VMF-511
| Marine Fighting Squadron 511 | |
|---|---|
VMF-511's WWII insignia
|
|
| Active |
|
| Country | United States |
| Branch | USMC |
| Type | Fighter squadron |
| Role |
Air interdiction Close air support |
| Part of | Inactive |
| Engagements | |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter |
F4U-1D Corsair F6F-5N/5P Hellcats F-8 Crusader |
Marine Fighting Squadron 511 (VMF-511) was a fighter squadron of the Marine Corps and Marine Forces Reserve during World War II and the Cold War which flew aircraft types such as the F6F Hellcat, F4U Corsair, and the F-8 Crusader. They were originally activated during World War II and fought during the Battle of Okinawa and the Battle of Balikpapan (1945). They specialized in close air support and during the course of the war were credited with only one plane shot down.
Following the surrender of Japan, the squadron was deactivated on March 11, 1946. They were reactivated in the Marine Forces Reserve and were based out of Naval Air Station Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. The squadron's tailcode was originally 7W, then in 1970 it became 5W, and then in 1972 it changed to MK.
Marine Fighting Squadron 511 (VMF-511) was activated on January 1, 1944, at Marine Corps Auxiliary Air Field Oak Grove, North Carolina. They were a part of Marine Aircraft Group 51 (MAG-51) and their original mission was to take part in Operation Crossbow (Project Danny), an ill-conceived plan to have Marine squadrons aboard escort carriers hunt down V-1 flying bomb launch sites in eastern France. After that operation was canceled, the new mission for MAG-51 and VMF-511 was to train for deployment aboard Navy carriers in the Pacific. They moved to Marine Corps Air Station Mojave, California, on September 10, 1944, and began carrier qualification training. They were equipped with a mixed bag of eight F6F-5N Hellcat night fighters, two F6F-5P photo reconnaissance Hellcats and eight F4U-1D Corsairs. This mix of aircraft gave the squadron both a night fighting capability and photo reconnaissance capability on top of its ability to provide close air support. On October 28, 1944, the squadron was re-designated VMF(CVS)-511 to reflect their special training and participation in the escort carrier program. Upon completion of this training they were assigned to Marine Carrier Air Group 1 (MCVG-1) where they were partnered with VMTB-233 on the USS Block Island (CVE-106). The squadron left the West Coast on March 20, 1945.
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