VMA-223

VMA-223, formally Marine Attack Squadron 223, is a United States Marine Corps aviation unit based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. It belongs to Marine Aircraft Group 14, within the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, and uses the radio callsign “Stone.” Although it is an operational military squadron rather than a consumer-facing commercial brand, its identity is expressed through a long-standing nickname, heraldic traditions, aircraft markings, battle honors, and public-facing association with Marine Corps aviation. The unit was commissioned as Marine Fighting Squadron 223, or VMF-223, on 1 May 1942 at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Hawaii. It entered the Pacific War with the Brewster F2A Buffalo and then operated the Grumman F4F Wildcat. On 20 August 1942, the squadron landed at Henderson Field on Guadalcanal and became part of the Cactus Air Force. During the Guadalcanal campaign, its pilots fought Japanese forces operating from Rabaul and were credited with 83 enemy aircraft destroyed. Major John L. Smith and Captain Marion E. Carl became the squadron’s best-known World War II aces; Smith later received the Medal of Honor and Carl received the first of his two Navy Crosses for their combat service. The campaign imposed heavy losses, including six pilots killed and six wounded. After World War II, the Bulldogs operated the Vought F4U Corsair and served in the Philippines and Okinawa. The squadron received two Presidential Unit Citations during the war. After moving from Marine Corps Air Station El Toro to Cherry Point in 1948, it also undertook carrier operations, including a 1949 Mediterranean deployment aboard USS Leyte. The unit entered the jet era in 1950 with the Grumman F9F Panther, later operating the North American FJ-4B Fury and, from 1961, the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. VMA-223 served extensively during the Vietnam War. It deployed to Chu Lai in December 1965 and supported allied ground forces for nearly five and a half years, recording more than 32,000 flight hours. In May 1967 it flew 1,234 combat sorties, a monthly total described as the highest among attack squadrons operating in Vietnam at that time. In February 1970 the unit returned to the United States and transferred to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. It later received the A-4M Skyhawk, moved between Marine Corps Air Stations Yuma, Iwakuni, and Cherry Point, and operated the last production A-4M in a commemorative scheme displaying the flags of countries that had operated the Skyhawk. The squadron transitioned to the McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II in October 1987. Its Harriers carried a distinctive rising-sun rudder design referencing the unit’s World War II heritage. Deployments in the late 1980s and 1990s included a Mediterranean cruise aboard USS Nassau, a Sixth Fleet deployment aboard USS Saipan, Operation Sharp Edge in Liberia, and support for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm from Spain and amphibious ships. In the twenty-first century, VMA-223 flew combat missions during the early phase of Operation Enduring Freedom, supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq from USS Kearsarge and USS Bataan, and deployed to Iraq in 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. It surpassed 50,000 mishap-free flight hours during the 2003 deployment and 60,000 Class A mishap-free hours during a February 2006 combat mission period. The squadron supported Operation Enduring Freedom again from October 2011 through April 2012. By 2025 it was the last Marine Corps squadron still operating the AV-8B Harrier II. Its planned transition to the F-35B Lightning II reflects the wider retirement of the Harrier fleet. The Marine Corps planned to retire VMA-223’s remaining Harriers in 2026 and reactivate the unit in fiscal year 2028 as Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 223, or VMFA-223, operating the F-35B. The squadron’s enduring role is to provide offensive air support, armed reconnaissance, and air defense for Marine expeditionary forces.

