U.S.A. Marine A-4 Skyhawk Units
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The Unit Duty Officer (SDO) is the unit contact point, who communicates with former unit
members about unit information, pictures, scuttlebutt, and gathers information
about former unit buddies. For your unit please contact the
Unit SDO as listed here. If you are interested in becoming a Unit SDO,
please contact the SDO-C.
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Douglas Poster courtesy of Gary Verver
MARINE AIR GROUP (MAG), with Headquarters and Maintenance Squadrons (H&MS) and Marine Aviation Logistics Squadrons (MALS).
MARINE ATTACK SQUADRONS:
| VMA-121 Green Knights |
VMA-124 Whistling Death / Bantam Bombers
(Reserves - Pre 1970 Tail Code = 6M)
MAG-42 Det B (Regulars) NAS Memphis |
VMA-131 Diamondbacks
(Reserves- Pre 1970 Tail Code=7R)
MAG-49 (Regulars) MARTD Willow Grove. |
VMA-133 Dragons
(Reserves - Pre 1970 Tail Code=6G, Post=5G)
MAG-42 (Regulars) NAS Alameda, CA. |
VMA-134 Skyhawks
(Reserves - Pre 1970 Tail Code=7L, Post=5L)
MAG-46 (Regulars) NAS Los Alamitos,
MCAS El Toro, CA. |
VMA-142 Flying Gators
(Reserves - Pre 1970 Tail Code=6F, Post=5F)
MAG-42 Det A (Regulars) NAS Jacksonville,
NAS Cecil Field |
VMA-143
NAS New Orleans, LA. (Pre 1970 Tail Code = 7X) |
VMA-144
(Reserves - Pre 1970 Tail Code=6F, Post=5F)
MAG-42 Det A (Regulars)
NAS Jacksonville, NAS Cecil Field |
| VMA-223 Bulldogs |
VMA-224 Bengals
MCAS El Toro, CA., MCAS Cherry Point, NC. |
VMA-225 Vagabonds / Vikings
NAAS Edenton, MCAS Cherry Point, NC. |
VMA-233
(Reserves - Pre 1970 Tail Code=6S)
NAS Norfolk, VA. |
VMA-311 Tomcats
MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, MCAS El Toro, CA.
MCAS Yuma, AZ. |
VMA-322 Fighting Gamecocks
NAS Squantum, MA., NAS South Weymouth, MA.
(Reserves - Pre 1970 Tail Code=7Z) |
VMA-324 Vagabonds / Devil Dogs
MAG 32 MCAS Beaufort, SC., MCAS Yuma, AZ |
VMA-331 Bumblebees
MCAS Opa Loca, Miami Fl., MCAS Beaufort, SC. |
VMA-543 NAS Glenview
(Pre 1970 Tail Code =7V, Post=5V) |
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MARINE TRAINING SQUADRONS:
MARINE CORPS AIR STATIONS:
(Skyhawks used on a limited basis)
Station Operations and Engineering Squadron (SOES)
MCAS Quantico VA.
This Skyhawk Association website page is dedicated to:
Colonel Gregory "Pappy" Boyington, United States Marine Corps.
Medal of Honor holder, Marine Aviator and AVG Flying Tiger Pilot.
Also awarded the Navy Cross.
- Rank and organization: Major, United States Marine Corps Reserve, Marine Squadron 214.
- Place and date: Central Solomons area, from 12 September 1943 to 3 January 1944.
- Entered service at: Washington.
- Born: 4 December 1912, Coeur D'Alene, Idaho.
Citation
For extraordinary heroism and valiant devotion to duty as commanding officer of Marine Fighting Squadron 214 in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Central Solomons area from 12 September 1943 to 3 January 1944.
Consistently outnumbered throughout successive hazardous flights over heavily defended hostile territory, Major Boyington struck at the enemy with daring and courageous persistence, leading his squadron into combat with devastating results to Japanese shipping, shore installations, and aerial forces.
Resolute in his efforts to inflict crippling damage on the enemy, Major Boyington led a formation of 24 fighters over Kahili on 17 October and, persistently circling the airdrome where 60 hostile aircraft were grounded, boldly challenged the Japanese to send up planes. Under his brilliant command, our fighters shot down 20 enemy craft in the ensuing action without the loss of a single ship.
A superb airman and determined fighter against overwhelming odds, Major Boyington personally destroyed 26 of the many Japanese planes shot down by his squadron and, by his forceful leadership, developed the combat readiness in his command which was a distinctive factor in the Allied aerial achievements in this vitally strategic area.
Colonel Boyington was the total victor in many more than twenty-six aerial combats during World War II in the Pacific and Asia. "Pappy" Boyington was finally shot down and captured. As a prisoner of war Colonel Boyington suffered brutal and horrible prolonged torture at the hands of the Japanese before being released at war's end. Colonel Boyington died of cancer January 12, 1988.
Pappy in Nam
This Skyhawk Association website page is also dedicated to:
First Lieutenant Ronald D. Layton United States Marine Corps.
R.D. Layton was commissioned on 01 SEPT 1966 after completing OCS at Quantico. After flight training, he shipped out to Vietnam in SEPT 1968 and was stationed at Chu Lai with VMA-211.
On April 4, 1969 First Lieutenant Ronald D. Layton, flying a VMA-211 A-4 Skyhawk against the enemy in the Republic
of Vietnam, was shot down and killed by enemy ground fire. His actions during this mission earned him
the Distinguished Flying Cross.
"For heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with Marine Fighter/Attack
Squadron 211, Marine Aircraft Group Twelve, First Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with operations against
the enemy of the Republic of Vietnam. Early on the afternoon of 4 April 1969, First Lieutenant Layton launched
as Section Leader of a flight of two A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to destroy an enemy staging area seventeen
miles southwest of DaNang in Quang Nam Province. Arriving over the designated area, he found that visibility
was extremely poor due to a heavy ground haze and that friendly units were within 300 meters of the target.
Effectively coordinating with the Ground Forward Air Controller, he skillfully maneuvered his aircraft on
the initial pass against the hostile position and delivered his ordnance with pinpoint accuracy, causing
numerous fires. Undaunted by the threat of enemy fire and the smoke and haze which nearly obliterated
the target, he completely disregarded his own safety as he fearlessly maneuvered his Skyhawk into the
hazardous area a second time and released his rockets with devastating effectiveness against the hostile
position. As his A-4 began its climb out of the dangerous area, it came under intense hostile ground
fire and sustained severe battle damage, forcing the aircraft to crash and fatally injuring First
Lieutenant Layton. First Lieutenant Layton’s courage, resolute determination and unfaltering devotion
to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval
Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country."
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