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US Marine Corps - Marine Fighter Attack
Squadron 323 VMFA-323 'Death Rattlers' |
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 F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323) over the Pacific Ocean - June 2021  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323) at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe - June 2021  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323) at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe - June 2021  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323) at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe - June 2021  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323) at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe - June 2021  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - February 2021  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - February 2021  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - February 2021  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - February 2021  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - February 2021  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - January 2021  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - January 2021  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - January 2021  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - January 2021  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - January 2021  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - January 2021  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - January 2021  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - December 2020  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - December 2020  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - December 2020  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - October 2020  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - October 2020  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - October 2020  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - October 2020  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - October 2020  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - October 2020  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - US CENTCOM AOR - September 2020  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - US CENTCOM AOR - September 2020  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - US CENTCOM AOR - September 2020  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - US CENTCOM AOR - September 2020  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - US CENTCOM AOR - September 2020  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) over Iraq - September 2020  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - September 2020  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-17) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - February 2020  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323) armed with ten AIM-120 AMRAAM and two AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles off the coast of Southern California - March 2019  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323) armed with ten AIM-120 AMRAAM and two AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles off the coast of Southern California - March 2019  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323) off the coast of Southern California - March 2019  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323) during a refueling exercise off the coast of California - February 2019  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323) during a refueling exercise off the coast of California - February 2019  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323) during a refueling exercise off the coast of California - February 2019  cutout  cutout  cutout  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323) at MCAS Miramar, California - February 2019  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323) at MCAS Miramar, California - January 2019  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323) at MCAS Miramar, California - January 2019  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323) at MCAS Miramar, California - July 2018  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323) aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) - June 2018  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323) aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) - June 2018  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323) aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) - June 2018  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323) over California - May 2018  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323) - December 2017  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-11) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - November 2017  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-11) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - October 2017  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-11) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - October 2017  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-11) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - September 2017  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-11) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - September 2017  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-11) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - September 2017  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-11) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - September 2017  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-11) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - August 2017  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-11) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - August 2017  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-11) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - August 2017  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-11) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - July 2017  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-11) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - June 2017  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-11) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - March 2017  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-11) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - March 2017  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-11) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - December 2016  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-11) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - November 2016  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-11) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - November 2016  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-11) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - November 2016  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-11) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - October 2016  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-11) embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - October 2016  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-11) at NAS Fallon, Nevada - February 2015  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-11) at NAS Fallon, Nevada - February 2015  