Marine Attack Squadron 223 traces its lineage to Marine Fighting Squadron 223, commissioned on 1 May 1942 at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Hawaii. Initially equipped with Brewster F2A Buffalo aircraft and subsequently with Grumman F4F Wildcats, the squadron entered combat during the Battle of Guadalcanal. It landed at Henderson Field on 20 August 1942 and joined the Cactus Air Force, engaging Japanese aircraft operating from Rabaul. By the time it left Guadalcanal on 13 October, the squadron had been credited with 83 enemy aircraft destroyed. Major John L. Smith and Captain Marion E. Carl were its leading aces, while the squadron suffered the deaths of six pilots and injuries to six others. The Bulldogs continued combat operations with the Vought F4U Corsair in the Philippines and Okinawa and received two Presidential Unit Citations during World War II. After moving from El Toro to Cherry Point in 1948, the unit undertook carrier operations and deployed to the Mediterranean aboard USS Leyte in 1949. It received its first jet aircraft, the Grumman F9F Panther, in July 1950, followed by the North American FJ-4B Fury in 1957 and the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk in 1961. The squadron’s major postwar combat commitment began in December 1965, when it deployed to Chu Lai, South Vietnam. Over almost five and a half years in the Far East, it flew more than 32,000 hours in support of allied ground forces. Its May 1967 total of 1,234 combat sorties was described as the highest monthly figure for an attack squadron operating in Vietnam. In February 1970, it returned to the United States and transferred to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. The unit received the A-4M Skyhawk in 1975, moved to Iwakuni in 1976, and returned to Cherry Point in 1977 as part of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. In 1987 it transitioned to the AV-8B Harrier II. The Harrier era included Mediterranean and Middle Eastern deployments, Operation Sharp Edge in Liberia, and support for Desert Shield and Desert Storm. VMA-223 flew over Afghanistan during the opening phase of Operation Enduring Freedom, supported the 2003 Iraq invasion from amphibious ships, and deployed to Iraq in 2005 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. It recorded more than 50,000 mishap-free flight hours during the 2003 period and passed 60,000 Class A mishap-free hours in February 2006. Another deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom ran from October 2011 to April 2012. In the 2020s, the unit became the last Marine Corps squadron operating the AV-8B Harrier II. The planned retirement of the Harrier is linked to the Marine Corps’ broader conversion to the F-35B Lightning II. VMA-223 is scheduled to transition during 2026–27 and to reactivate in fiscal year 2028 as VMFA-223. Throughout its history, its mission has centered on offensive air support, armed reconnaissance, and air defense for Marine expeditionary forces.

• 2006

  60,000 Class A mishap-free hours

  [1]VMA-223en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron surpassed 60,000 Class A mishap-free flight hours during a combat mission period over Iraq.

• 2003

  Iraq invasion support

  [1]VMA-223en.wikipedia.org

  After deploying aboard USS Kearsarge and cross-decking to USS Bataan, the squadron flew combat missions during the invasion of Iraq.

• 1987

  AV-8B Harrier II transition

  [1]VMA-223en.wikipedia.org

  VMA-223 transitioned from the A-4M Skyhawk to the McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II in October.

• 1967

  Vietnam sortie record

  [1]VMA-223en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron flew 1,234 combat sorties in May, described as a record monthly total for an attack squadron in Vietnam.

• 1965

  Vietnam deployment

  [1]VMA-223en.wikipedia.org

  The Bulldogs deployed to Chu Lai in December and began an extended combat-support period in Vietnam.

• 1950

  Entry into the jet era

  [1]VMA-223en.wikipedia.org

  The unit received its first jet aircraft, the Grumman F9F Panther.

• 1948

  Move to Cherry Point

  [1]VMA-223en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron transferred from MCAS El Toro to MCAS Cherry Point and later conducted carrier operations.

• 1942

  Squadron commissioned

  [1]VMA-223en.wikipedia.org

  Marine Fighting Squadron 223 was commissioned at MCAS Ewa, Hawaii, on 1 May.

• 1942

  Guadalcanal combat debut

  [1]VMA-223en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron landed at Henderson Field on 20 August and joined the Cactus Air Force during the Guadalcanal campaign.

• Planned reactivation as VMFA-223

  [1]VMA-223en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron is scheduled to reactivate as Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 223 and begin operating the F-35B Lightning II.

A combat aviation squadron identified by its Bulldogs heritage, Pacific War lineage, expeditionary deployments, and transition from the AV-8B Harrier II to the F-35B Lightning II.

