VMA-322 Fighting Gamecocks
and VMF-322 Cannon Balls


Patch from Daniel Ventre


JOIN The Skyhawks

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:
Handle:
  • July 1943 - May 1958 Cannon Balls
  • 15 May 1958 - June 1992 Fighting Gamecocks
  • May 1958 - June 1992 Radio Callsign - Motly - QR Tail Code

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Aircraft:
Date Type First Received - - - - - - Type of Aircraft: Back to Table of Contents

Heritage:
  • First established as Marine Fighter Squadron 322 (VMF-322) on July 1, 1943 and disestablished on November 30, 1949.
  • Next established as Marine Fighter Squadron 322 (VMF-322) on July 6, 1951.
  • Redesignated as VMA-322 in May 1958.
  • VMA-322 was disestablished on June 27, 1992.

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Commanders:
Home Ports:
  • 7/1/43 Established at Cherry Point
  • 1943 - 1/44 Parris Island, South Carolina
  • 1/44 - 10/44 Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Oahu, Hawaii
  • 10/44 - 4/3/45 Espiritu Santo Island
  • 4/3/45 - 7/45 Kadena, Okinawa
  • 7/45 - 11/45 Awase, Okinawa
  • 11/45 - 7/47 Midway Island
  • 7/47 - 4/49 Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Oahu, Hawaii
  • 4/49 - 11/30/49 Naval Auxiluary Air Station Edenton, North Carolina
  • 7/6/51 - 1/54 Naval Air Station Squantum, Massachusetts
  • 1/54 - 6/27/92 Naval Air Station South Weymouth, Massachusetts

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Air Wings:
Date - - - - - - - - - - - - Tail code - - - - - - - Air Wing
  • Not known
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Deployments:
Departure & Return - - - - - - - - Air Wing - Carrier - Aircraft - - Area of Operations:
  • 10/44 - 4/3/45 Espiritu Santo Island
  • 4/3/45 - 7/45 Kadena, Okinawa
  • 7/45 - 11/45 Awase, Okinawa
  • 11/45 - 7/47 Midway Island
  • May, 1962 Udorn Thailand
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Photograph Albums:
Squadron Photograph Album
Squadron Off-Duty Album
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Events:
  • July 1, 1943:
    Marine Attack Squadron 322 is activated as Marine Fighter Squadron 322. At that time, the Squadron was referred to as "the Cannon Ball Squadron."

  • Fall 1943:
    Marine Fighter Squadron 322 was transferred to Parris Island, South Carolina where it began training in the F4U-1D Corsair.


  • January 1944:
    Marine Fighter Squadron 322 deployed to Marine Corps Air Stations EWA Oahu, Hawaii, where it underwent extensive combat flight training.


  • October 1944:
    Marine Fighter Squadron 322 then moved to Espiritu Santo Island located in the South Pacific. VMF-322 was then attached to MAG-33 and received the Squadron's first combat orders of the Second World War, to support the amphibious invasion of the island of Okinawa.


  • April 3, 1945:
    On the morning of April 3, the Squadron's lead support element was struck by a Japanese Kamikaze aircraft while attempting to come ashore in a LST. Over one hundred fifty VMF-322 Marines were killed instantly in the attack.


  • April 9, 1944:
    Marine Fighter Squadron 322 continued on, in true fighting spirit and flew their F4U-1D Corsairs into Kadena airfield and continued their fighter and attack missions in support of the battles on Okinawa and Iheya Shima.


  • June 12, 1945:
    Marine Fighter Squadron 322 conducted the first attack mission by a Marine squadron against the Japanese mainland when they bombed and strafed Kanoya Airfield on Kyushu.


  • July 1945:
    Marine Fighter Squadron 322 the Squadron moved from Kadena to Awase Airfield where they operated until the end of the war. In addition to the numerous close air support and other attack missions conducted, VMF-322 was also credited with 20 kills at the time of the Japanese surrender.


  • November 1945:
    Marine Fighter Squadron 322 moved to Midway Island where they were attached to MAG-44 and received new F4U-4 Corsairs. The Squadron remained on Midway until July 1947.


  • July 1947:
    Marine Fighter Squadron 322 moved back to Marine Corps Air Stations EWA Oahu, Hawaii to become part of MAG-15.


  • April 1949:
    VMF-322 finally returned to the United States aboard the USS Princeton (CV-37) and was stationed at Marine Corps Air Stations Edenton, North Carolina.


  • November 30, 1949:
    The Squadron was disestablished.


  • July 6, 1951:
    Marine Fighter Squadron 322 was established at the Naval Air Station Squantum, Massachusetts, just outside of the city of Boston. The Squadron was attached to the Marine Air Reserves and continued to fly the F4U-4 Corsair. Many of the new Reserve Pilots joining VMF-322 were just returning from service in Korea.


  • December 1953:
    The United States Navy reactivated Naval Air Station South Weymouth, Massachusetts.


  • January 1954:
    Marine Fighter Squadron 322 moved to Naval Air Station South Weymouth, Massachusetts.


  • March of 1955:
    Marine Fighter Squadron 322 retired the last of their F4U Corsairs and received the new F9F-6 Grumman Cougar. The Squadron had the distinction of being the first unit in New England flying jet aircraft.


  • May 1958:
    VMF-322 was redesignated Marine Attack Squadron 322 (VMA-322), recognizing the primary mission of close air support. At this time, a new Squadron Emblem was designed and the unit begin its heritage as "The Fighting Gamecocks."


  • November 1959:
    Marine Attack Squadron 322 transitioned to the North American FJ-3 Fury.


    • May 1962: Short (1.5 months) deployment to Udorn, Thailand.
  • September 1962:
    Marine Attack Squadron 322 transitioned to the Douglas A-4C Skyhawk. During the years that followed, VMA-322 flew four versions of the legendary Skyhawk: the A-4C, A-4E, TA-4J and the A-4M.


  • VMA-322 absorbed VMA-217, also based at South Weymouth.


  • June 27, 1992:
    Disestablished.


  • Marine Fighter Squadron 322 & Marine Attack Squadron 322:
    Since establishment in 1943, the Squadron has engaged in war, conducted numerous tactical training exercises and participated in many deployments throughout the United States, Canada and with Allies abroad.


    • Marine Squadron 322 has always been comprised of extremely dedicated Marine Reservists who have prided themselves on true professionalism. In its last 10 Years, VMA-322 was number one in terms of combat readiness and aircraft availability. This legacy of excellence, as well as the Camaraderie steeped in tradition, will live forever in the memories of all those Marines who have proudly served with Marine Attack Squadron 322. Semper Fidelis!
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Awards:
    Award - - - - - - - - - Inclusive Dates:
  • Presidentail Unit Citation Streamer WW-II
  • Asiatic - Pacific Campaign Streamer with Bronze Star WW-II
  • World War II Victory Streamer
  • Pete Ross Safety Trophy - 1964
  • Pete Ross Safety Trophy - 1987

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Sources of information:
  • Mr. Daniel Ventre
  • Mr. Frank J. Mirande
  • Lanny Bauer MSgt. USMC Retired

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