VMA-224 |
Point of Contact = Squadron Duty Officer (SDO). See FAQ/Research/Contact link under [SA] in the menu. |
 VMF-224 - Date Unknown Provided by John Gabbard |
 1964 - 1967 Provided by Gary Clark |
%5D-224_bengals_3.jpg) VMA(AW)-224 Bengals |
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Patch No info yet. |
Sources David Weber Harry S. Gann Jimmy R. Little Frank J. Mirande John Gabbard |
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Handle Bengals Heritage May 1, 1942 - Marine Fighting Squadron VMF-224 Bengals established at Naval Air Station, Barbers Point,Territory of Hawaii. December 1, 1954 - Marine Fighting Squadron VMF-224 redesignated as Marine Attack Squadron VMA-224 Bengals. November 1, 1966, VMA-224 was re-designated as Marine All Weather Attack Squadron 224 (VMA(AW)-224) |
Home Ports Date - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Location: May 1, 1942 - - - - - Naval Air Station, Barbers Point Territory of Hawaii. November 1942 - - - - Naval Station San Diego, California. November 1942 - - - - Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California. June 1948 - - - - - - Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. November 1954 - - - - Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California. December 1958 - - - - Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. |
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Air Wings 1956 - - - - - - - WK 19?0's - - - - - - WP |
Aircraft Date Type First Received - - - - - - Type of Aircraft: 19?? - - - - - - - - - - - Vought F4U Corsair. 1953?- - - - - - - - - - - McDonnell F2H-3 Banshee 1952 - - - - - - - - - - - Grumman F9F-5 Panther. 29 September 1956- - - - - Douglas A4D-1 (A-4A) Skyhawk * 6 January 1959 - - - - - - Douglas A4D-2 (A-4B) Skyhawk * 26 July 1961 - - - - - - - Douglas A4D-2N (A-4C) Skyhawk * 19 February 1965 - - - - - Douglas A4D-5 (A-4E) Skyhawk * 1966 - - - - - - - - - - - Grumman A-6 Intruder * November 30, 1962 The A4D-1 designation changed to A-4A The A4D-2 designation changed to A-4B The A4D-2N designation changed to A-4C The A4D-5 designation changed to A-4E For A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to this unit see lower in this page: |
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Deployments Oct 1957 - Dec 1958 A4D-1 MAG-12/MCAS Iwakuni, Japan. 22 Aug 1960 - Sep 1960 A4D-2 CVA-62 CVG-3 WK-xx NorLant, Med. Oct 1960 - 03 Mar 1961 A4D-2 CVA-62 CVG-7 WK-xx Med. 1962 - 1963 A-4C MAG-12/MCAS Iwakuni, Japan. 1963 - 1964 MCAS Cherry Point (deployments to Yuma and USS Saratoga.) Oct 1965 - 30 Apr 1966 A-4E MAG-12/Chu Lai, South Vietnam. 01 May 1966 - 06 Jul 1966 A-4E MAG-15/MCAS Iwakuni, Japan. 07 Jul 1966 - 31 Oct 1966 A-4E MAG-12/Chu Lai, South Vietnam . 31 Oct 1966 deactivated. 01 November 1966 reactivated as VMA(AW)-224 with A-6A Intruders. |
Commanding Officers No info yet. |
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Awards No info yet |
Awards continued No additional info |
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Events May 1, 1942: Marine Fighting Squadron 224 was established at the Naval Air Station, Barbers Point Territory of Hawaii. (1942): For the next few months VMF-224 was in training at Barbers Point. Marine Fighting Squadron 224 trained in aerial tactics, gunnery, day and night intercept and radar use. August 16, 1942: Marine Fighting Squadron 224 Bengals embarked on board the USAT E.J. Hinds and then the United States Ship Kitty Hawk and sailed from Pearl Harbor. September 3, 1942: The Bengals arrived at Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, commenced air combat patrols over enemy territory the next day. The Bengals remained in combat until October 16, 1942. During this period Bengal pilots shot down more than 60 enemy aircraft. November 1942: Marine Fighting Squadron 224 relocated to Naval Air Station San Diego and then to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California