• Fixed-wing attack aircraft · 1987

  AV-8B Harrier II

  The AV-8B Harrier II was VMA-223’s principal aircraft from its 1987 transition through the squadron’s final Harrier period. The vertical/short-takeoff-and-landing attack aircraft supported expeditionary operations, close air support, armed reconnaissance, and air defense missions. VMA-223 became the last Marine Corps squadron to operate the type before its planned retirement.

• Fifth-generation fighter-attack aircraft

  F-35B Lightning II

  The F-35B Lightning II is the planned successor aircraft for VMA-223. Its short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing capability is intended to preserve the squadron’s expeditionary aviation role while adding modern sensors, networking, and multirole fighter-attack capabilities. The unit is scheduled to operate the aircraft after its planned reactivation as VMFA-223.

• Light attack aircraft · 1961

  A-4M Skyhawk

  VMA-223 operated the A-4 Skyhawk family for much of the Cold War and received the A-4M variant in 1975. The squadron’s last-production A-4M was painted in a commemorative scheme featuring the flags of nations that had operated the Skyhawk.

• 2011Operation Enduring Freedom

  Afghanistan

  The squadron deployed from October 2011 through April 2012 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

  Source
• 2005Operation Iraqi Freedom

  Iraq

  VMA-223 deployed to Iraq late in the summer to provide combat aviation support.

  Outcome. During the deployment period the squadron passed 60,000 Class A mishap-free flight hours.

  Source
• 2003Operation Iraqi Freedom

  Iraq and Northern Persian Gulf

  The squadron deployed aboard USS Kearsarge, later moved to USS Bataan, and conducted combat missions in support of the Iraq invasion.

  Outcome. The unit exceeded 50,000 mishap-free flight hours during this period.

  Source
• 2001Operation Enduring Freedom

  Afghanistan

  VMA-223 flew combat missions over Afghanistan during the opening phase of Operation Enduring Freedom.

  Source
• 1991Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm

  Spain and Persian Gulf region

  A six-aircraft detachment deployed to Naval Station Rota, Spain, and trained with Spanish forces while supporting the wider Gulf War effort.

  Outcome. The detachment operated in the regional coalition deployment through February 1991.

  Source
• 1990Operation Sharp Edge

  Liberia

  A detachment operating with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit flew armed combat air patrol missions during non-combatant evacuation operations.

  Outcome. The detachment supported evacuation operations over Liberia.

  Source
• 1965Vietnam War

  South Vietnam

  The squadron deployed to Chu Lai and conducted attack and close-support missions for allied ground forces.

  Outcome. It flew more than 32,000 hours during its extended Far East combat deployment.

  Source
• 1942Battle of Guadalcanal

  Solomon Islands

  VMF-223 operated from Henderson Field as part of the Cactus Air Force, contesting Japanese control of the air over Guadalcanal.

  Outcome. The squadron was credited with 83 enemy aircraft destroyed before leaving Guadalcanal.

  Source

• 2026

  Planned transition to the F-35B Lightning IIGeneration change

  Background

  The Marine Corps is retiring its AV-8B Harrier II fleet and replacing it with the F-35B Lightning II.

  Action taken

  VMA-223 is scheduled to retire its remaining Harriers during 2026–27 and later reactivate as VMFA-223.

  Aftermath

  The planned fiscal-year 2028 reactivation will establish the unit as an F-35B fighter-attack squadron.

  Source

• 1987

  Transition to the AV-8B Harrier IIGeneration change

  Background

  The squadron’s A-4M Skyhawk era ended as the Marine Corps modernized its light attack aviation.

  Action taken

  VMA-223 transitioned to the AV-8B Harrier II in October 1987.

  Aftermath

  The Harrier became the squadron’s defining aircraft for the following decades.

  Source

1. 1VMA-223en.wikipedia.org
2. 2United States Marine Corps VMA-223 unit pagemarines.mil