VMA-311 Tomcats
Hells Belles - 1943
Courtesy of Dave Seaney |
Sylvester the Pussycat - 1950's
Drawn by Bud Southworth |
Courtesy of Jimmie R. Little |
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The Squadron Duty Officer is the squadron contact point, who communicates
with former squadron members about squadron information, sea stories,
squadron pictures, scuttlebutt, and gathers information about squadron buddies.
Please contact the Squadron SDO as listed here.
The Table Of Content:
Patch:
- The first Tomcat patch displayed a Sylvester the Pussycat riding a bomb while flipping the Victory sign with his paw.
- Shortly after getting F4-U Corsairs in April 1943 a "Hells Belles" patch was used by VMF-311.
- In the 1950's there was a takeoff on the first Tomcat patch of Sylvester the Pussycat riding a bomb while flipping the Victory sign with his paw -- in this 1950's version, shown above, Sylvester rides a rocket while flipping us the bird.
- In 1948 VMF-311 acquired the letters "WL" as its tail designator, leading to the nickname "Willy Lovers." This nickname inspired the heart on the squadron patch.
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Handle:
- 1942 used "Hell's Belles" handle.
- 1948 with "WL" as the tail designator VMF-311 became the "Willy Lovers."
- 1957 VMF-311 took the handle "Tomcats."
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Aircraft:
Date Type First Received - - - - - - Type of Aircraft:
Heritage:
- Established December 1, 1942, at Cherry Point, North Carolina, as Marine Fighter Squadron 311 (VMF-311).
- June 1, 1957, Fighter Squadron 311 (VMF-311) was redesignated Marine Attack Squadron-311 (VMA-311).
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Commanders:
Home Ports:
- Date - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Location:
- December 1, 1942 - - - - - Marine Corps Air StationCherry Point, North Carolina.
- March 1945 - - - - - - - - Okinawa, Japan.
- 1946 - - - - - - - - - - - Yokosuka, Japan.
- December 1950- - - - - - - Pusan, Korea.
- 1962 - - - - - - - - - - - Marine Corps Air Station El Toro.
- June 1, 1965 - - - - - - - Chu Lai, RVN.
- 196? - - - - - - - - - - - Bien Hoa, RVN.
- January 29, 1973 - - - - - Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan.
- ?- - - - - - - - - - - - - Marine Corps Air Station El Toro.
- June 1988- - - - - - - - - Marine Corps Air Station Yuma.
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Air Wings:
Date - - - - - - - - - - - - Tail code - - - - - - - Air Wing
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Deployments:
Departure & Return - - - - - - - - Air Wing - Carrier - Aircraft - - Area of Operations:
- October 6, 1943, VMF-311 Corsairs catapulted from the USS Nassau to their new base at Samoa Naval Air Station.
- October 8, 1943, VMF-311 Corsairs flew to Wallis Island and remained there until January 1944.
- March 1945 VMF-311 moved to Okinawa.
- At war's end VMF-311 moved to Yokosuka, Japan, as part of the occupational force.
- December 1950 VMF-311 deployed to Pusan, Korea. The "Willie Lovers provided close air support for the Army at the Chosin Reservoir.
- In two and a half years, VMF-311 amassed 18,851 combat sorties in Korea.
- Captains Ted Williams and John Glenn flew with VMA-311 in Korea.
- March 1965 VMA-311 deployed to Japan with 20 A-4Es.
- May 1965 deployed to Chu Lai, RVN -- 8 A-4Es.
- July 1970 relocated to Da Nang, RVN.
- May 8, 1971 deployed to Iwakuni, Japan.
- May 1972 deployed to Bien Hoa, RVN.
- January 29, 1973 deployed to Iwakuni, Japan.
- June 1988, VMA-311 moved to MCAS Yuma.
- August 11, 1990, deployed to King Abdul Aziz naval air base, Saudi Arabia.
