VMF-124

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 124
VMA-124 Insignia
Active	2 September 1942 - 1996
Country	United States
Branch	USMC
Type	Fighter/Attack squadron
Role	Air interdiction
Nickname(s)	Whistling Death Wild Aces Checkerboards
Tail Code	QP
Engagements	World War II * Battle of Guadalcanal * Solomon Islands Campaign * Philippines Campaign, 1944-45 * Battle of Iwo Jima * Battle of Okinawa
Aircraft flown
Attack	A-4 Skyhawk
Fighter	F4U Corsair F9F Cougar FJ-4B Fury

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 124 (VMFA-124) was a flying squadron in the Marine Forces Reserve based out of Naval Air Station Memphis flying the A-4 Skyhawk. They were part of Marine Aircraft Group 42 and were decommissioned on 19 June 1999. The squadron is best known as the first Marine squadron to fly the F4U Corsair during World War II and also one of the first Marine squadrons to be based on an aircraft carrier. They were known as the “Wild Aces” and ended World War II with 78 air-to-air victories against Japanese aircraft.

VMF-124 was formed on 2 September 1942 at Camp Kearney, San Diego, California. They were declared fully operational on 28 December 1942 even though the squadron’s pilots had only an average of 25 hours each in the plane. They arrived on Guadalcanal on the morning of February 12, 1943 led by their commanding officer, Major William Gise. The squadron flew their first mission before lunch that day, with twelve F4Us escorting a PBY Catalina on a 230 mile mission to pick up two downed pilots at Sandfly Bay, Vella Lavella.

The first F4U pilot to be decorated with the Medal of Honor came from VMF-124 — 1st Lt Kenneth A. Walsh for a mission on August 30, 1943, during which he shot down four Japanese Zeros before ditching his borrowed Corsair. The squadron remained in the Solomon Islands until September 1943, fighting over the Russell Islands, New Georgia and Vella Levella.