VMFA-333

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 333
VMFA-333 Insignia
Active	1 August 1943 – 1 November 1945 1 August 1952 – 31 March 1992
Country	United States
Branch	USMC
Type	Attack
Role	Close air support Air interdiction Aerial reconnaissance
Part of	Deactivated
Nickname(s)	“Fighting Shamrocks" ”Trip Trey”
Tail Code	WN, later DN
Engagements	World War II Vietnam War Operation Desert Storm
Aircraft flown
Attack	AD-1 Skyraider
Bomber	SBD Dauntless
Fighter	F4U Corsair F6F Hellcat FJ Fury F-8 Crusader F-4 Phantom II F/A-18 Hornet

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 333 (VMFA-333) was a United States Marine Corps fighter squadron consisting of F/A-18 Hornets. Known as the "Fighting Shamrocks" and “Trip Trey”, the squadron participated in action during World War II, the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm The squadron’s aircraft were easily recognizable by the row of three shamrocks painted on the vertical stabilizers of their aircraft. They were decommissioned on 31 March 1992.

Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 333 (VMSB-333) was activated 1 August 1943 as at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. In April 1944, a portion of the squadron was sent to NAS Key West, Florida for anti-submarine training and upon their return departed for San Diego, and three weeks after that, Hawaii. The squadron was transferred to Midway Island in July 1944 and began flying anti-submarine patrols in their SBD Dauntless bombers. They were redesignated Marine Fighter Bomber Squadron 333 (VMBF-333) on 14 October 1944 and transitioned to the F4U Corsair.

The squadron reverted to VMSB-333 on 20 December 1944 and was transferred back to Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Hawaii for the remainder of the war. They were deactivated on 1 November 1945.

They were reactivated on 1 August 1952 as Marine Attack Squadron 333 (VMA-333) and located at Marine Corps Air Station Miami and equipped with the Grumman F6F Hellcat. The Hellcats were quickly replaced with Corsairs and they were in turn replaced with A-1 Skyraiders. The Squadron was redesignated Marine Fighter Squadron 333 (VMF-333) on 28 January 1957 and again transitioned airframes, this time to the FJ Fury. At this time the squadron also relocated to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina.