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VMFA(AW)-224

Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224
VMFA-224 insignia.jpg
Active May 1, 1942 - present
Country United States
Allegiance United States of America
Branch United States Marine Corps
Type All Weather Fighter/Attack
Role Close air support
Air interdiction
Aerial reconnaissance
Part of Marine Aircraft Group 31
2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
Garrison/HQ Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort
Nickname(s) "Fighting Bengals"
Fighting Wildcats (WWII)
Tail Code WK
Engagements World War II
* Battle of Guadalcanal
* Battle of Okinawa
Vietnam War
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Joint Endeavor
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Commanders
Commanding Officer LtCol Michael Shand
Executive Officer Maj Eric Geyer
Sergeant Major SgtMaj M. E. Lambert II
Maintenance Chief MSgt J. E. Rena, Jr
Aircraft flown
Attack Douglas A4D Skyhawk
Grumman A-6 Intruder
Fighter Grumman F4F Wildcat
Vought F4U Corsair
McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee
Grumman F9F Panther
McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18D Hornet

Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224 (VMFA(AW)-224) is a United States Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet squadron. Also known as the "Fighting Bengals", the squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 31 (MAG-31) and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (2nd MAW).

Attack and destroy surface targets, day or night, under the weather; conduct multi-sensor imagery reconnaissance; provide supporting arms coordination; and intercept and destroy enemy aircraft under all-weather conditions.

Marine Fighter Squadron 224 (VMF-224) was commissioned on May 1, 1942 at Naval Air Station Barbers Point, Hawaii. Flying Grumman F4F Wildcats, the Bengals entered World War II as part of the Cactus Air Force stationed on Henderson Field, Guadalcanal. Led by Medal of Honor recipient Maj Robert Galer, the squadron accounted for over sixty Japanese aircraft being destroyed in less than two months. The squadron also conducted close air support (CAS) missions while under constant attack from Japanese naval, air, and ground forces. VMF-224’s contributed significantly to the American victory during the Guadalcanal Campaign, which in turn, helped stem the tide of the Japanese advance across the Southern Pacific and secured a crucial foothold in the long island-hopping campaign against Japan.


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