for combat work-up training. September 1943: Marine Fighting Squadron 224 was ordered to Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, then to combat at Pago Pago, Samoa and Funafuti, Ellice Islands. January 1944: VMF-224 moved to Roi, Kwajalein and a short time later began strikes against Wotje and other enemy held atolls in the Marshall Islands. April 7, 1944: A week after the Okinawa campaign began VMF-224 arrived at the Yontan, Okinawa airfield. By the time Okinawa was secured the squadron had accounted for 55 enemy aircraft shot down this line period. (1945): After the Japan's surrender VMF-224 deployed from Okinawa to Yokohama, Japan as part of the occupation force. June 1946: Marine Fighting Squadron 224 Bengals departed Yokohama, Japan for the United States. 1947 through 1948: VMF-224 was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California. June 1948: Marine Fighting Squadron 224 moved to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. (1950): At the outbreak of the Korean War, VMF-224 remained at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point where it experimented with ordinance and provided combat replacement pilot training. September 1951: Marine Fighting Squadron 224 embarked on board the United States Ship Franklin D. Roosevelt for a five month Mediterranean cruise. February 1952: Back at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Marine Fighting Squadron 224 began converting from F2H-2 to F9F-5 Panther. VMF-224 became a defacto training squadron with a constant new pilot influx as the more experienced pilots were transferred to combat units in Korea. September 10, 1953: Marine Fighting Squadron 224 arrived at the Naval Air Station, Atsugi, Japan. The mission was to prepare strikes in support of the Fleet Marine Force and other ground units in the event of a Korean Armistice breakdown. VMF-224 also prepared to support future amphibious operations involving the seizure and defense of advanced bases, and to assist in the air defense of Japan. November 1954: The squadron sailed from Yokosuka, Japan for Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California. December 1, 1954: Marine Fighting Squadron 224 was re-designated Marine Attack Squadron 224 Bengals. 13 September 1956: First Deployment of an A-4 Skyhawk to the Marines. BuNo 139920 is delivered to VMA-224. (1957): VMA-224 was the first Marine squadron to get the Douglas A-4A Skyhawk. June 16, 1957: 1st Lt. Don M. Gomez, 22, MCAS El Toro, was killed when his A4D Skyhawk (BuNo 142212) crashed 35 miles NE of Inyokern. Lt. Gomez was on a routine training flight when the plane developed engine trouble and plunged into the Panamint Valley. Redlands Daily Facts, Monday, June 17, 1957 October 1, 1957: VMA-224 deployed to Iwakuni, Japan. October 23, 1957: Marine Attack Squadron VMA-224 arrived Iwakuni, Japan.
December 1958: Marine Attack Squadron VMA-224224 transferred to the 2d Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. August 1960: Marine Attack Squadron 224 Bengals embarked on board the USS Saratoga at Mayport, Florida and sailed for the Mediterranean. During the cruise VMA-224 participated in the various exercises conducted by the Sixth Fleet. February 1961: Marine Attack Squadron 224 returned to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina to continue taking part in maneuvers in the continental United States and the Caribbean areas. February 13, 1961: 1st Lt. R.E. Merrihew ejected safely from VMA-224 A4D-2 BuNo 145048. 1218 A4D-2 BuNo 145048 of VMA-224, pilot 1/LT R.E. Merrihew, involved in mid-air collision with USS Saratoga (CVA-60) HUP-2 BuNo 130056 at latitude 38-29N and longitude 06-41E and both aircraft sank in 1500 fathoms of water. 1228 Launched helicopter #46 to assist in search for aircraft occupants. 1240 Directed USS C.P. Cecil (DDR-835) to retrieve floating debris. 