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Photograph Albums:
Squadron Photograph Album
Squadron Off-Duty Album (empty)
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Events:
- December 1, 1942:
VMA-311 was commissioned as a fighter squadron (VMF) at Cherry Point, North Carolina, one year after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The squadron, utilizing twelve SNJ Texan trainers, was charged with readying pilots for combat and emphasized fighter tactics, gunnery and night flying. This vital Replacement Training function deterred VMF-311 from entering World War II until 1943.
- April 3, 1943:
VMF-311 was relocated to Parris Island, South Carolina, and received the F4U-1 Vought Corsair as replacement aircraft. The Hells Belles then deployed to Miramar, California, prior to entering the Pacific Theater.
- October 8, 1943:
VMF-311 arrived at the Wallis Island area in the Pacific via the carrier USS Nassau; and catapulted from the Nassau to their base ashore at Samoa Naval Air Station.
- March 23, 1944:
The squadron moved to Kwajalein Island and flew its first combat missions on the arrival day. That day, VMF-311 aircraft attacked the islands of Wotje, Emidj and others within the Marshall Island area. Thus the Hells Belles became the first Marine squadron to utilize fighter aircraft for dive bombing missions and logged over 4,000 hours against Japanese forces in the Pacific. VMF-311's 1943 mission during the campaign across the Pacific, was to isolate Japanese forces on bypassed islands, deny their escape and prevent their use of airstrips.
- From 1943 to March 1945:
Following a short sea deployment aboard the carriers USS BRENTON and USS SITKOH BAY, the squadron moved to Yantan Airfield, Okinawa. While there, VMF-311 led its parent organization, Marine Aircraft Group 31, in enemy aircraft kills with seventy-one. Majors Perry L. SHUMAN and Michael R. YUNCK became aces with six and five enemy aircraft destroyed respectively.
- April 7, 1945
VMF-311 defending the fleet against Kamikaze attack with combat air patrols (CAP), downed its first aircraft. The CAP was the predominant mission until World War II ended.
- 1945:
Following World War II, VMF-311 was assigned to the Far East Air Force Command and flew reconnaissance missions in the Tokyo Bay area. It was then moved to Tsingtow, China.
- June 1946:
VMF-311 returned to the United States and after another short stay at Miramar, settled down at Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro, California. The squadron was deactivated during July 1946 but quickly reactivated in November 1946.
- April, 1948:
The "Tomcats" received the first jet aircraft to be introduced to Marine Aviation. These came in the form of sixteen TO-1's, better known as the P-80 "Shooting-Star".
- September 1949:
The TO-1 "Shooting-Star" was followed by the F9F-2 Grumman Panther.
- April, 1949:
VMF-311 deployed overseas again to combat in the Korean conflict.
- December 12, 1950:
VMF-311 flew the first Marine jet combat mission from K-9 Airfield at Pusan. The squadron later moved to more permanent airfield facilities at K-3, an old Japanese airstrip at Pohang, and compiled a total of 18,000 combat missions by the end of hostilities.
- June 1951:
During June VMF-311 flew 2,300 combat missions, a record unequalled by any other fighter squadron since that time. "Tomcat" pilots during this period included such famous Americans as Captains Ted WILLIAMS of baseball fame and John GLENN, later to become one of our nations first astronauts.
- June 1954:
The squadron took first place in the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing gunnery meet held in Korea.
- April 27, 1955:
The "Tomcats" left Korea for El Toro, California. In their initial year at El Toro, the squadron took first place in 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing flight time with 10,266 hours. They later took first place in the rocket phase of the 3rd MAW gunnery meet, and also won the Pacific Flight Safety Award.
- 1957:
VMF-311 won the "Attack Trophy" in 1957. It also received the first F9F-8 Grumman Cougar jets in Marine aviation during February of that year.
- 1958:
VMF-311 was redesignated as a Marine attack squadron (VMA) and became the first West Coast Marine squadron to receive the A4D2 (A-4B) Douglas Skyhawk. During the same year, the squadron again took the 3rd MAW Rocket trophy, was the first squadron to qualify all pilots in air-to-air refueling, and won the coveted Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Safety Award.
