In October, 1944, the squadron became part of Marine Aircraft Group 33 (MAG-33) when they moved to Espiritu Santo. The squadron was part of the Battle of Okinawa and on April 3, 1945, over 150 of its members were killed when its lead support element was struck by a Kamikaze. They rebounded quickly and were able to fly their first combat mission on April 9, 1945. VMF-322 remained on Okinawa for the rest of the war as they made bombing runs over the Japanese mainland. Following the war, the squadron moved to Midway Island in November 1945 where they remained as part of Marine Aircraft Group 44 (MAG-44) until they were deactivated on November 30, 1949.
Cold Waredit
Squadron insignia for the Cannon Balls of VMF-322.An A-4M of VMA-322 on the tarmac in 1988.
VMF-322 was reactivated during the Korean War on July 6, 1951, again flying the F4U Corsair. The squadron moved to Naval Air Station South Weymouth in January 1954 and transitioned to the F9F Cougar in March 1955. The squadron was re-designated as Marine Attack Squadron 322 (VMA-322) in May 1958 and changed aircraft again, this time to the FJ3 Fury in November 1959. In September 1962 the squadron received its final aircraft in the venerable A-4 Skyhawk. In 1964, VMA-322 absorbed the aircraft and personnel of VMA-217 after their deactivation.
Crowder, Michael J. (2000). United States Marine Corps Aviation Squadron Lineage, Insignia & History - Volume One - The Fighter Squadrons. Paducah, KY: Turner Publishing Company. ISBN1-56311-926-9.
Rottman, Gordon L. (2002). U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle - Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War, 1939 - 1945.’’. Greenwood Press. ISBN0-313-31906-5.
Sherrod, Robert (1952). History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II. Washington, D.C.: Combat Forces Press.
Web
VMA-322 Fighting Gamecocks
Naval Institute Proceedings – VMA-322
History of the South Weymouth Naval Air Station
December 03, 2023
marine, attack, squadron, attack, squadron, united, states, marine, corps, squadron, also, known, fighting, gamecocks, fought, world, later, became, part, marine, forces, reserve, based, naval, station, south, weymouth, massachusetts, marine, attack, squadron,. Marine Attack Squadron 322 VMA 322 was an attack squadron in the United States Marine Corps The squadron also known as the Fighting Gamecocks fought in World War II and later became a part of the Marine Forces Reserve based out of Naval Air Station South Weymouth Massachusetts Marine Attack Squadron 322VMA 322 InsigniaActiveJuly 1 1943 November 30 1949 July 6 1951 June 27 1992CountryUnited StatesAllegianceUnited States of AmericaBranchUnited States Marine CorpsTypeAttack squadronRoleClose Air SupportPart ofInactiveNickname s Fighting GamecocksCannon BallsTail CodeQREngagementsWorld War II Battle of Okinawa This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations October 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message Contents 1 History 2 Cold War 3 See also 4 Notes 5 ReferencesHistory edit nbsp A VMF 322 F4U 1D on Okinawa 1945 Marine Fighting Squadron 322 VMF 322 was established on July 1 1943 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point flying the F4U Corsair 1 In the fall of that year they moved to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island South Carolina to continue their training They moved again in January 1944 to Marine Corps Air Station Ewa Hawaii In October 1944 the squadron became part of Marine Aircraft Group 33 MAG 33 when they moved to Espiritu Santo The squadron was part of the Battle of Okinawa and on April 3 1945 over 150 of its members were killed when its lead support element was struck by a Kamikaze They rebounded quickly and were able to fly their first combat mission on April 9 1945 VMF 322 remained on Okinawa for the rest of the war as they made bombing runs over the Japanese mainland Following the war the squadron moved to Midway Island in November 1945 where they remained as part of Marine Aircraft Group 44 MAG 44 until they were deactivated on November 30 1949 Cold War edit nbsp Squadron insignia for the Cannon Balls of VMF 322 nbsp An A 4M of VMA 322 on the tarmac in 1988 VMF 322 was reactivated during the Korean War on July 6 1951 again flying the F4U Corsair The squadron moved to Naval Air Station South Weymouth in January 1954 and transitioned to the F9F Cougar in March 1955 The squadron was re designated as Marine Attack Squadron 322 VMA 322 in May 1958 and changed aircraft again this time to the FJ3 Fury in November 1959 In September 1962 the squadron received its final aircraft in the venerable A 4 Skyhawk In 1964 VMA 322 absorbed the aircraft and personnel of VMA 217 after their deactivation VMA 322 was decommissioned on June 27 1992 as part of the post Cold War drawdown of the United States MilitarySee also editUnited States Marine Corps Aviation List of active United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons List of decommissioned United States Marine Corps aircraft squadronsNotes edit Sherrod USMC WWII OOB p 443 References editBibliographyCrowder Michael J 2000 United States Marine Corps Aviation Squadron Lineage Insignia amp History Volume One The Fighter Squadrons Paducah KY Turner Publishing Company ISBN 1 56311 926 9 Rottman Gordon L 2002 U S Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War 1939 1945 Greenwood Press ISBN 0 313 31906 5 Sherrod Robert 1952 History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II Washington D C Combat Forces Press WebVMA 322 Fighting Gamecocks Naval Institute Proceedings VMA 322 History of the South Weymouth Naval Air Station Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title VMA 322 amp oldid 1118318924, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