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323 / CVW-11) at NAS Fallon, Nevada - February 2015  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323) during exercise LAVA VIPER at MCAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii - January 2015  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323) during exercise LAVA VIPER at MCAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii - January 2015  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323) during exercise LAVA VIPER at MCAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii - January 2015  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323) during exercise LAVA VIPER at MCAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii - January 2015  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323) during exercise RED FLAG at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska - August 2014  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323) during exercise RED FLAG at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska - August 2014  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323) during exercise RED FLAG at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska - August 2014  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323) during exercise RED FLAG at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska - August 2014  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323) during exercise RED FLAG at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska - August 2014  F/A-18C Hornet (VMFA-323) during exercise RED FLAG at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska - August 2014 > continue > VMFA-323 image page 2 < |
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VMFA-323 History: Marine Fighting Squadron 323 was commissioned Aug. 1, 1943 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C. Three hard-charging fighter pilots killed a 6 foot rattlesnake, and hung its diamond-backed skin in the squadron ready room, giving rise to our 50 year-old unit the nickname of "Death Rattlers." VMF-323 immediately began training for combat in the Pacific theater with their Chance-Vought F4U Corsairs. Often hailed as the best all-around fighter of World War II, the "bent-wing bird" was armed with six .50-caliber machine guns and a lethal warload of bombs, rockets, and Napalm. In preparation for deployment overseas, VMF-323 moved west in January 1944, flying training missions from fields at El Centro and Camp Pendleton, Calif. In July 1944 the Death Rattlers departed for the Pacific aboard the escort carrier USS Long Island. For the next nine months, VMF-323 flew training missions from secure island bases in the South Pacific, perfecting their tactics in aerial combat, dive bombing, rocketry, and close air support. April 9, 1945 the Death Rattlers flew from an escort carrier into Kadena airfield to fly missions in support of Operation Iceberg, the campaign for Okinawa. Combat operations commenced the following day. Between April and the surrender of Japanese forces in August, the Death Rattlers shot down 124 Japanese planes in aerial combat without a single loss to an enemy pilot. Twelve VMF-323 fighter pilots became Aces - three of them in a single day. The deadly, effective close air support (CAS) the Death Rattlers gave the Leathernecks on the ground was just as important as the squadron's tremendous accomplishments in air combat. To the Marine riflemen engaged in the bloodiest close-quarter fighting of the war, Marine Corsairs became the "Sweethearts of Okinawa." March 1946 found the Death Rattlers based at MCAS El Toro, Calif., and engaged in a rigorous peacetime training program. Operating from land and sea, VMF-323 participated in exercises throughout the western U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii. The squadron also provided Hollywood, Calif., with Marine airpower for the 1949 classic, Sands of Iwo Jima. June 25, 1950, North Korean troops invaded South Korea. Within a month, VMF-323 began combat operations from the escort carrier USS Badoeng Strait, in support of ground forces in the Pusan perimeter. Again proving the effectiveness of Marine close air support during heavy fighting at Pusan, the Inchon landing, the breakout of the 1st Marine Division from the Chosin Reservoir, and every major campaign of the war, the Death Rattlers further built on the combat reputation of the Marine Air-Ground Team. Flying alternately from Navy carriers and austere airfields ashore, VMF-323 flew primarily air-to-ground missions such as CAS, interdiction, and armed reconnaissance. Reflecting this change in its primary mission, the squadron was re-designated Marine Attack Squadron 323 (VMA-323) in June 1952. The Death Rattlers departed Korea in July 1953 after accumulating 48,000 hours of flight time, and once again serving with distinction in combat. After returning to the United States, VMA-323 flew the Grumman F9F-2 Panther and later the F9F-8 Cougar, a swept-wing version of the combat-proven Panther. From late 1953 through August 1956 the Death Rattlers flew in numerous training exercises from both land bases and aircraft carriers. In September 1956 VMA-323 transitioned to yet another aircraft, the supersonic, single-engine North American FJ-4 Fury and shortly thereafter was re-designated VMF-323 once again. As the first Marine squadron to operate the Fury, VMF-323 deployed to the Western Pacific in 1957. In August, the Death Rattlers flew armed patrol missions over Quemoy and Matsu Islands in support of the resupply of Chinese Nationalist forces during the Taiwan Straits crisis. On their return to MCAS El Toro, Calif., in 1959 the squadron received the Vought F8U-1 Crusader. Assigned to Carrier Air Group 14 aboard the USS Lexington in 1961, VMF-323 was the first Marine F-8 squadron to go on cruise with the Crusader. When VMF-323 returned from the Western Pacific they were outfitted with the improved F8U-2 version of the Crusader. In July 1963 the unit was re-designated VMF(AW)-323 to reflect the enhanced "all-weather" capabilities of the new fighters. While deployed to NAS Atsugi, Japan in 1963, the "Snakes" twice supported operations in the Philippines, Okinawa, and Taiwan from the decks of Navy carriers. In 1964 the squadron returned to Cherry Point, where they received the present designation of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323 (VMFA-323) and began the transition to flying the F-4B Phantom II. While deployed to Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico in March 1965, the Dominican Crisis erupted. VMFA-323 provided air cover during the evacuation of American citizens, and flew armed reconnaissance missions with their dual-role Phantoms. As the U.S. commitment to South Vietnam escalated, VMFA-323 deployed to Da Nang Air Base and commenced combat operations the day after their arrival in Vietnam. This marked the Death Rattlers' third combat tour of duty in the Pacific, spanning two decades and three wars. VMFA-323 served in Vietnam almost continuously from December 1965 until March 1969, flying over 17,000 combat sorties from Da Nang and Chu Lai in support of I Corps ground operations and against targets north of the demiliterized zone. Upon return to MCAS El Toro,Calif., the Phantom drivers began a demanding and rigorous training schedule, setting the standard for other F-4 units. From 1969 until their transition to the F/A-18 Hornet, VMFA-323 participated in a long list of exercises and deployments on land and sea. One notable deployment was aboard the USS Coral Sea, when VMFA-323 