1242 Received report that 1/LT Merrihew was rescued and returned to the Saratoga in apparently good health. USS Independence deck log, Monday, 13 February 1961. The Navy today identified two airmen killed in the Mediterranean Monday as Ens. Terry Wells Crawford, of St. Petersburg, FL, and Aviation Mechanic Mitchell Ray Whitman, of Thomasville, NC. They were killed when their helicopter, operating from the carrier Saratoga, collided with a plane operating from the carrier Independence. The plane pilot ejected safely. Danville Bee, Wednesday, February 15, 1961. October 1962: Marine Attack Squadron 224 deployed to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. January 22, 1963: 1st Lt. Jack R. Lousma, 26, safely ejected from his A-4C Skyhawk (BuNo 147716) during an inflight fire on approach to MCAS Iwakuni. The aircraft exploded and plunged into the Monzen River 13 miles from the base. The control tower received an emergency call from the plane and saw the aircraft approaching with fire streaming out of the tail moments before it exploded. The pilot was rescued from the water within four minutes by the SAR helicopter. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Thursday, January 24, 1963 and Pacific Stars & Stripes photo, Thursday, 7 February, 1963. October 25, 1963: 1st Lt. Claiborne Brown, 23, ejected and was killed when his Skyhawk (BuNo 149548) belly landed in Casco Bay, Maine, bounced up on shore and crashed into a vacant cottage shortly after take-off from NAS Brunswick. The crash occured shortly after he had taken off from NAS Brunswick for a flight to Bunker Hill AFB, Corpus Christi Times, Saturday, October 26, 1963. A jet fighter burst into flames and crashed in dense fog Friday night killing the pilot and spraying jet fuel over a large section of tinder dry forest and plunging into a vacant summer cottage which was blown to bits. The wreckage of the Marine A-4 Skyhawk flying from NAS Brunswick to Bunker Hill AFB was found about midnight. The Coshocton Tribune, Sunday, October 27, 1963. October 1963: Marine Attack Squadron 224 returned to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. March 27, 1965: 2nd Lt. Robert A. Kay, 22, deployed to MCAS, Yuma, from VMA-224 MCAS Cherry Point, NC, was killed Sunday when his A-4 Skyhawk (BuNo 149487) crashed short of the runway during a ground controlled approach to NAS, Whidbey Island. The plane came down on rough ground, flipped on its back and caught fire, The Sun, Monday, March 29, 1965 & the Freeport Journal-Standard, Monday, Mar. 29, 1965. October 1965: Marine Attack Squadron 224 Bengals deployed to Chu Lai, Republic of Vietnam and entered immediately into combat with the enemy. December 9, 1965: CWO-2 Dan Richards ejected safely and A-4E Skyhawk BuNo 151992 was DBR when he over-rotated on JATO take-off. January 27, 1966: Captain Huey P. Long Miller, VMA -211, VMA-224 BuNo 150034 was NORDO and the pilot with the working radio led him into and through the “break,” and then to a point on the approach where he had the field/runway/mirror in sight, and landing clearance had been received. At this point, the leading pilot would pat the top of the dash, give the failed radio pilot “thumbs up,” indicating he was cleared to land, drop back into a chase position, allowing the failed radio pilot to continue and make his landing. However, after Miller had been give the thumbs up, the Seabees declared the arresting gear unusable, and stated that the cable had to be changed. This mandated a move from the normal arresting gear, to the mid-field gear, and the LSO immediately raced to his Jeep to make the short trip to the mid-field gear. Of course, Miller did not hear all of this, and the LSO did not flash the “wave-off lights” before racing for his Jeep. His hook caught the loose and defective cable, which immediately began to “run out through the hook, as the airplane began a “slide down the cable” toward the loose end. Just about the time he went off the side of the runway, the large, and