands and Korea. Notably, the squadron weathered the July earthquake in Northern Luzon. Their deployment was extended when they received orders directing them to Southeast Asia for Operation Desert Shield. The move necessitated an unprecedented around-the-world trip as the Ace of Spades flew 18,000 NM in 14 days to join MAG-13 (forward). During the trip the squadron accrued 904 flight hours in December, a record for fleet Harrier squadrons.

On the morning of January 17, 1991, Operation Desert Storm began and VMA-231 was flying combat missions to silence Iraqi artillery batteries, which were indiscriminately shelling the Saudi Arabian border town of Khafji. On February 9, Captain Russell Sanborn was captured by Iraqi forces after his AV-8B was shot down over southern Kuwait. He was held in the city of Basra for the remainder of the war and was repatriated with fifteen other Americans on March 6, 1991.

During February 1991, when the air war intensified and the critical ground campaign began, Marine Attack Squadron 231 accumulated 966.2 hours. This monthly total is a United States Marine Corps Harrier record. The "Ace of Spades" flew a total of 987 combat sorties and 1,195.8 hours during the conflict. In total, 1660 Mk-82s, 62 Mk-83s, 969 Mk-20 Rockeyes, 78 Mk-77 Firebombs, and 22,709 rounds of 25MM munitions were expended. A grand total of 1,692,000 pounds of ammunition was delivered against enemy positions and equipment.

In September 1991, a 6-plane detachment was sent out with HMH-362 aboard USS Saipan (LHA-2) where it served as part of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit in the Persian Gulf.

During November 1992, the squadron embarked on a two-site deployment by taking a squadron(-) and fourteen jets to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, and leaving six jets at MCAS Cherry Point. North Carolina to support the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the USS Saipan.

From February 1995 to August 1996, VMA-231 would participate with the 24th MEU aboard USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) in rescuing downed Air Force pilot Captain Scott O'Grady and also with the 26th MEU aboard the USS Wasp (LHD-1) participating in Operation Deny Flight.

In April 1999, the Ace of Spades deployed with the 26th MEU on board the USS Kearsarge. They were involved in many operations, such as Operation Allied Force, bombing targets in the former Yugoslavia. They also participated in Operation Joint Guardian, Operation Shining Hope and Operation Avid Response.

The Global War on Terror
In April 2003 a detachment from the squadron took part in the invasion of Iraq as part of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. In the spring of 2007 they deployed to Al Asad Airbase again in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During this time they flew 1738 combat sorties totaling over 5158 flight hours. In November 2009 the squadron deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). They were part of Marine Aircraft Group 14 and were based out of Kandahar International Airport flying close air support missions in support of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (2nd MEB). They returned home in early summer 2010.