and its F-4N's stood ready for combat in the Gulf of Oman during the Iranian hostage crisis of 1980. Sept. 14, 1982, VMFA-323 turned in its last F-4 Phantom and officially began the transition to the world's foremost strike fighter, the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A Hornet. Death Rattler fighter pilots employed their new jets in an intense series of air-to-air and air-to-ground training exercises, as well as several live missile firings. In October 1985 VMFA-323 deployed again aboard the Coral Sea, this time to the Mediterranean Sea. The squadron distinguished itself in the winter and spring of 1986 during Freedom of Navigation exercises held in international waters and airspace off the coast of Libya. April 15, 1986 the Snakes provided SAM suppression and fighter Combat Air Patrol (CAP) sorties during the overland strikes on Libyan targets in support of the national policy to deter terrorism. As a result of this effective protection, no U.S. Navy or Marine Corps aircraft were lost. From October 1988 through April 1989, VMFA-323 deployed to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, participating in the six-month USMC Unit Deployment Program (UDP) for the first time. Following a short year in MCAS El Toro, Calif., the Death Rattlers again found themselves in Iwakuni on UDP. Due to Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, this trip was extended to almost 11 months away from home and family as the Snakes remained forward-deployed in Japan so other Marine squadrons could deploy to the Persian Gulf and help kick Iraq out of Kuwait. In April 1993 the Snakes took delivery of their first LOT XV F/A-18C aircraft, the newest model of the combat-tested Hornet that VMFA-323 would twice deploy with aboard the USS Constellation. During two six-month cruises (fall 1994 - spring 1995, and summer 1997) the Snakes flew missions from Connie's flight deck in support of Operation Southern Watch. In the brutal summer heat of the Persian Gulf, our Marines kept the Snake Hornets perfectly maintained and fully armed for enforcing the United Nations sanctions against Iraq and patrolling the No-Fly Zone south of Baghdad. source: USMC - - - - - another history: World War II: VMF-323 was commissioned 1 August 1943 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. According to oral history, the squadron got its name from three fighter pilots who killed a 6-foot (1.8 m) rattlesnake and hung its skin in the squadron's ready room. VMF-323 began training in F4U Corsairs almost immediately for combat in the Pacific theater of World War II. Much of the new squadron's training was done at Marine Corps Air Station El Centro and Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, California. In July 1944, the Death Rattlers departed for the Pacific aboard USS Long Island. For the next nine months, VMF-323 flew training missions from secure island bases in the South Pacific. On 9 April 1945, the Death Rattlers flew into Kadena airfield in support of Operation Iceberg during the Battle of Okinawa. Combat operations commenced the following day. Between then and the Japanese surrender in August, the Death Rattlers racked up 124 Japanese planes shot down without a single loss. Twelve Death Rattlers became aces. After the war, the Death Rattlers were based at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, where they conducted training exercises. It was around this time that the squadron appeared in the 1949 movie Sands of Iwo Jima. Korean War and post-war: When the Korean War began in 1950, VMF-323 began combat operations from USS Badoeng Strait as part of Marine Aircraft Group 33 (MAG-33), supporting ground forces in the Battle of Pusan Perimeter, Battle of Inchon, Battle of Chosin Reservoir and almost every other major campaign of the conflict. During action near Kosong, on 11 August 1950, a VMF-323 Corsair pilot, Captain Vivian M. Moses, became the first Marine aviator killed in Korea. The unit also took part in the attack on the Sui-ho Dam in June 1952. The squadron was re-designated Marine Attack Squadron 323 (VMA-323) in June, 1952. The Death Rattlers left Korea in July 1953. Once back home, the squadron began flying the F9F Panther and then the F9F Cougar, a swept-wing version of the Panther. In 1956 the squadron adopted the FJ-4 Fury, with which it deployed to the western Pacific in 1957. That year, the Death Rattlers flew armed patrols over the Quemoy and Matsu islands to support Chinese nationalist forces. The squadron was reestablished at MCAS El Toro and received its first F8U Crusaders in the summer of 1958. it trained in 1958 and 1959 was then assigned to USS Oriskany. In 1964, the squadron returned to MCAS Cherry Point, where they received their present designation of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323 (VMFA-323). This same year, the Death Rattlers began flying the F-4 Phantom II. During the Dominican Crisis in 1965, the Death Rattlers provided air cover while American citizens were evacuated. Vietnam War: As the United States grew closer to war in South Vietnam, the Death Rattlers deployed to Da Nang Air Base beginning on October 25, 1965. Combat operations started the day after they arrived. The squadron lost its first aircraft a week after they arrived when the squadron's executive officer was shot down by a surface-to-air missile over North Vietnam. It was the only Marine F-4 felled by a SAM during the war. 323 remained in Vietnam until 1969, flying combat sorties from Da Nang and Chu Lai. 1980s to 2001: The squadron embarked on its only aircraft carrier cruise in the F-4 Phantom in November 1979 aboard USS Coral Sea. After liberty stops in, Korea, Thailand, and Singapore, Coral Sea arrived in the Arabian Sea in January 1980 flying protection caps for Coral Sea and USS Nimitz. On 24 April 1980, VMFA-323 was prepared to fly combat missions into southern Iran in support of US hostages rescue attempt Operation Eagle Claw with the mission to shoot down any Iranian combat aircraft that attempted to take off. When Operation Eagle Claw failed, VMFA-323 F-4s flew missions around the clock until all US support ships had exited the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The squadron was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for its service. The squadron arrived back at Subic Bay, RP after 102 straight days at sea. On 14 September 1982, VMFA-323 transitioned to its current aircraft, the F/A-18 Hornet. In October 1985, the squadron deployed again aboard Coral Sea, this time to the Mediterranean Sea. In spring of 1986 during freedom of navigation exercises held in international waters and airspace off the coast of Libya. On 15 April 1986, the squadron provided SAM suppression and fighter Combat Air Patrol (CAP) sorties during Operation El Dorado Canyon. In 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, and 2001 the Death Rattlers flew missions in support of Operation Southern Watch. Global War on Terror: On 2 November 2002, VMFA-323 deployed aboard USS Constellation as part of CVW-2 to conduct Operation Southern Watch. While on this deployment, the Death Rattlers transitioned from Operation Southern Watch to Operation Iraqi Freedom conducting sorties into Baghdad on the first night of the war. On 2 May 2005, two F/A-18C Hornet fighter jets from VMFA-323, BuNo 164721 and BuNo 164732, collided over south-central Iraq, during a sortie from USS Carl Vinson, killing the executive officer and a junior officer. source: wikipedia |
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