now loose, connector end of it reached the tail hook, which ripped away the body of the plane, tearing it into four major parts: the tail, the engine, the wings, and the cockpit. The resulting fire, smoke, and dust made it obvious that the pilot was dead, and the main effort was to put out the fire/smoke, etc. Finally, someone observed movement in the cockpit, so it was rolled to an upright position and Miller removed. He was later enjoying a beer at Happy Hour. From Paul Railsback. May 1, 1966: VMA-224 relocated to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan for two months and then returned to Chu Lai, Republic of Vietnam. There Marine Attack Squadron 224 flew in many operations including COLORADO, PRAIRIE and SHASNEE. July 21, 1966: Maj. H.N. Levin ejected after his Skyhawk (BuNo 150101) was hit in the fuselage by 37mm AAA while attacking a bridge near Xuan Noa during a Tally Ho mission. Maj. Levin ejected 10 miles offshore and was rescued by a USMC helicopter. September 8, 1966: 1st Lt. John Richard Fischer (BuNo 150020) went missing during a radar directed night bombing mission and was thought to have crashed seven miles W of Chu Lai. September 20, 1966: 1st Lt. Richard MacAuliffe Bloom was killed when his Skyhawk (BuNo 150054) caught fire and crashed after being hit by ground fire on his 3rd pass over a truck park near Ha Tan. November 1, 1966: Marine Attack Squadron 224 was relocated to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. The squadron was redesignated Marine All Weather Attack Squadron 224 Bengals and assigned to the 2d Marine Aircraft Wing. 1972: Marine All Weather Attack Squadron 224 Bengals deployed on USS Coral Sea CVA 43 to combat in Vietnam. VMA (AW) 224 took part in the aerial mining of Haiphong, North Vietnam Harbor. |
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Unit Photos 21DEC56: Bengal A-4A BuNo 139920 WK 1, 21-Dec- 1956. VMA-224 Skipper's new A4D-1 side number WK-1 parked at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California operations. VMA-224 was the first Marine squadron to receive A4D-1 (A-4A) Skyhawks, which were delivered to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro in September 1956. VMA-224 Bengals later operated A-4B and A-4C aircraft before transitioning to Grumman A-6. Photograph by and from Harry S. Gann. 16 JUN 1957: Photos of the wreckage of VMA-224 A4D-1 Skyhawk BuNo 142212, WK-20, from MCAS Mojave piloted by 2nd Lt. Don Gomez that crashed in Panamint Valley, 16 June 1957. The pilot was KWF. 09 APR 1957: Bengals Skyhawk BuNo 142155, WK-4, and BuNo 142168, WK-7, in flight over southern California. Douglas Aircraft. 09 APR 1957: Bengals Skyhawk BuNo 142155, WK-4, in flight over southern California. Douglas Aircraft. 09 APR 1957: Bengals Skyhawk BuNo 142168, WK-7, in flight over southern California. Douglas Aircraft. 03 DEC 1959: VMA-224 Bengals A4D-2 Skyhawk BuNo 142730, WK-21, MCAAS Yuma, 03 December 1959. Name below the canopy rail is CAPT C.F. Jones. Photo by W.L. Swisher. JUN65" Marines who put one in the Bullseye. 1st LT R.E. Smith, Sheridan David; C.O. LtCol Thomas E. Mulvihill; Maj. J.T. hagen and CWO D.W. Richards Also sited, but not pictured was Capt. E.H. Loney. 1965: CWO D.W. Richards at Chu Lai with VMA-224 Skyhawk in the background. Photo by Gary Clark. 1965: VMA-224 Chu Lai mess tent. Photo by Gary Clark 1965: VMA-224 Chu Lai flight-line. Photo by Gary Clark 1965 - 1966: Maj. Levin in an unknown A-4C Skyhawk at Chu Lai. Photo from Gary Clark. 1965 - 1966: A-4C Skyhawk BuNo 148436, WK-14, heading out at Chu Lai Photo from Gary Clark. 1965 - 1966:A-4C Skyhawk BuNo 147808 and BuNo 145101, tailcode WK, in the hangar at Chu Lai. Photo from Gary Clark. SEP 1966: Bengals Skyhawk BuNo 150032, WK-14, parked on the ramp. p/c is LCPL Decker. Off-Duty Photos No info yet. |
A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to VMA-224:
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