- March 1965:
In March of 1965, VMA-311 was the first squadron to flight ferry the newer A-4E Douglas Skyhawks across the Pacific to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan.
- May 11, 1965:
VMA-311 received orders to deploy 8 A-4Es to the advanced Marine expeditionary airfield at Chu Lai, Republic of Vietnam. The "Tomcats" arrived at Chu Lai on 1 June 1965 and commenced combat missions against Communist forces that same afternoon utilizing jet assisted takeoffs (JATO) and M-2 arresting gear for landings. This Marine Corps short airfield for tactical support (SATS) consisted of 3,600 feet of aluminum matting and two sets of arresting gear. It was the first such installation ever utilized by any U.S. military forces in combat.
- 1965 - 1968:
VMA-311 deployed twice to Iwakuni during the ensuing two years for short reforming and training cycles. While in Japan, VMA-311 retained its combat capability to support Marine contingency commitments outside of Vietnam.
- May 5 through 8, 1968:
VMA-311 flew 240 sorties from Chu Lai, RVN.
- From May through September 1968:
The Tomcats had flown 25,000 combat sorties and flown the most combat sorties of any fixed wing squadron in a single conflict of war.
- March, 1968
Capt. Porterfield was on a Hot Pad Launch when his aircraft went out of control during takeoff. His A-4 veered off
the runway and exploded. Even though he ejected, he did not survive the accident.
- 06 DEC 1969:
A-4E BuNo 150080 was lost when it blew a tire during takeoff roll. The pilot was not injured.
- 11 APR 19970:
1 Lt. Jan H Nelson was killed flying BuNo 152099 near Da Nang most likely due to ground fire.
- May, 1970:
In May, the Tomcats logged its 40,000th combat mission in Vietnam, more than any other Marine jet squadron in country. As of 1 June 1970, VMA-311 had dropped more than 75,000 tons of ordnance on the enemy in support of Free World forces in Southeast Asia. The squadron's outstanding safety record was highlighted during October 1969 when it again was awarded the Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Safety Award for fiscal year 1969 for flying 10,020 consecutive accident-free combat missions.
- Sept 1, 1970:
1Lt. John Davis Lawson was lost to ground fire while flying BuNo.150028.
- Sept 11, 1970:
1Lt. Bernard Herbert Plassmeyer was lost to ground fire while flying BuNo.151165.
- January 29, 1973
VMA-311 left Vietnam having flown a total of 54,625 combat sorties and dropped 105,000 tons of ordnance during the conflict.
May 6, 1973
Masaaki Hayakawa
- January 17, 1990
The Tomcats were the first Marine squadron to employ the AV-8B Harrier in combat, striking Iraqi positions in southern Kuwait in preparation for the coalition ground offensive.
- 1990
During the Persian Gulf War, VMA-311 flew 1,017 combat sorties and dropping 8,000 tons of ordnance on enemy targets.
- April 9, 1992
The Tomcats received their first Night Attack AV-8B and VMA-311 was formally assigned as a night attack squadron.
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Awards:
Award - - - - - - - - - Inclusive Dates:
- 1988 VMA-311 was presented the Lawson H. M. Sanderson Award, qualifying the squadron as the Marine Attack Squadron of the Year.
- April 1991, VMA-311 was awarded the MCAA's Attack Squadron of the Year.
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Sources of information:
- Steve Caldas
- Daniel Dugan
- Harry S. Gann
- Masaaki Hayakawa
- Takafumi Hiroe
- Steve Kent
- Jimmie R. Little
- Sam Melville
- Durwood Kirby Schnell
- Dave Seaney
- Tom Stump
- Isamu Yatsuhashi
This page is dedicated posthumously to
Lieutenant Jan H. Nelson, USMC
a VMA-311 Tomcat
Photo courtesy of Dave Seaney
Lieutenant Jan H. Nelson, USMC was killed April 11, 1970 while flying from the Marine facility at Chu Lai, Vietnam.
The loss was mostly likely caused by ground fire during his bomb run.
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