VMF224-History

224 Scrap Book

Brief Squadron History

December 1942 - Present

Brief Historical Overview of Marine Fighting Squadron 224

Marine Fighting Squadron, VMF-224 was commissioned at

Naval Air Station - Barbers Point, Hawaii on May 1, 1942. The unit

was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 23, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.

After reassignment to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, VMF-224 was the

second Marine fighter squadron to arrive on Guadalcanal. Between

August 30, and November 2, 1942, squadron pilots flying the F4F

“Wildcat” shot down more than 60 enemy aircraft. For its action at

Henderson Field, VMF 224 received a Presidential Unit Citation and

Commanding Officer Major Robert E. Galer was recipient of the

Congressional Medal of Honor.

Upon returning to Marine Corps Air Station - El Toro, California

in December of 1943, the squadron was equipped with the new

F4U-1 “Corsair” fighter aircraft. VMF-224 was assigned to Marine

Aircraft Group 23, 4th Marine Air Base Defense Wing, based at

Marine Corps Air Station - Ewa, Hawaii in August of 1943. In September 1943 the

squadron was attached to Marine Aircraft Group 13 based first at Tutuila,

American Samoa and later at Funafuti Airfield in the Ellice Islands. The squadron

advanced to Roi Island as part of Marine Aircraft Group 31 in February 1944 where

VMF-224 participated in the neutralization of Japanese held bases in the Marshall

Islands. During this period Marine Air Group 31 played a major role in the development

of the Corsair as a fighter-bomber aircraft.

A week after the Okinawa campaign began VMF-224 arrived at Yontan airfield and

provided fleet coverage in addition to flying close air support. By the time Okinawa was

secured, the squadron had accounted for 55 enemy aircraft and had received its second

Presidential Unit Citation. With a total of 115 1/2 enemy aircraft shot down, VMF-224

became the 10th ranked squadron out of 58 Marine squadrons having registered “kills”

during WWII.

After the surrender of Japan, VMF-224 was based at Yokosuka, Japan as part of the U.S. occupation forces. In June of 1946 the squadron returned to Marine Corps Air Station -

Cherry Point, North Carolina and was assigned the improved F4U-5 which was replaced in

1949 by the F2H-2 "Banshee." Upon returning from an extensive carrier cruise in the

Mediterranean in 1952 the squadron replaced the "Banshee" with the F9F "Panther," and

shortly thereafter left for the Far East to support Marine ground forces during the Korean

conflict. In 1955 the squadron returned to MCAS El Toro, California and was

re-designated Marine Attack Squadron 224.

Marine Fighting Squadron, VMA-224 was the first Marine squadron to receive the

Douglas A4D-1 "Skyhawk" in September of 1956. During the latter part of 1957 the

squadron was transferred to Japan after nine months of extensive training with their new "Skyhawks." During the tour the squadron was frequently deployed throughout the

Far East in support of ground units, participating in maneuvers in the Philippines and

Okinawa. During the later part of December 1958 the squadron flag was raised at

MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina.