squadron equipment and the remaining 3 officers and

22 enlisted men at Yongil-man Airfield (K-3) were

trucked to Pohang and loaded onto trains for shipment to Pusan. By 23 May, the equipment was

loaded in the cargo ships USS Washburn (AKA 108)

and USS Union (AKA 106), and on 25 May 1955,

the remainder of VMF-311 sailed for California. For

the 9 officers and 170 enlisted men of VMF-311,

Korea was now history.

The Post-Korean Period: 1955-1965

On 31 May 1955, VMF-311 arrived at San Diego,

California, and moved at once to MCAS El Toro as

part of MAG-33, Air FMFPac. As was typical of a

unit returning from overseas duty, the squadron

underwent a period of turmoil as new people were

absorbed and many of the squadron veterans were

reassigned to other units.

About the time the squadron had most of its

aircraft ready for flight operations, the crates unpacked, and the working spaces prepared, a new

commanding officer arrived. On 21 June Lieutenant

Colonel James E. Johnson relieved Major Jannell.

The next 4 months were spent getting the

squadron firmly established in its new spaces,

familiarizing the pilots with the El Toro operating

area, and shaking the cobwebs out of the aircraft after

their long journey.'

In August the headquarters element of the 3d

Marine Aircraft Wing left Miami, Florida, for a new

home at El Toro, and by September the wing was

firmly established in southern California. Consisting

solely of support squadrons and Marine Photographic

Squadron 3, the 3d MAW was about to absorb most

of the Air FMFPac units in the area and become the

largest Marine aircraft wing. On 15 September,

MAG-33 joined the 3d MAW.

Training became paramount for the squadron, and

by the end of 1955 the new pilots were flying like

veterans. The routine of ground training including

rifle and pistol requalification and personnel inspections replaced the close air support missions,

enemy antiaircraft fire, and the miserable winters of

Korea.

In early February, before the peacetime routine

could become too monotonous, the 3d MAW announced that it would conduct a fighter and attack

gunnery meet in which all tactical squadrons of

MAG-15 and -33 would compete. The meet,

scheduled for the last week in March at the Marine

Corps Auxiliary Air Station (MCAAS), Mojave

consisted of both air-to-air and air-to-ground phases.

The air-to-ground phase had four events: strafing

runs, rocket firing, altitude bombing, and skip

bombing. The air-to-air competition consisted of

gunnery events at 12,000 and 20,000 feet.

VMF-311 immediately began the process of

selecting the most capable pilots for what promised to

be one of the hottest aerial contests ever held. The

tempo of training increased for every squadron

during those final weeks which preceded the meet. In

addition to the pilots, the squadron needed a ground

crew that was well trained to ensure that the planes

were properly armed and that the chance of misfires

were reduced in every way possible. To select and

prepare this team, the squadron turned to the ordnance chief, Master Sergeant Earl T. Gray, winner of

the Navy Cross in Nicaragua and an expert in the

ordnance field.

When the big event came, the VMF-3llteam, led

by Captain Herbert V. Lundin, took first place in the

air-to-air phase in the fighter category and finished

third in the overall competition. The air-to-air

competition was won in the last event of the final day

of the meet when the gunnery team, led by

Lieutenant Colonel Johnson, finished first in the

gunnery shoot at 20,000 feet.

30

During May and June the pilots underwent ex

tensive periods of field carrier landing practice

(FCLP) in preparation for a July deployment which

for many would be their first carrier qualification in a

tactical aircraft. Preparations went well as the

squadron moved from day to night FCLPs. Then on

18 July, the squadron moved on board the carrier

USS Bennington (CVS 20) for 2 weeks of carrier

landings, during which the pilots made an average of

17 landings each. In total, the squadron logged more

than 600 carrier landings without an accident. The

deployment was climaxed by the unit's participation

in an amphibious exercise conducted by the 1st

Marine Division, during which the squadron flew

simulated close air support missions.

In September, the squadron received a 3d MAW

aviation safety award for the period April through

June 1956. Unfortunately, the award quickly became

part of the unit's history when on 26 September,

First Lieutenant Donald W. Kifer crashed just south

of El Toro. While conducting FCLPs, Lieutenant

Kifer's jet lost power on the downwind leg. His only

recourse was to make a forced landing in a bean field.

After bouncing and sliding for some 200 yards, the
F9F burst into flames just as Lieutenant Kifer was

seen ''sprinting with Olympic like strides'' as he

escaped uninjured.

The squadron continued normal operations, and in

October was again preparing for another deployment,

this time to MCAAS Mojave for 2 weeks. Its

deployment served two purposes: first the squadron

would use the gunnery and bombing ranges available

at Mojave, and secondly, the departure of VMF-311

from El Toro would make room for the Reserve

squadrons arriving for their annual training period.

Later in the month, a carrier air group composed of

VMF-311, -314, -224, and Marine Composite

Reconnaissance Squadron 3 (VMCJ-3) conducted an

air exercise during which the air group made the first

landings on board the carrier USS Hornet (CVA 12)

since the ship had received her new angled deck.

The next activity in which the squadron became

involved was an air-ground landing exercise

(AGLEx) in the Camp Pendleton area. The exercise,

AGLEx 57-G, conducted from 29 November to 6

December, involved approximately 1,200 Marines

from seven squadrons of the 3d MAW. The task

assigned to VMF-311 was that of providing close air

support during the amphibious landing and

operations ashore. The squadron, along with VMF314, packed its equipment and flew to the

hypothetical carrier which was actually MCAAS

Mojave. During the operation, the squadron had the

opportunity to operate with helicopter units for the

first time as Marine Helicopter Squadrons 361 and

362 provided the airlift for assault forces that were

assigned to an inland objective. Later during the

exercise, the jets also provided ''cover" for the

helicopters as they flew simulated medical evacuation

missions.

With the arrival of 1957, the squadron again

packed its bags to support another AGLEx; this one

was AGLEx India. During the third week in

January, the unit moved again to Mojave for a 2-

week stay at what was beginning to seem like the

desert home of VMF- 311. During this exercise, the

squadron flew 236 sorties in support of the AGLEx

and an incredible 736 sorties in just 13 flying days.

Lieutenant Colonel Harold L. Lantz, the commanding officer of VMF-311, credited the maintenance and engineering sections for the outstanding

results achieved during this deployment stating that

"an aircraft squadron is only as good in the air as its

enlisted men are on the ground.' '2

March 1957 found the unit back at Mojave, this

31

time preparing for the upcoming 3d MAW weapons

meet. Optimism prevailed throughout the squadron

area and the team captain, Lieutenant Colonel Lantz,

announced, ''We have already placed our order for a

nice new cabinet to hold all our trophies."3

After a week of vigorous flying, the VMF-311

team was selected. In addition to the commanding

officer, the team consisted of Captain Joe A. Lindsey,

Captain Herbert V. Lundin, First Lieutenant Robert

R. Norton, First Lieutenant Gene H. Purvis, and

Second Lieutenant David B. Fite.

By 22 March the results of the meet were being

discussed at happy hour by a satisfied 311 team. The

squadron had captured first place in the attack phase

and finished second in the overall meet standings

with a score of 2,810, just 57 points behind VMF-314

who took home the top honors. The VMF-311 team

also won two individual trophies as Captain Lundin

clinched the overall individual honors by taking first

place in the air-to-ground phase and a second place in

the air-to-air phase. The second place individual

trophy also found its way into the squadron's trophy

cabinet when Lieutenant Norton captured second in

the air-to-air competition. Winning 8 of the 18

events, the squadron convincingly proved its

capabilities as a combat ready force.

During this period, also, the squadron began to be

referred to as the ''Tomcats.'' Although there is no

evidence as to the exact time that the insignia was

adopted, the El Toro newspaper, Flight Jacket, first

put the nickname into print during the gunnery meet

in March.

The insignia of the Tomcat was destined to change

during the next few years (see appendix D), but the

nickname would remain and become as well-known

as the reputation of the squadron.

Beginning during the latter part of March, the

squadron began receiving the newer Grumman F9F8 Cougar to replace the F9F-5s they had acquired in

Korea. This made VMF-311 the first West Coast

squadron to possess this new fighter. The F9F-8, first

assigned to an operational squadron in 1955, was a

swept-wing, single-seat fighter with an improved

Pratt and Whitney J-48 engine. The new engine

increased the thrust by 1,000 pounds to a total of

7,250. The fuselage was similar to that of the

Panther, but new 35-degree swept-wings and tail

were incorporated. Two self-sealing fuel tanks were

located in the fuselage, and two 150-gallon drop tanks

could be carried on under-wing bomb shackles. The

armament on the Cougar consisted of four nose-
USMC Photo A332597

A new VMF-31 1 Grumman F9F-8 Cougar taking offfrom MCAAS Mo/ave. The F9F-8 replaced the older F9F5s, which the squadron had acquired in Korea.

mounted 2Omm cannons and under-wing racks for

either four 1,000-pounds bombs, six high velocity

aircraft rockets (HVAR), or four Philco/Martin

Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. The new Cougar had a

service ceiling of 42,000 feet and a maximum airspeed of 712 mph.4

The transition to the new swept-wing fighter went

smoothly and by the end of March most pilots had

been given the opportunity to try their hand in the

new machine. In May the squadron was presented

another award to add to its expanding collection,

the Air FMFPac Aviation Safety Award for the first

quarter of the calendar year 1957. This award was

given in recognition of the 2,482 accident-free flight

hours accumulated during the period, the unit's

achievements in the 3d MAW gunnery meet, and

the safe accomplishment of the flight training

syllabus.

On 11 May, Lieutenant Colonel Lantz left his post

as commanding officer of VMF-311 to become the

executive officer of MCAAS Mojave. Upon completion of the Marine Corps Command and Staff

School in June, Lieutenant Colonel Robert E. Smith,

Jr., assumed the duties as the new skipper of the

Tomcat squadron. Throughout the remainder of

May, the squadron made the preparations for its

deployment to Mojave where the pilots would be

given the opportunity to put the Cougar through its

paces on the gunnery and bombing ranges.

On 1 June 1957, the role of 311 as a fighter

squadron came to an end when the unit was

32

redesignated Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 311.

The redesignation did not require any organizational

restructuring, nor did it create any difficulties for the

squadron. Rather it simply emphasized a mission that

the squadron had already aptly performed both in

World War II and in Korea.'

After a successful deployment to Mojave, the

Tomcats returned to El Toro in late June and settled

down to the task of completing the training syllabus

in the Cougar. The training went well as the ground

crews kept the jets flying and the pilots continued to

add to the total of accident-free hours.

By the turn of the year, the Tomcats were ready to

show what the F9F-8 could do. The chance came

during the last week in February when the squadron

deployed again to Mojave. During the 10 flying days

deployed, VMA-311 logged 709 sorties totaling

nearly 1,030 flying hours. A majority of the assigned

pilots qualified in all ordnance phases of the squadron

syllabus as they expended over 1,400 bombs, 745

rockets, and 13,000 rounds of 20mm ammunition.

Ten pilots who had joined the unit just a few days

before it departed for Mojave flew an average of 25

Prior to this period, many fighter squadrons performed both

the attack missions and fighter missions. The designation of

attack squadrons created units with a primary mission of

supporting ground operations, while fighter squadrons concentrated on air-to-air combat. This, in turn, led to the

development of aircraft designed primarly for either the attack

or fighter role.

-

-S

-/

'

a

--.-. —

_______

— -1 r iIL_

_____

—
USMC Photo A 332598

A flight of four F9F-8 Cougars from VMA -311

over the west coast. The squadron had recently been

redesignated from VMFto VMA-311

hours and completed the initial familiarization phase

of the prescribed syllabus.

Shortly after returning from the desert, the

squadron received word that it would be one of three

squadrons representing the Marine Corps in the

Naval Air Weapons Meet to be held in April at

Naval Air Facility El Centro. Lieutenant Colonel

Smith and his team, which included Major Charles

R. Howe, Major Dale L. Ward, Captain John W.

Detroy, and First Lieutenant Fredrick S. Zitkowski,

immediately began practicing for the coming event.

Between 14 and 18 April 1958, the Tomcats

competed in the air-to-ground phase of the weapons

meet. After all scores were in, VMA-311 captured

first place in the rocket event and finished a

respectable fourth in the overall competition. Captain

Detroy added to the squadron's honors when he

finished first in the air-to-ground individual competition and was awarded the coveted Herman

Trophy.

During the early months of 1958 the Tomcat pilots

were also involved in learning the fundamentals of

air-to-air refueling. VMA-31 1 later became the first

West Coast squadron to be completely qualified in

this new facet of Marine aviation. Through the use of

inflight refueling, the duration of a flight was no

longer limited by the amount of fuel a plane could

carry. A tanker aircraft, which could be one of

several types of aircraft configured for that purpose,

would fly to a predesignated position and the plane

requiring fuel would then join behind the tanker.

The tanker would reel out a refueling hose with a

basket-shaped receptacle known as a drogue on the

end. The aircraft requiring fuel would position a

33

refueling probe into the drogue opening a pressure

valve and allowing fuel to flow. When sufficient fuel

was received, the fueled plane would then reduce

speed thereby breaking the connection at the

pressure valve terminating the operation.6

Beginning in the summer of 1958, VMA-311

began receiving light attack aircraft to replace the

squadron's fighter aircraft. The new aircraft assigned

was the Douglas A4D-2 Skyhawk, later redesignated

the A-4B. This single-seated, lightweight attack

bomber was less than half the size of, but superior in

performance to, many operational jet fighters.

Designed on a completely functional basis with

emphasis on simplification of structure and equipment, and powered by a Wright J-65 turbojet engine

which produced 7,700 pounds of thrust, the A-4B

was well suited for the attack role. Two 20mm

cannons were mounted in the wing roots and the

three attachment points under the wings and fuselage

could accommodate rockets, torpedoes, missiles, and

a wide variety of bombs. The Skyhawk could fly

faster over greater distances than any other aircraft of

its type. On 15 October 1955, the Skyhawk

established a new world's speed record over the 500-

kilometer closed circuit at Edwards AFB with a speed

of 615.163 mph. Additionally, since the jet was small

enough to fit standard aircraft carrier elevators

without the need for folding wings, it could be

operated from any carrier.7

During the fall of 1958, VMA-311 continued

training to achieve the same proficiency and

professionalism that it had previously attained with

other aircraft. Particular emphasis was placed on

"special weapons" training as the squadron added

the capability of nuclear weapons delivery to its

mission. The hard work and constant training paid

off in September when the squadron was chosen as

the winner of the Chief of Naval Operations Annual

Safety Award for 1958. Vice Admiral Robert E.

The Douglas A4D-2, later designated the A -4B,

Sky ha wk was a single-seat, lightweight attack

bomber. VMA-31 1 started receiving A4D-2s during

the summer of1958. USMC Photo A332606

-c
Pine, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air,

commended the squadron for the outstanding safety

record achieved while transitioning to the new jet

aircraft.

For the next few months the squadron remained at

El Toro completing the yearly ground training

requirements. Even in this area VMA-311

distinguished itself when on 16 September, Captain

Milton T. Hefty, electronics officer for the unit,

established a new rifle range record by firing a

remarkable 243 of a possible 250 points.

The year 1959 marked a period of instability for the

squadron both in location and in personnel. Large

numbers of officers and enlisted men were continually on temporary additional duty. Permanent

change of station orders brought in many new faces

while the squadron lost several of its well-trained

personnel.

During April, the unit became one of the first

Marine squadrons to be deployed to the newly

designated Marine Corps Auxiliary Air Station,

Yuma, Arizona, which originally had been Vincent

AFB. While deployed from 12-24 April, the

squadron's ordnance crews worked long into the

night keeping the A-4s armed with bombs and

rockets. By the end of the month, the unit had set a

new monthly flight hour record for an A-4 squadron

with a total of 1,042 hours. Lieutenant Colonel David

D. Rickabaugh, who had become the commanding

officer, stated that the hours and sorties flown were

syllabus hops which contributed greatly to the

squadron's combat readiness capability.

The new concept of inflight refueling received

increased recognition after MAG-1 3 pilots flew 24

North American FJ-4B Furies from Hawaii to Japan

in October 1958 and when Colonel Homer G.

Hutchinson, Jr., who retired as a brigadier general,

organized and led the first Douglas A-4D Skyhawk

nonstop crossing of the Altantic Ocean. Colonel

Hutchinson's flight from Argentia, Newfoundland,

to Rota, Spain, was accomplished in a little over 5

hours. Marine squadrons began practicing not only

refueling from tankers, but also from other fighters

and attack aircraft through a method called the

"buddy system." During the squadron's course of

training, inflight refueling was practiced between the

A-4s and also with the Chance Vought F8U-1

Crusaders of VMF-251. With this new capability,

aircraft were given a greater operational-range

potential.

USMC Photo A332595

Major General Charles H. Hayes, CG 3d MA W,

congratulates VMA-31 1 pilots on their selection to

represent 3d MAW in the 1959 gunnery meet at

MCAAS Yuma, Standing behind General Hayes is

Lieutenant Colonel Paul A. Lemaire, Jr., the

squadron commander; in ranks in front of the general

are Major James W. Baker (partially hidden), Major

Leonard A. Miller, First Lieutenant Samuel P.

Brutcher (shaking hands), and First Lieutenant

HaroldG. Haffner.

34

Throughout the spring and summer months, the

squadron flew many close air support missions at

Camp Pendleton and participated in the 1st Marine

Division's Twin Peaks exercise. Deployments to

Yuma became routine as the desert was home to the

Tomcats more than a dozen times during the year.

In the fall of 1959, VMA-311 was one of two 3d

MAW squadrons selected to compete in Operation

Top Gun, the Fourth Annual Naval Air Gunnery

Meet, at MCAAS Yuma. The squadron was

selected through a competitive elimination in which

all tactical squadrons of the wing participated. The

Tomcat team which was entered in the light attack

category consisted of the squadron commander,

Lieutenant Colonel Paul A. Lemaire, Jr., Major

James W. Baker, Major Leonard A. Miller, First

Lieutenant Samuel P. Brutcher, and First Lieutenant

Harold G. Haffner. Leading the team's maintenance

detachment was Captain Joseph Castro.

On 4 December, after 5 days of competition, the

scores were tallied and VMA-311 finished third from

a field of six squadrons entered in the light attack

category.

'The other E Toro unit entered in the competition was

Major Edward B. Crew's VMF(AW)-51 3 which was entered in

the all-weather intercept category.
Before closing out the year, the squadron compiled

1,510 accident-free hours during the fourth quarter

and was one of 15 aircraft squadrons to receive an

AirFMFPac quarterly safety award.

After the arrival of the new decade had been

celebrated appropriately, VMA-31 1 began preparing

for a period of seemingly endless deployments. On 12

January 196k), the squadron relocated to NAS Fallon

in Nevada where, until 22 January, the pilots underwent training in all phases of attack flying. The

squadron returned to El Toro just long enough for

the maintenance personnel to perform necessary

checks, then the planes were airborne again, this

time to MCAAS Yuma. From the 15th to the 17th of

February, the Tomcats flew air support missions for

Camp Pendleton units and then returned to El Toro.

While back at their home base, the Skyhawks were

outfitted with a new multiple carriage bomb rack

which enabled the attack jet to carry six 500-pound

low-drag bombs on each wing. This rack was to be

tested by the squadron at Yuma during its next

deployment which came on 12 March. After 13 days

in the desert, the squadron completed not only the

satisfactory evaluation of the bomb rack, but also the

familiarization syllabus for several newly joined

pilots. While deployed, the Tomcats flew 707 hours

despite 1 / 2 days of high desert winds during which

time the planes were grounded.

On 3 May 1960, while returning from a crosscountry flight to El Paso, Texas, First Lieutenant

Neal C. Dadurka, the squadron's assistant material

officer, was fatally injured when his Skyhawk crashed

five miles south of Lake Etsinore near March MB.

Dadurka was attempting to make an emergency

landing on a 3,000-foot strip after his aircraft lost its

hydraulic power.

After back-to-back deployments to MCAAS

Yuma from 23 May to 2 June and to the Naval Air

Facility, China Lake, California, for special weapons

training from 12 to 25 June, the squadron returned to

El Toro. An amphibious demonstration was planned

for the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General

David M. Shoup, during which VMA-311 was

directed to demonstrate the capabilities of the A-4

equipped with the multiple carriage rack. The

squadron pilot selected to fly the A-4 was Captain

William H. Fitch, later a general officer, the codeveloper of the bomb rack. Captain Fitch was attached to Air Development Squadron 5 at China Lake

in 1959 when he and Major Knowlton P. Rice

developed the rack. On 29 June the Commandant

witnessed Captain Fitch set a new ordnance delivery

35

record for the A-4 as he successfully dropped 18 live

bombs from this light attack aircraft.

For the majority of August the squadron was again

at China Lake for additional training in special

weapons. During the month CWO-4 John A.

Scarborough and the men of his ordnance section also

became proficient in the loading of these weapons as

the pilots became qualified in the delivery methods.

From 25 September to 14 October, the squadron

operated from the Auxilary Landing Field (ALF) San

Clemente, California. While deployed, the Tomcats

participated in a demonstration at Camp Pendleton

staged for the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference.

Besides showing that the A-4 could deliver more

firepower than the World War 11 B-17 Flying Fortress, the jets flew bombing and strafing runs over a

target area, while ground troops of the 1st Marine

Division stormed their objectives from amphibious

craft and MAG-36'helicopters.

Again, from 27 November to 9 December 1960,

the squadron trained at Yuma. The Tomcats knew

this would be the last opportunity for intensive

training before the unit would begin packing for an

extended deployment to the Far East. Besides the

normal flight training, several of the younger pilots

traded their flight suits for mechanic's overalls as

they underwent a maintenance training program.

This experience proved to be particularity valuable to

the maintenance department because the pilots

comments on the condition of the aircraft were

concise and meaningful.

As the squadron closed out the year, the spirit of

this unit could not be measured solely in terms of

aeronautical achievements, but rather in the overall

accomplishments of a professional Marine organization. More than 20 members of the squadron

completed a Japanese language course in preparation

for their deployment and more than one-half of the

squadron was enrolled in off-duty education courses.

VMA-311 began 1961 by entering into the final

phase of predeployment training—carrier qualifications. On 16' January, after 4,286' field mirror

landings* at El Toro, the Tomcat pilots went on

During field mirror landings, the pilots flew simulated

carrier approaches to a runway using the shipboard lens

equipment which reflected a beam of light off the stern of a

carrier at an established angle. The pilots would intercept the

beam and establish a rate of descent which would enable them

to fly down the beam to an arrested landing. This procedure

provided the pilots with a means of landing on board a carrier at

night and during inclement weather, as well as assisting during

normal day landings.
board the carrier USS Oriskany (CVA 34) for both

the day and night qualification phase. By 8 February,

the pilots had completed the required number of

''cat-shots'' and traps* without a mishap.

During the qualification period, Second Lieutenant

Frank J. Horak, Jr., became the first Marine aviator

to complete a "thousandth" landing on the carrier

when he registered the 51,000th landing on 17

January. On 2 February, Captain Bertram W.

McCauley, a seasoned Skyhawk pilot, recorded the

52,000th landing. In total, the squadron logged 843

landings on board the Oriskany without so much as a

blown tire.

On 18 March, with all training completed, the

officers and men of VMA-311 left El Toro to begin

their 13-month tour of duty in the Far East with the

1st MAW. Led by Lieutenant Colonel Ray D.

Rushlow, the squadron's 30th commanding officer,

they boarded the transports of Marine Aerial

Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 352 and were

flown to NAS Alameda where Military Air Transport Service (MATS) aircraft provided the planes for

the trans-Pacific flight. The squadron aircraft were

preserved, put in ships of the Military Sea Transport

Service (MSTS), and shipped to Japan without incident.

On 23 March, VMA-311, now located at NAS

Atsugi, Japan, became part of MAG-12, lst MAW.

On 28 March 1961, the aircraft arrived and squadron

personnel immediately set about the task of preparing

the jets for flight operations. By 3 April the planes

were ready. On the following day, VMA-31 1 flew on

board the carrier USS Coral Sea (CVA 43) and

became part of Carrier Air Group (CAG) 15,

Seventh Fleet. While attached to the Coral Sea,

administrative control of the squadron remained with

the 1st MAW while operational control was passed

to the CAG.

The primary mission of this attack squadron was

not close air support, but because of its training at

China Lake, it was assigned the responsibility of

special weapons delivery. The squadron's association

with the Coral Sea was short lived. The carrier USS

Midway (CVA 41) arrived in Japanese waters on 12

April to relieve the Coral Sea. The following day the

squadron moved on board the Midway and joined

CAG-2 .

On 3 May 1961, exactly one year after First

Lieutenant Dadurka was killed in California, the

Cat-shot and trap refer to the catapult launch and the

arrested landing of aircraft on board a carrier.

36

squadron lost another pilot. Just before dusk, as the

ship was steaming in the South China Sea, First

Lieutenant Joseph S. Andre was catapulted off the

deck for a routine flight when his Skyhawk flew into

the water about a mile off the bow. The cause of the

accident was unknown.'°

The squadron remained as part of the Seventh

Fleet force in readiness until 3 June, at which time

the 1st MAW regained operational control of the

unit and assigned it to MAG-12 at the Marine Corps

Air Facility (MCAF) Iwakuni."

On the last day on board the Midway, Second

Lieutenant Harold L. Frohriep was forced to eject

from his A-4 when, about 25 miles from the ship, he

noticed that his aircraft was on fire. From an altitude

of 2,000 feet, he successfully ejected from the burning jet and parachuted into the choppy sea. After less

than an hour in his small lifei-aft, the destroyer USS

Chevalier (DD 805) picked him up and transferred

him by highline back to the Midway.'2

While at Iwakuni, the squadron continued training

in special weapons and navigation. In order to

maintain its carrier capability, mit-i-or landing

practice became a regular event on the flight

schedule. In addition to local flying, the Tomcats had

the opportunity to show their presence in South

Korea as the pilots delivered ordnance on the target

ranges in the vicinity of Osan.

From July through December 1961, VMA-311

made five deployments to the U. S. Naval Facility

(USNF) Naha, Okinawa. During these deployments,

the squadron added realism to the 3d Marine

Division maneuvers in the vicinity of Camp Hansen

by dropping napalm, bombs, and rockets. The

Tomcats also made considerable use of the bomb and

rocket ranges on le Shima, a small island a few miles

off the northwest coast of Okinawa where war correspondent Ernie Pyle was killed during the latter

stages of World War II."

In order to remain completely ready to reassume

the role of a shipboard squadron, the 311 pilots

underwent two requalification periods on board the

carrier USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA 31). A few

of the pilots requalified on 4 and 5 October, but the

majority of the pilots fulfilled the requirement during

the second period, 9-18 December.'4

For the next few months the members of the

squadron remained at MCAF Iwakuni training and

enjoying the local scenery and hospitality offered in

the many small Japanese villages surrounding the

base complex.
One squadron metaismith, Staff Sergeant Gus A.

Pierce, utilized his spare time to design a new survival kit which could be dropped to downed pilots

until a rescue could be made. In the past, it was found

that some survival kits would break upon impact with

the ground or would float away in the water.

Sergeant Pierce's design called for a modified drop

tank capable of containing nearly 100 pounds of

survival equipment. By using a parachute, the

equipment could be landed undamaged on the ground

and the chute would act as a sea anchor in the water.

For his imaginative design, Sergeant Pierce was

commended by Lieutenant Colonel Rushlow during a

meritorious mast and was presented a letter of appreciation from the Commanding General of the 1st

MAW, Major General John P. Condon, a former

commanding officer of 311."

As the Far East deployment drew to a close, the

squadron was scheduled for one final exercise before

packing its equipment and heading home. This

exercise, named Tulungan, was hosted by the

Philippine Army and was the 20th SEATO exercise

to be held. Tulungan was conducted on the

Philippine Island of Mindoro with Australian,

Philippine, and American forces participating. From

2 March to 12 April 1962, VMA-311 flew close air

support missions from a short airfield for tactical

support (SATS) which lacked any support facilities

except the squadron's general purpose tents. The

tropical heat and fine sand, which seemed to be

blowing everywhere without an apparent breeze,

added realism and misery to the simulated combat

situation.'6 Had it not been for the hordes of Filippinos throughout the exercise area selling ice-cold

San Miguel beer from pushcarts, the elements would

have been even more bitter for the Marines. At it

was, the local economy thrived by selling first its

stock of beer, and then by selling the ice which was

equally in demand.

Shortly after the SEATO exercise was over, the

squadron moved to NAS Cubi Point just north of

Manila and began loading its planes and equipment

on board ships for the voyage home. The 24 officers

and 105 enlisted men returning home boarded new

Marine Lockheed GV-1 Hercules transports on 27

March 1962 and departed for California. After

'SATS—a portable, reusable runway system which can be

installed in 72 hours. Interlocking sections of aluminum

matting is used to construct a runway having the characteristics of a aircraft carrier deck including an arresting gear.

37

landing at Wake Island and NAS Barbers Point in

Hawaii, the personnel of VMA-311 deplaned once

again at El Toro.'7

On 30 March 1962, VMA-311 rejoined MAG-15,

3d MAW and Major Harry Hunter, Jr., who had

been selected for lieutenant colonel, became the new

squadron commanding officer. Just as had happened

after World War II, most of the personnel in the

returning squadron were reassigned and by 4 April,

VMA-311 consisted of five officers and eight enlisted

men. By 30 April, however, 9 officers and 123

enlisted men, had established themselves as the

nucleus of the new VMA-31 1. During the week of 14

May, the maintenance personnel began preparing the

aircraft, which had recently arrived at NAS

Alameda, for the flight to El Toro.

With less than 20 pilots, and most of them new to

the Skyhawk, the squadron deployed for one week to

MCAAS Yuma on 10 June to begin its training.

While Lieutenant Colonel Hunter was attending a

weapons evaluation course at the Army's Dugway

Proving Grounds in Utah, the executive officer,

Major Harold L. Sharkey, headed the Yuma detachment. With the joining process finally completed, on

21 August 1962, the Tomcats departed for NAS

Alameda for 10 days of live ordnance training. The

pilots had the opportunity to fly familiarization hops

in napalm delivery, loft bombing, strafing, and rocket

firing.

Throughout the remainder of 1962, the squadron

had numerous two-week ordnance practices at

Alameda and Yuma and participated in several

exercises including Operation Skyshield in September. For Skyshield, VMA-311 furnished the

aggressor aircraft for the 1,600-plane readiness

exercise conducted by the North American Air

Defense Command.

By 5 December 1962, the Tomcats had flown

10,000 accident-free hours since Lieutenant Andre

was killed on 3 May 1961. The next goal the

squadron set for itself was 15,000 hours.

On 6 March 1963, jets and helicopters from the 3d

MAW went into action in support of the landing

phase of Operation Steel Gate at Camp Pendleton.

VMA-311, along with other squadrons of MAGs-15

and -33, supported both the 1st Marine Division's

vertical envelopment and the amphibious assaults

across Pendleton's beaches.

During the last 2 weeks in April, the squadron

again deployed to Yurna where the pilots concentrated on special weapons training, as well as
maintaining their proficiency in conventional ordnance delivery. The unit was informed that soon

after this deployment it would begin receiving the A4E, the newest version in the A-4 series.

As is true of all squadrons, a chance to show hard

earned skills is never passed up, especially when the

audience includes the President of the United States.

For VMA-311, this opportunity came on 6 June

when President John F. Kennedy was viewing an

amphibious assault demonstration at Camp Pendieton. The squadron, in supplying the dose air

support, showed the Commander-in-Chief how

Marine A-4s could get down on the deck with the

ground forces.

Finally on 19 June, after much anticipation, the

Tomcats received the first three of their new A-4

jets. This made VMA-311 the first unit on the West

Coast to possess this new attack aircraft. The A-4E,

which at 43 feet was only 3 feet longer than the

earlier version, was powered by a Pratt and Whitney

J-52 turbojet which generated 8,500 pounds of

thrust. Five bomb racks, two under each wing and

one under the fuselage, could carry external loads

weighing up to 8,200 pounds. The several variations

of military stores it could carry included conventional

bombs, nuclear weapons, and air-to-air or air-tosurface guided missiles. This aircraft, which weighed

9,300 pounds empty, had a maximum takeoff weight

of 24,500 pounds and could achieve speeds in excess

of 680 mph. By utilizing external fuel tanks, the A4E was capable of an operational range of more than

2,000 miles.'8

During August, the squadron was instructed to

pack its equipment and prepare for a move on 1

September; however, this time the entire move

would be within the confines of the El Toro

perimeter. The move was from the MAG- 15 area to

a short distance away where the squadron was

reassigned to MAG-33. Two reasons were given for

the move: the first was to balance the squadrons

between the two groups giving MAG-33 an attack

capability; and secondly, to make more effective use

of the spaces in both the MAG areas.

Before the squadron was even fully unpacked, the

Tomcats were again involved in an air-ground

exercise. Exercise Merit Badge, an amphibious

landing of a Marine expeditionary brigade (MEB),

began on 16 September 1963 and involved some

13,000 Marines and 22 ships. The exercise proved to

be extremely valuable training for the new pilots and

a good refresher for the old hands.

38

By mid-October, as the squadron went about the

task of resuming normal operations in its new

location, the Tomcats reached their 15,000th accident-free flight hour and were awarded a ninth

consecutive AirFMFPac quarterly safety award. The

Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel William L.

Walker, attributed this achievement to the teamwork

and respect which existed between the pilots and the

ground crew members. The next goal for the

squadron was set at 20,000 accident-free hours.

Before the end of the year arrived, the squadron

managed to complete one more deployment to

Yuma. Leaving El Torn on 8 December, the pilots

spent 2 weeks sharpening their skills in ordnance

delivery before returning to California for the

holidays.

Because of the numerous scheduled deployments

and exercises which involved squadron personnel.

and in view of the recent relocation of the unit, the

commanding officer decided to publish a weekly

newspaper in order to pass the correct information

before ''rumor control'' had everyone in a state of

panic. In February 1964, the first edition of the

Tomcats' newspaper, appropriately named ''Sandbox," was published. The paper became a useful tool

for the command to keep the men informed and to

eliminate the flow of rumors.

Between 11 and 26 February, the squadron was

back at Yuma practicing the several methods for

delivery of special weapons. Practice with conventional weapons also contributed a major portion

to the flight schedule.

By the end of March, the squadron had achieved

20,000 accident-free flight hours and was awarded its

11th consecutive safety award. The squadron was

now looking to safely completing the necessary

training to be fully combat ready prior to departing

for the next tour in the Far East.

As training continued, the squadron entered the

carrier qualification phase. First, it was mirror

landing practice at El Toro, then, from 8-12 June, 14

pilots were qualified on board the carrier USS Hornet

(CVS 12). A second deployment, this time on board

the carrier USS Yorktown (CVS 10), came in early

July and 15 more pilots became qualified, leaving 7

pilots to qualify during the final period scheduled for

December.

Besides flight training, 18 pilots also had the

opportunity to undergo 2 weeks of cold weather

training at Bridgeport, California. This training,
USMC Photo A422403

Two Tomcats refueling from a Marine KC-130 on a nonstop cross-country flight from El Toro to Cherry Point.

VMA-31 1 pilots completed the flight without a mishap.

conducted during September, included escape,

evasion, and resistance to interrogation techiques.

In mid-November, eight of the squadron's A-4s

made a nonstop flight from El Toro to Cherry Point

as a rehearsal for the trans-Pacific flight scheduled for

March 1965. The Skyhawk flight, led by the skipper,

Lieutenant Colonel Bernard J. Stender, was refueled

in the air by Marine KC-130 aircraft, and completed

the cross-country flight without a mishap.

In December, the final carrier qualifications were

completed; then, in January 1965, the squadron

underwent a 2-week operational readiness inspection

(OR!) in Yuma. The OR!, designed to move at a very

rapid pace, tested the squadron's ability to adjust to a

changing situation and to determine if the squadron

was tactically ready. Upon the satisfactory complet ion of the OR!, the unit entered the final phase of

preparation before the deployment to Japan—a

deployment that coincided with mounting tensions

and increasing U.S. involvement in Southeast Asia.

On 30 March, with all its equipment packed and

the final preparations made on the aircraft, 20 A-4Es

from VMA-311 departed California for Japan with

the first en route stop being Hawaii. In preparation

for the first aerial refueling, Lieutenant Colonel

Stender brought the flight down from 31,000 feet to

20,000 feet and reduced his speed as he reached the

rendezvous point. The KC-130 tankers were on

station and ready to transfer fuel. The refueling

operations went exactly as planned and the flight

continued on to MCAS Kaneohe, Hawaii. Before

39

reaching Japan, three additional in-flight refuelings

were required, as well as a fuel stop on Wake Island.

After more than 17 hours of flying which covered

6,187 miles, all 20 A-4s arrived safely at NAS

Atsugi, Japan. The KC-130s in addition to being

flying gas stations, also transported the squadron

personnel and numerous tons of cargo. On 1 April

1965, VMA-311 was assigned to MAG-12, 1st

MAW located at MCAS Iwakuni.

The Vietnam Years. 1965-1973

On 11 April 1965, VMA-311, located at MCAS

Iwakuni, was alerted to prepare for deployment with

MAG-12 to the Republic of Vietnam (RVN). Five

days later, the squadron's advance echelon consisting

of 7 Marine officers, 117 enlisted men, 1 flight

surgeon, and 1 corpsman, boarded the USS Cornstock (LSD 19) and the USS Washoe County (LST

1165) with 229 tons of squadron equipment. Both

vessels stopped at Okinawa, then proceeded to RVN

arriving at Chu Lai at 0730, 24 May, where sand and

117 degree temperatures greeted the first Tomcats.

While units of MAG-12 were preparing to leave

Japan, the Navy's Mobile Construction Battalion 10

(MCB-10) arrived at Chu Lai on 6 May and began

constructing the airfield. When the advance echelon

of VMA-31 1 reached Chu Lai, some of the personnel

joined in preparation of camp, operational, and

support facilities. The remainder, about 25 percent of

the men, were assigned to the group security force
USMC Photo A 194618

A VMA-31 1 Skyhawk is catapulted from the SA TSfleld at Chu Lai Vietnam VMA -311 flew air missions

from Chu Lai against the Communist forces in Vietnam

and assisted in the construction of defensive

positions.

By 31 May the SATS field was ready to receive its

first aircraft. After a i-day delay due to weather,

the first VMA-311 jet arrived at 0835, 1 June piloted

by Major Speed F. Shea. VMA-311 officially arrived

at Chu Lai that afternoon when Lieutenant Colonel

Stender landed at 1430. Although the squadron only

had four aircraft in RVN, more were soon to follow.

The units of MAG-12 then at Chu Lai included

Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron (H&MS)

12, Marine Air Base Squadron (MABS) 12, a subunit of Marine Air Traffic Control Unit (MATCU)

67, a contingent of VMCJ-1, and VMAs-311,

-225, and -214.

After the squadron working spaces were established and the pilots briefed, the anxious Tomcats

were ready to begin flight operations. The first

combat ffight was airborne at 1108, 2 June 1965.

Major John W. Parchen, the executive officer,

leading four A-4s loaded with six 250-pounds bombs,

two rocket pods, and 2Omm rounds, bombed and

strafed Viet Cong (VC) forces attacking Quang Ngai,

approximately 20 miles south of Chu Lai. On 4 June,

Lieutenant Colonel Stender's flight of four, including

two planes from VMA-225, sighted and fired on the

first enemy ground troops spotted by aircraft

operating from Chu Lai. From 6' to 16' June, the

remainder of the squadron's 20 jets arrived at Chu

Lai. The unit was now at full strength and the tempo

of operations immediately increased. A flight led by

lieutenant Colonel Stender on 23 June was commended by the U. S. Air Force's 2d Air Division for

providing "the finest close air support we have ever

seen."1 Five days later, eight Tomcat A-4s provided

40

landing zone preparation and close air support for the

4th Marines in the first Marine Corps combat

helicopterborne assault in Vietnam. By the end of the

month, the Tomcats had flown 547 flights and were

credited with destroying or damaging 398 structures,

killing 31 enemy, and destroying a jungle supply

dump and a rice storage area.

While the pilots were involved with flight

operations, the ground personnel were busy

unloading the remainder of the squadron's supplies

which were arriving by Marine KC-i3. By 30 June

1965, the last load was received completing the

movement of 204 officers and men and 26) tons of

equipment. Additionally, the squadron continued to

prepare defensive positions and assisted in the

construction of flight line revetments.

Although the Skyhawks were committed from

Saigon to the 17th parallel, the dividing line between

North Vietnam and the Republic of South Vietnam,

most of the missions were flown in support of ground

operations along the coastal strip in northern RVN,

especially in the vicinity of Chu Lai where the enemy

was intent upon dislodging the Marines from their

new airfield. On the night of 6' July, the MAG-12

jets joined forces and, with the aid of flares, attacked

Viet Cong who were firing on Marines from a

stronghold near Quang Ngai. By the time the smoke

cleared, more than 100 buildings were destroyed, 97

others were damaged, and the VC were forced to seek

refuge in the hills to the west. Two days later, the

squadron was called on to assist the 3d Battalion, 3d

Marines. The Marines had pushed the enemy onto a

4- by 6-mile peninsula, 10 miles southeast of the

airfield. The jets added the necessary punch to break

the enemy's resistance and before the day ended, the

—

S

-a

kz7
Marines captured 47 VC and killed 11 others.

However, the enemy was as determined as the

Marines and the next day the 3d Marines again

required support from the Tomcats. Moments after

takeoff, the jets dived on enemy positions barely 5

miles south of the Chu Lai perimeter. Every off-duty

Marine ran to the beach to watch the action. Ordnancemen, who had armed the jets shortly before,

watched excitedly as clouds mushroomed from the

targets. When it was over there was no doubt the VC

would not be coming any closer for awhile.

Amidst the endless takeoffs and landings during

July, runway repair and camp construction continued using the limited manpower and supplies that were available. Dual aircraft revetments were completed using 55-gallon drums filled with sand.

On 14 July, MAG-li with its McDonnell F-4

Phantom fighter-attack squadrons, VMFA-513 and

-5,joined the expanding 1st MAW at Chu Lai.

In August, Tomcat pilots flew 591 sorties and

accumulated 897 hours in the air on interdiction,

convoy escort, landing zone preparation, and close

air support missions in both I and II Corps.

Throughout the month, VMA-311 joined other A-4

and F-4 squadrons for Operation Starlite just south of

Chu Lai. The Skyhawks flew like the Corsairs did at

I CORPS TACTICAL ZONE

REPUBLIC OF SOUTh VIETNAM

Peleliu, streaking down the runway with a full load

and expending it almost before their wheels had been

raised. Every time the assaulting Marines ran into a

krtified position or a network of caves, there were

Phantoms or Skyhawks overhead waiting for a call.

Until the operation ended, Marine air was no further

away than a radio call.

On 25 August, disaster was narrowly avoided

when the pilot flying wing on First Lieutenant Roy J.

Stocking, Jr., released a Mark-82, 500-pound bomb

as the flight was in a turn. The bomb fell through

lieutenant Stocking's right wing, but fortunately

had not traveled far enough to arm. The pilot was

able to keep the aircraft under control and land safely

at Chu Lai.

September 1965 can be summed up in three words;

heat, sand, and rain. To combat the elements, the

group built an aluminum hangar in which the

Skyhawks could undergo maintenance. The rains, a

prelude to the northwest monsoon, required the

pilots to fly using instrument flight rules for takeoffs

and landings and specialized radar once airborne. It

did not take the enemy long to realize that poor

weather was no deterrent to the presence of the

Tomcats' A-4s.

In mid-September, VMA-311 was called on to

support U.S. Marines and units of the Army of the

Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) involved in Operation

Piranha. Hours before the ground forces began their

attack, the men of 311 began preparing the jets in the

early morning darkness. By dawn the Skyhawks were

lifting off the runway and Operation Piranha was

underway. The efforts of the squadron were rewarded

by reports that 198 VC had been killed in action.

During the operation, adverse weather required close

coordination with helicopter flights and the

assistance of Air Support Radar Teams (ASRT)

which guided the jets to unseen targets.

In October and November 1965, the 29 officers

and 171 enlisted men were subjected to almost

constant rain. Besides bringing discomfort, the rains

caused extensive erosion of the northern 3,500 feet of

runway leaving less than 4,500 feet usable. For the

pilots, it was back to JATO and arrested landings

until repairs could be made. Heavy rains and high

winds grounded the A-4s for 6 days in November,

and with 21 inches of rain which fell during the last

10 days of the month, there was not a dry Marine in

the area. Still, the Skyhawks supported the ground

operations with landing zone preparation, helicopter

escort, and close air support missions.

-- b.

Dong Ha QUANG TRI . QngTr KheSanh

I __,_ N. •PhBa

THUA THIEN

LAOS

QUANG NAM

An An Hoa

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I Qaang Nga

7

II CTZ QUANG NGAI

C 5lO •aO 41
USMC Photo A332593

The newer wood and corrugated metal quarters, left, were much cooler than the hot tents, right, that kept

blowing down in strong winds. These were the typical quarters at Chu Lai.

Under the cover of darkness and rain shortly after

midnight on 28 October, a Viet Cong unit breeched

the perimeter and attacked the airfield. Although

most of the enemy were killed by the group guard and

the crash crew, two squadron aircraft were destroyed

and six were damaged.2 On 4 November, the VC paid

another visit to the Chu Lai residents, but this time

they were detected and driven back before any

damage could be done.

As camp construction progressed, aluminum huts

were built to replace the hot tents that kept blowing

down in the strong winds, Use of the full 8,000 feet of

runway was restored on 9 November and for the

moment the JATO bottles were put away. The

squadron closed out the month standing ankle deep

in mud as the traditional change of command formation was held while Lieutenant Colonel Stender

relinquished command to Lieutenant Colonel Jack

W. Harris.

During December, the squadron supported

Marine forces involved in Operation Harvest Moon.

The operation, which lasted from 8 to 19 December,

kept the Tomcats busy as the enemy fought to hold

their ground. On one mission against automatic

weapon emplacements, First Lieutenant Thomas L.

Hampton led three A-4s over the target and

discovered 15 VC machineguns lined up in the

underbush bordering a rice paddy. The Skyhawks

went to work dropping 2 tons of bombs in 12 passes.

''Beautiful, beautiful,'' radioed the pilot flying low

cover, ''the air is full of flying machinegun pieces.''

4

After the last pass, the ground unit reported that ii

of the 15 emplacements had been destroyed .

A few days later, a four-plane flight led by Captain

William F. Mullen was directed to an area 80 miles

southwest of Chu Lai where a VC training school had

been located. The Skyhawks made 21 passes dropping

bombs, rockets, and ripping the structures with their

2Omm cannons. When it was over, all 15 buildings

Lieutenant Colonel Jack W. Harris, left, the new

commanding officer of VMA -311, receives help from

Lieutenant Colonel Bernard J. Stender, right, the

previous commanding officer, in adding his name to

the squadron's sign. VMA -311 was stationed at Chu

Lai, Vietnam, USMCPhotoA332592

S.

I'
were reduced to burning rubble, and the VC had lost

a valuable training site.

On 15 December 1965, VMA-311 became part of

the first rotation of squadrons between RVN and

Iwakuni. As the Tomcats launched from Chu Lai,

VMA-223 was already en route to Vietnam from

Iwakuni. The remainder of the 311 Marines boarded

VMGR-152's KC-130s for the trip to Japan. The

changeover went very smoothly, and MAG-12 was

able to continue with normal flight operations.

While at Iwakuni, VMA-311 was assigned to

MAG-13, 1st MAW(Rear). Immediately the squadron began flight operations to prepare newly joined

pilots for operations in Vietnam. Training missions

were designed to resemble actual combat missions.

Excellent training was accomplished in January 1966

when the squadron sent eight aircraft to Cubi Point,

Philippine Islands, to participate in Operation Hilltop

III. The exercise included helicopter escort and close

air support missions. Upon completion of the amphibious exercise, the unit began the final stages of

preparation for its second tour of R\TN. On 15

February the first Tomcat aircraft landed at Chu Lai

as the last A-4s of VMA-214 took off for Iwakuni.

Two hours later, Lieutenant Colonel Harris led the

first combat flight of this tour.4

On 19 March 1966, while supporting Army

Special Forces operations in the A Shau valley in the

northwestern part of I Corps, VMA-311 lost its first

pilot. While flying lead in a two-plane section, First

Lieutenant Augusto M. Xavier maneuvered his

43

flight over the steep mountains surrounding the

valley. In the predawn darkness Lieutenant Xavier

arrived over the target and, with the aid of flares

dropped from an Air Force C-123, began a low-level

bombing run on enemy positions. Receiving heavy

ground fire, he kept his wingman in orbit while he

made a second run, strafing the NVA with his 20mm

cannons. Lieutenant Xavier never pulled out of this

run and his plane crashed into the side of the

mountain. For his determination in supporting the

ground forces, Lieutenant Xavier was posthumously

awarded the Silver Star.

In mid-April, Tomcat pilots were scrambled when

approximately 100 Viet Cong were spotted attempting to flee a village southwest of Quang Ngai.

First Lieutenants James R. Hartman and George I.

Felt, Jr., were circling overhead minutes later,

waiting for the ground controller to mark the target.

After the pilots made several passes dropping napalm

and strafing with 20mm cannons, the ground forces

began their sweep. Many of the VC had fled to the

hills, but 15 dead enemy soldiers and 10 completely

destroyed structures remained as a testimony to the

effectiveness of the A-4s.

In July the squadron accumulated 726 combat

sorties and 970 flight hours. With several pilots on

rest and recuperation (R&R) leave, jungle escape and

survival training at Cubi Point, water survival

training at Numazu, Japan, and the nuclear weapons

refresher course at Iwakuni, the squadron relied

heavily on the A-4 pilots in wing and group staff

An aerial view of Chu liii airjieldin the summer of 1966.

USMC Photo A 188211

p. .i.

1 >

___

.- mi

.— -:
billets to fill in where necessary on the flight

schedule.

Operation Hastings, the biggest Marine Corps

operation in Vietnam to date, began on 15 July 1966

in the steaming highlands of Quang Tn near the city

of Dong Ha. The U. S. Marine and ARVN forces

were no longer chasing a small group of elusive VC,

but were now facing the 324th North Vietnamese

Army Division. Helicopters from MAGs-16 and -36

carried troops into the battle area as Skyhawks and

Phantoms continually orbited overhead. By the

second week in August, the air-ground team had

killed over 700 of the enemy.

On 10 August, Captain Roy N. Emanuel flew the

squadron's 7,000th combat mission and 2 weeks

later, First Lieutenant Lewis J. Wehnen brought the

total number of combat flight hours to 10,000 as

VMA-311 set the pace for the jet squadrons. The

accumulation of flight statistics also means exposure

for those who fly the missions. This fact was realized

on 6 September when the squadron lost another pilot.

While flying a bombing mission 175 miles south of

Chu Lai, First Lieutenant Thomas H. Hawking was

pulling out of a bombing run when his aircraft struck

some trees and he was forced to eject. Lieutenant

Hawking landed safely and before long an Army UH1E was lowering a rope to the downed pilot. With the

rope supposedly securing the pilot, the helicopter

began its assent. When the helicopter was about

1,000 feet in the air, Lieutenant Hawking fell and was

killed.

In October 1966 the squadron flew a total of 696'

flight hours with an average of 17 planes and 21 pilots

on hand. With the unit's strength down to 153

enlisted men, the daily aircraft availability dropped to

64 percent. Fortunately, in November a number of

new maintenance men joined the squadron, and by

the end of the month the aircraft availability increased to a more acceptable 72 percent. By

December 167 enlisted men were on board and the

aircraft availability was a constant 75 percent.

As the majority of the squadron gathered to

welcome in the new year, five Tomcat pilots

assembled, not to celebrate the advent of 1967, but to

congratulate each other on reaching the 200 mission

mark. These pilots were Captains William F. Schwab, Bruce C. Miller, Anthony J. McCarthy, Leo F.

Haller, and David Y. Healy.

January 1967 was a busy month for VMA-311 as it

flew the 19 aircraft on hand for a total of 914 hours.

Major Kevin M. Johnston and Captain Haller

44

USMC Photo A332605

lieutenant Colonel Eugene Lichtenwalter, left,

commanding officer of VMA -311, talks to First

lieutenant DonaldJ. Beary, a pilot in VMA -311.

teamed up on 20 January to record the unit's

10,000th combat sortie. In January alone the

Tomcats blasted the enemy with 676 tons of ordnance including 3,393 bombs, 190 napalm pods, andi

12,557 rounds of 20mm ammunition.

From 29 January through 1 February, MAG-12,

now consisting of VMAs -121, -211, -214, and -311,

flew day and night supporting several U. S., ARVN,

and ROK operations in I Corps. From 1 February,

when Lieutenant Colonel Roger A. Morris, the

commanding officer since 6 December 1966, flew his

7,000th career flight hour in support of Operation Dc

Soto, to the end of the month, the Tomcats accumulated 1,004 flight hours. On the 4th, Captain

McCarthy became the leader in MAG-12 for individual combat sorties with 271. The record

breaking sorties came in support of Operation De

Soto when a unit of the 1st Marine Division

requested an air strike on an enemy position which

was preventing the Marines from advancing. After

eight passes on the target, the Marines again were

able to move forward.

ration De Soto also gave Major Eugene

Lichtenwalter and his wingman, Captain Charles T.

Mullin, a chance to eliminate a VC stronghold about

35 miles south of Chu Lai. Tne 2. Skyhawk pilots

made 9 runs on the target, killing 15 VC, destroying

22 structures, and causing a "secondary explosion

which sent sparks and white smoke in every direction.' '6

The squadron came close to losing another plane

and perhaps a pilot when First Lieutenant Richard N.

Bloomberg 's A-4 was hit by antiaircraft fire during a

s_.

.4

4'
strike north of Da Nang on 4 February. With his

instruments out and an overheating engine, the pilot

headed for Da Nang. On final approach Lieutenant

Bloomberg cut off his engine in order to prevent it

from possibly exploding and made a perfect "dead

stick''landing.

By the end of February the squadron had logged

more than 11,000 combat sorties and the Tomcats

were now ready for a well-earned rest. On 1 March

VMA-311 departed for Iwakuni as VMA-223 arrived

at Chu Lai to take its place. Until 3 June 1967, the

squadron was attached to MAG-15, 1st MAW(Rear)

in Iwakuni. During this period, the training of new

pilots and ground personnel was the primary

mission. Deployments to Cubi Point and Naha

provided excellent training as the pilots gained experience in aerial refueling and made maximum use

of the range facilities available. On 4 June, the

Tomcats were back at Chu Lai, and 3 days later

Major Lichtenwalter, previously the squadron

executive officer, became the commanding officer

relieving Lieutenant Colonel Roger A. Morris.

Elements of the 1st and 3d Battalion, 7th

Marines were helilifted into an area northwest of An

Hoa on 14 June for the beginning of Operation

Arizona. Skyhawks and Phantoms provided landing

zone preparation fire and helicopter escort. Once the

troops were on ground, VMA-311 flew close air

support destroying pockets of resistance in front of

the advancing Marines.

Enemy antiaircraft guns on the northern side of

the DMZ were a constant threat to aircraft operating

in the northern I Corps area. On 23 June 1967,

Captain Munson R. "Sid'' Snedeker led a section of

A-4s against these emplacements which previously

had been bombed only from high altitudes due to the

intense ground fire. Controlled by an airborne observer in a Marine 0-iC plane, Captain Snedeker and

his wingman rolled in low to remain under the flak

and dropped all their bombs on one pass. The result

was 20 structures destroyed and 10 others damaged.

Although the 37mm guns were not completely

silenced, this mission led the way for a 34-plane

strike the following day which put the remaining

guns out of commission and completely destroyed the

enemy installation.

July was a busy month for the squadron as it

accumulated more than 1,000 sorties in 1,362 flight

hours while delivering 1,474 tons of ordnance against

enemy targets. However, the heavy schedule of flight

operations was taking its toll in aircraft engines and

45

USMC Photo A332604

Captazn Munson R. "Sid" Snedeker watches

flight operations after completing a mission against

antiaircraft guns north of the DMZ.

ground support equipment. During the month, 15

engines were sent to H&MS-12 for repair. Difficulties were also experienced with aircraft starting

units and hydraulic test stands, which seemed to be

continually in need of replacement parts or repair.

Nevertheless flight operations continued.

While flying near the DMZ on 6 July, Major

Ralph E. Brubaker's A-4 was hit by a surface-to-air

missile. Unable to control the plane, he was forced to

eject. Major Brubaker landed in a small field and

suffered a dislocated knee. He crawled into a nearby

bomb crater and spent the night. At dawn he used his

survival radio and contacted a search aircraft in the

area and a short time later an Air Force helicopter

was overhead. While taking fire, the helicopter

landed and with help of a crewman, Major Brubaker

got on board. Thirty minutes later the helicopter,

which had taken four hits, arrived at Da Nang with a

very relieved Tomcat pilot.

For Captains William E. Loftus and John V.

Wilke, the area around the DMZ became an attack

pilot's dream. On 2 July 1967 the pilots were on the

alert pad when Marines at Con Thien reported that

North Vietnam troops were attacking in close formation. Captain Loftus located the enemy and the

S
USMC Photo A332603

Here Captain Robert C. Korman and Major

Gerald L. Ellis check last-minute instructions before

a flight against the Communists in Vietnam. Subsequently Major Ellis' aircraft was hit and he was

forced to eject. He was later picked up by a helicopter

and returned to Chu Lai uninjured.

jets began making their runs. After killing 25 of the

enemy, the two Tomcats turned the enemy assault

into a retreat. Captain Loftus returned to Chu Lai

with a hit in one wing and his 150th mission completed.

In August the average aircraft availability fell to 53

percent due to the number of planes requiring

maintenance and shortages in replacement parts. By

September the situation improved and, with a 71

percent availability, the squadron flew 1,056 hours.

Making good use of the increased aircraft

availability, Captain Loftus and First Lieutenant

James A. Schmalz, Jr., destroyed 50 North Vietnamese rocket positions 10 miles north of Dong Ha

shortly after dark on 4 September. With the

assistance of an Air Force airborne controller, the

pilots began dropping 500- and 250-pound bombs.

Enemy .50 caliber fire soon forced the Air Force

46

observation plane away from the target, but the

Tomcats continued the mission using the .50 caliber

tracer rounds and muzzle flashes to locate the enemy.

After expending their bombs, the pilots sprayed the

area with their 20mm cannons. Secondary explosions

and fires broke out everywhere, and after 14 minutes

the enemy guns and rocket positions were destroyed.

Earlier that same day, an enemy surface-to-air

missile (SAM) site was located 25 miles south of the

North Vietnamese city of Dong Hoi. Major James

A. Curtis and Captain Richard E. Jacobs arrived over

the target and on the first pass a 500-pound bomb

found its mark, igniting one of the SAMs. Five

secondary explosions followed, and realizing no

further runs were necessary, the Skyhawks returned

to base.

Another squadron aircraft was lost on 27 September when Major Gerald L. Ellis' jet was hit by

ground fire during a bombing run. The pilot

managed to continue on his run until he released his

ordnance at 3,500 feet, then pulled out and ejected.

Major Ellis was picked up by a helicopter and

returned to Chu Lai uninjured.

During October, of the 20 aircraft allowed the

unit, only 14 were on hand. Required maintenance

and delays in receiving replacement parts severely

affected the average aircraft availability. The

squadron commander stated: "Two aircraft must

remain out of commission at all times to support

through cannibalization * the remaining aircraft.

This month 67 items were cannibalized."7

The Marine base at Khe Sanh became a center of

attention in January 1968 for both ground and

aviation units when the combat base came under

attack from elements of the 325C NVA Division and

304th NVA Division. The enemy was strongly

reinforced with artillery, tank, and rocket units. To

support the 26th Marines at Khe Sanh, helicopters,

air transports, and jet fighter and attack aircraft were

constantly flying among the anitaircraft fire which was intense, accurate, and effective. Many

helicopters were hit, transports destroyed, and attack/fighter aircraft shot down. The Tomcats lost

two planes, but since the pilots were safely recovered,

they considered themselves lucky.9 The first loss

occurred on 21 January when Captain Bobby G.

Downing was hit near the besieged base and was

'Cannibalize—to remove serviceable parts from one item of

equipment in order to install them on another piece of

equipment.
forced to abandon his A-4. While his wingman attempted to ward off the advancing enemy, a UH-1E

helicopter picked up the downed pilot 10 minutes

after he ejected.'°

Two days later another plane was lost over the

same area. Captain Moyers S. Shore, II, in his The

Battle forKhe Sanh, states:

During one close air support mission, an A-4 flown by

Major William E. Loftus of VMA-311 received heavy

battle damage and the pilot realized he could not make it

to the coast. Not wanting to end up in ''Indian Country,'' he nursed his crippled Skyhawk toward Khe Sanh

and ejected right over the base. As the smoking A-4

knifed into the lush jungle growth and erupted in a brilliant orange fireball, Major Loftus floated down and

landed in an outer ring of barbed wire just outside of

Company B, 1st Battalion, 26th Marines perimeter.

Lieutenant Dillon, the 2d Platoon commander, took

several men Out and helped extricate the major who had

become helplessly entangled in his parachute shroud lines

and the barbed wire. After being freed, Major Loftus

grinned and told the Lieutenant ''If you weren't so damn

ugly, I'd kiss you.'' After a quick medical check-up, the

major climbed aboard a helicopter and returned to his

squadron at Chu Lai for another plane and another day)'

Beginning with the Vietnamese Tet holiday, the

lunar New Year, which fell on 29 January 1968, the

enemy changed his strategy and was no longer the

elusive small unit which only hit and ran. Instead,

the Communists used the holiday truce to resupply

units and to move into positions for major assaults.

Meanwhile, the U.S. and ARVN forces were preoccupied with the impending confrontation near

the DMZ leaving the enemy the opportunity to

launch a large-scale offensive against the roads, the

airfields, and the cities. Of all these, the enemy

achieved his greatest measure of surprise and success

in the cities.'2

On 31 January, the enemy turned his attention to

Chu Lai. During the early morning hours, rockets

began hitting the base damaging four of the

squadron's jets and wounding two men, Sergeant

John S. Narbut and Corporal Thomas B. Manning.

The squadron area did not take any direct hits, but

was subjected to heavy fragmentation and blast effect

caused by an explosion which destroyed a major

portion of the bomb dump.

On 25 February 1968, Major Darold L. Guttormson and Captain Norman E. Pridgen, Jr., were

flying close air support in the Khe Sanh area when

both aircraft were hit by ground fire. Both planes

returned safely to Chu Lai and upon examination of

the A-4s, the pilots discovered .30 caliber rounds

lodged in their aircraft.

47

If the enemy had any intentions of rocketing Chu

Lai in February, Captains Robert T. Allen and

Robert C. Trumptheller may have prevented such an

attack. On 25 February the two pilots hit a rocket site

south of Chu Lai with 250-pound bombs causing

several secondary explosions and sending a 100-foot

doud of white smoke billowing from the target.

Of the many accomplishments of Marine aviation

in Vietnam, the capturing of enemy troops was one

task generally left to the ground forces. However, on

2 May the squadron received credit for the capture of

nine NVA soldiers. When Majors John A. Herber

and Thomas E. Lewis arrived over a target 13 miles

northwest of Hue, the target was obscured by a low

overcast so the pilots orbited until the ground forces

could mark the target with smoke. When the A-4s

dropped under the clouds ready to begin their runs,

the pilots saw enemy troops with their hands up

moving towards the Marine positions. Once the

enemy were in the hands of the Marines, the A-4s

began their bombing runs. As Major Herber stated:

"Those who decided to stay more than likely wished

they had surrendered." By the time the Skyhawks

left the target, the enemy was no longer an obstacle

to the Marines.

From 5 to 8 May, VMA-311 gave the enemy

throughout I Corps a close look at its Skyhawks as the

squadron flew a record 240 alert sorties during the 4-

day period. During daylight hours the pilots concentrated on visual bombing attacks. During the

hours of darkness they continually harassed the

enemy with bombing attacks controlled by either the

TPQ-10 radar or visually by pilots under an umbrella

of aircraft-dispensed flares.

Scrambled to support the 26th Marines near Khe

Sanh, First Lieutenant William E. Holland delivered

an attack against an NVA position on a ridgeline

which literally rearranged the geography in northern

I Corps. Systematically dropping his bombs under the

guidance of an air controller, Lieutenant Holland

made two passes right on target. The controller

radioed the pilot: "You're getting some secondary

explosions down there. Five... 10... 30... 50... The

whole damn hill just blew up!" Asweepofthe area

revealed that the pilot had hit an 82mm mortar

ammunition storage area.'3

By the end of May, the Tomcats had the distinction of leading Marine jet squadrons in total combat

sorties with 20,000. VMA-311 also led in individual

missions flown with Captain Peter A. Krueger, a

second tour pilot, who recently had flown his 500th

combat mission.
Aircraft availability during the June and July

1968, averaged 87 percent with 19 aircraft on hand.

The squadron was now affected by a lack of assigned

pilots and had to rely on staff officers to assist the 17

available squadron pilots. In June, 39 staff officers

flew 34 percent of the squadron sorties while the

Tomcats continued flying over 1,000 hours a month.

In July the Skyhawk unit totaled 1,188 sorties in

1,319 flight hours and unleashed 1,680 tons of ordnance in support of ground operations.

One place the pilots could always count on finding

enemy action was in the A Shau Valley, and on 16

August Major Donald S. Carr found this especially

true. While pulling out from a run on target, his jet

was hit in the tail section leaving a huge gaping hole

just under the horizonal stabilizer. With both hands

on the stick, Major Carr maintained control of the jet

until a fire developed in the A-4. The pilot safely

ejected over Hue and was immediately picked up by a

helicopter in the area.

In September 1968, the squadron collected its

25,000th combat sortie. In the 1st MAW command

chronology, VMA-311 was referred to as the

''undisputed pace-setter and has set what is believed

to be a record number of combat sorties for any fixed

wing squadron in a single conifict or war."4

The civic action program in RVN gave the

Tomcats the opportunity to meet some of the

Vietnamese people and to help some of the less

fortunate. The program also gave the Vietnamese the

opportunity to see the Marines in a noncombat role.

VMA-311's civic action program brought the

48

squadron members to Long Binh, near Chu Lai

where they visited the nearly 100 families living in

the hamlet. In November the Tomcats presented 63

scholarships, totaling $845, to elementary school

children. The squadron also delivered 525 concrete

blocks which the people used to construct a new

classroom on their small school. Several needy

children were given clothing, but most importantly

they were given friendship. Although most of the

people could not speak English, they soon came to

know the name Tomcat.

The celebration of the Marine Corps birthday on

10 November 1968 came to an abrupt end the

following day when Captain Phillip D. Barger was

killed in action. While flying a mission against

suspected NVA positions in the foothills northwest

of Da Nang, Captain Barger was making his second

run on a target when his plane was hit by ground fire.

The pilot never pulled out of the dive and the jet

exploded as it collided with the ground.

On 19 November, two A-4s apparently terrified

the enemy into surrendering. The VMA-311 jets,

each loaded with 3,000 pounds of imminent

destruction, flew over the VC and began circling the

target. As the pilots, Lieutenant Colonel Charles 0.

Hiett, the commanding officer, and Major William

R. Smith, established their pattern and confirmed the

target with Marine ground units, 30 pajama-clad

troops began moving toward the Marines with their

hands held high. The VC may have decided that

surrendering was a better choice than being on the

receiving end of the Skyhawk ordnance.

An aerial view of the expandedfacilities at Chu Liii in August of 1968.

USMC Photo A188211

:. '-:

I' -'

S p
USMC Photo A332602

Captain Durwood K. Schnell after completing one

of his 533 combat missions, Captain Schnell, after

two tours in Vietnam, had accumulated more

missions than any other Marine jet attack pilot

serving in that country.

During the following month the squadron attacked

rocket sites, troop concentrations, enemy fortifications, a truck park, and infiltration routes. By

31 December, the Tomcats had accumulated 28,075

combat sorties and 33,907 flight hours. The major

operations and units supported in December were:

Nevada Eagle—America! Division and the 101st

Airborne Division

Taylor Common—7th Marines, 1st Marine Division

Dawson River—lOist Airborne Division

Scotland Il—3d Marine Division

Fayette Canyon—America! Division

Commando Hunt—Seventh Air Forc&"

For First Lieutenant John F. Garretson, 6 March

1969 became a day to remember. Assigned a mission

west of Da Nang in support of Operation Dewey

Canyon, he discovered the ground unit was Task

Force Hotel, commanded by his father, Brigadier

General Frank E. Garretson. When the pilot

returned to Chu Lai, he learned he had just flown the

Tomcats' 30,000th combat sortie.

A Seventh Air Force operation against enemy supply and

approach routes outside Vietnam.

49

The enemy in the vicinity of Chu Lai put VMA311 on the receiving end of a rocket attack on 21

March. The initial attack and ensuing fire destroyed

four of the jets and damaged four others. Fortunately,

no personnel were seriously injured. Immediately

following the attack, the Tomcats launched their

remaining aircraft and were soon returning the

enemy's visit.

In May the squadron was awarded MAG-12's

aviation safety award for third quarter fiscal year

1969, and operations continued without mishap until

23 May. On that day First lieutenant Peter W. Oatis

was flying a mission south of Da Nang when his A-4

was hit by ground fire. The pilot managed to retain

control long enough to broadcast "Mayday," then

he ejected. Although lieutenant Oatis suffered some

minor injuries, he was soon back in the cockpit

seeking revenge.

In June 1969 the Communists learned that even

the most reinforced positions were no match for the

armament of the A-4s. When U. S. Army units

operating in the vicinity of Tam Ky requested an air

strike, Major A. David Thompson, Jr., and Captain

Charles R. Sorensen were quickly on target. The

enemy positions were a complex of large, wellconstructed, and well-protected concrete fortifications, some nearly 50 feet long. Between the

bombs and the secondary explosions, 12 positions

were destroyed, 2 damaged, and the area was left in

ruins.

VMA-311 flew 707 combat sorties in August

while supporting seven major ground operations.

Although only nine enemy were confirmed as killed

by the Tomcats, the monthly bomb damage

assessment (BDA) included 227 bunkers and 128

structures destroyed. The jets also accounted for 49

secondary fires and 38 secondary explosions. Also

during this month, Captain Durwood K. Schnell flew

his last combat sorties. After two tours the Tomcat

pilot had accumulated 533 missions, more than any

other Marine jet attack pilot.

In September the squadron was selected as the

recipient of the CNO's aviation safety award for fiscal

year 1969. Although the squadron had its combat

losses, it had recorded over 10,000 flight hours and

11,000 sorties without a noncombat accident.

Early in the month, a routine bombing mission,

which knocked out an enemy position northwest of

Da Nang, put VMA-311 into the spotlight again.

This mission was the record-setting 35,000th combat

sortie. Leading the mission was the MAG-12

'-
commander, Colonel Thomas H. Nichols Jr., with

First Lieutenant John W. Danskin flying the

wingman position. For Colonel Nichols, who had

been assigned to then VMF-311 in Korea, this was

his last flight in Vietnam.

Although the combat requirements kept most of

the Tomcats working long hours to keep the

Skyhawks ready, the men continued to support the

civic action program. In October the squadron

presented $1,200 collected from the unit to the

Vietnamese children's scholarship fund to assist

needy children in receiving an education.

The Tomcats enjoyed a relatively quiet month in

November and despite the 82 percent average aircraft

availability and 19 aircraft on hand, the unit flew only

505 hours. However, 10 combat operations were

supported and 22 Communists were killed by air.

Between October and December, two A-4s were

lost as the result of unsuccessful takeoff aborts. On

both occasions the pilots ejected and escaped serious

injury.

January 1970 found the squadron enjoying a 75

percent daily aircraft availability with 20 planes on

hand. In the 739 hours flown this month, the

Tomcats dropped 860 tons of ordnance, killing 75

enemy troops and destroying several Communist

positions.

On 12 February, after 4 years and 2 months of

combat with MAG-12 in Vietnam, VMA-311 was

reassigned to MAG-13. The transfer provided no

relief from combat for the Tomcats since MAG-13

was also located at Chu Lii; however, with the inclusion of VMA-311, the previously all-Phantom

fighter group now possessed the versatile Skyhawk.

The following month, the squadron showed the

MAG-13 commander, Colonel Thomas E. Murphree, how the unit had earned its reputation. While

providing air support for an emergency medical

evacuation 10 miles southwest of Da Nang, Major

Frederick F. Harshbarger and Captain Bruce A. Schwanda kept the enemy occupied while a helicopter

slipped in and picked up the wounded Marine.

Besides contributing to the saving of a life, the flight

logged the squadron's 38,000th combat sortie.

Throughout April, scrambles from the alert pad

brought immediate relief to embattled ground units.

On one occasion a scramble in response to a call from

Army's Americal Division put two A-4s, led by

Captain Gordon R. Jefferson, over the target in a

matter of minutes. The target was a well-contructed

enemy bunker about 30 miles south of Chu Lii.

50

USMC Photo A422637

Lance Corporal William E. Lysle, left, and Lance

Corporal Porter R. Tkachuk, right, mix a batch of

soap to wash the dirt and grime from an A -4E

Skyhawk. Both men are members of VMA -311.

Before the A-4s pulled off target, 12 bodies and a

destroyed bunker were all that remained of the

enemy's position.

Unfortunately, flying attack aircraft was not

always a matter of dropping some bombs and

receiving an impressive BDA. On 11 April, while

attacking an enemy base camp about 10 miles southwest of Da Nang, First Lieutenant Jan H. Nelson

was killed. His aircraft was seen diving on the target,

but instead of pulling up, the jet continued down

behind a ridgeline. A moment later, a large fireball

appeared marking the jet's point of impact.

A week later, Major Harshbarger and First

Lieutenant Robert J. Short teamed up with an Air

Force observer over a valley 30 miles west of Chu Lai.

After 6 passes by the 2 pilots, the aerial observer

counted 22 enemy dead. Although nothing can

relieve the feeling of loss for a member of the

squadron, the pilots had done what they could to

even the score.

The destruction which VMA-311 caused in May

demonstrated that although the personnel within the

squadron had changed several times over the years,

the effectiveness of the Tomcats remained constant.

During the month the unit destroyed 61 structures

and 216 bunkers while damaging many others. A

total of 5 ammunition sites and 8 antiaircraft
USMC Photo A422975

VMA -311 Skyhawks parked in revetments on Da Nang airfield. The Tomcats movedfrom Chu Lai to Da Nang

in July 1970.

positions were also destroyed, and 115 enemy were

killed by air. On 30 May, as the squadron provided

air support for the lOist Airborne Division, the

commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Arthur R.

Hickle, flew the 40,000th combat sortie and his last

mission before being relieved by Lieutenant Colonel

James M. Bannan. Lieutenant Colonel Hickle had

dropped the first Marine bomb over Vietnam in

April 1965 and now, after three tours and over 350

missions, was reassigned to Headquarters Marine

Corps. Hying with him on the 40,000th sortie was

Capt am Clyde E. "Fox" Foreman who on this flight

completed his 600th combat mission and became one

of the top three jet pilots in the Marine Corps for

individual combat missions.

What began as a routine mission for Captain Fred

Palka on 7 June 1970, ended in near disaster for the

Tomcat. While flying near Dak To, 120 miles southwest of Chu Lai in II Corps, his aircraft was hit by

ground fire. Captain Palka stated:

I heard a cracking noise, then the plane became un- controllable. I remember flying upside down and, by some

miracle, the plane straightened Out and I bailed out as

soon as I saw sky. I spent nearly 40 minutes on the ground

in the middle of a firefight before an Army helicopter

picked me up.'6

The pilot suffered minor injuries and was brought to

Pleiku. The next day he returned to Chu Lai where

he was happily greeted by other Tomcats.

For a six-man reconnaissance team, surrounded by

North Vietnamese Army troops, First Lieutenant

James E. Barksdale became the only man who stood

between them and possible death. On 24 June, with

darkness approaching, a low overcast, and enemy

troops within 75 meters of the Marines, Lieutenant

Barksdale began making extremely accurate ordnance deliveries while receiving intense enemy

51

ground fire. As the pilot made his last pass, Marine

helicopters followed him into the zone. As darkness

enveloped the hills of Quang Nam, the helicopters,

with the A-4 escorting, lifted the reconnaissance

Marines to safety. For his actions, Lieutenant

Barksdale was awarded the Distinguished Flying

Cross.

In July, VMA-311 personnel again packed their

seabags and squadron equipment. This time the unit

was preparing for a move to Da Nang Air Base where

it would join Colonel Albert C. Pommerenk's

MAG-1 1. Because of the planned reduction in 1st

MAW forces, several units left Vietnam and

preparations were made to turn Chu Lai over to the

U. S. Army. On 22 July an advance party headed by

Major David Y. Healy departed Chu Lai for Da

Nang. It immediately began preparing living and

working spaces for the squadron, which started

arriving 4 days later. The unit relocated in increments in order to continue with normal flight

operations. Within a week the entire squadron was

operating from Da Nang. Despite the additional work

required by the move, the ordnancemen loaded 1,082

tons of explosives on the A-4s, and the 50,000th

combat hour was logged during the month.

The weather was excellent during August and the

squadron did most of its flying without the use of

external fuel tanks. This enabled the Skyhawks to

carry more payload and perform the close air support

mission with greater effectiveness. Of the 553

missions flown this month, 264 were close air

support, 180 direct air support, 38 radar-controlled

bombing, and 42 were landing zone preparations.

Major units supported during the month included

the 1st Marine Division; the 1st and 3d ARVN

Divisions, Republic of Korea Marine Corps; and the

IW Ti -. — — —— —— __ - — —'a -— — 1 — — _. — — __

—

— — . — -

____T-'E —-- T; r =i 7 - : ——
USMC Photo A422278

Three A-4E Skyhawks of VMA -311 and an A-6A

Intruder of VMA(AW)-533 head for a bombing

mission in South Vietnam. During inclement

weather the A-4s would fly wing on the Intruder,

which was equipped with special radar, and "buddy

bombing' was born.

U.S. Army's 1st Brigade of the 5th Mechanized

Infantry Division, 101st Airborne Division, and

Americal Division.

During this period, the squadron arranged for

several pilots to fly with sister squadrons in the group

and with the MAG-16 helicopter squadrons. By

doing this the Tomcat pilots were given a better

picture of the entire air war. The attack pilots became

aware of some of the problems associated with the

fighters and especially aware of the ''tree top'' war of

the helicopter community.

September 1970 was a poor month for VMA-311.

Two pilots and their aircraft were lost due to enemy

action. The first loss occurred on 1 September, 32

miles west of Phu Bai, when a section of two A-4s

were scrambled to support units of the 1st ARVN

Division. An airborne forward air controller observed the lead pilot, First Lieutenant John D.

Lawson, roll in for the first 10-degree napalm

delivery. No ordnance was dropped and as the plane

pulled out it burst into flames and crashed into the

hills near the target.'7 On 11 September First

Lieutenant Bernard H. Plassmeyer was killed while

attacking a target 30 miles southwest of Phu Bai.

Scrambled at night to support the 101st Airborne

Division, two A-4s arrived over the target and

commenced their runs. The flight leader finished his

pass and watched as Lieutenant Plassmeyer went into

his dive. ''As the lieutenant was passing approximately 1,500 feet the leader saw some 'sparks'

and then a long trail of flame impact in the target

area.' '18

During the month of October, 328 sorties were

canceled due to heavy rains and two typhoons which

hit the Da Nang area. During one of the rare breaks

in the weather, First Lieutenant Steven R. Sanford

was airborne supporting elements of the 1st Marines

in the Que Son mountains. Numerous fortified

bunkers were hindering the Marines' advance, but

after a few well-placed bombs the bunkers exploded,

the enemy ran into the thick underbush, and five

dead VC were left behind. Two days later, Lieutenant

Sanford was in the air again, this time 7 miles west of

Da Nang where he was guided to a target by First

Lieutenant Robert E. Scar, a former Tomcat now

serving a tour as a forward air controller. The target:

was enemy moving along an infiltration route. After

two passes on the target, all movement along the

route ceased.

In order to continue A-4 operations during the

more inclement weather, the squadron began

"buddy bombing'' flights. This entailed an A-4

flying on the wing of a Grumman A-6A Intruder,

equipped with navigation and bombing equipment

designed to allow the pilot to fly to a location and

strike a target not in visual contact. During October

the squadron flew 11 such missions with

VMA(AW)-225, and in November 1970, 163 of

these missions were flown throughout the northern

provinces of RVN.

The majority of close and direct air support

missions during February and March 1971 were in

support of ARVN forces moving west from Khe

Sanh into Laos on Operation Lam Son 719. The

ground units met stiff resistance from well-equipped

NVA forces. On 27 February, the Tomcats added

their support and were credited with three enemy

tanks destroyed. On 3 March another five tanks were

destroyed. By the end of March the squadron had

flown 450 missions in support of Lam Son 719, and

had a BDA that included 445 secondary explosions,

181 secondary fires, and 725 meters of road/trail cut.

In May the Marines in Vietnam began the final

phase of redeployment. For VMA-311, the last

mission came on 7 May. Five days later the 21

squadron Skyhawks left Da Nang to rejoin MAG-12

at MCAS Iwakuni, and on the 27th the remainder of

the squadron arrived in Japan. Easily reverting to a

peacetime posture, the veteran squadron of 47,663

combat sorties immediately began training ffights to

maintain pilot proficiency.

52
From July through October 1971, VMA-311

logged 1,906 flight hours which included 358

syllabus hours. Inclement weather and the lack of

accessible target areas restricted the unit's training

program. On 29 October, the Tomcats deployed to

Naha Air Base, Okinawa, where until 15 January

1972, the pilots and ordnance personnel underwent

accelerated weapons training. A portion of this

training which included tactical air control and close

air support was conducted with Marine Observation

Squadron (VMO) 6.

On 8 December, the Tomcats participated in a

weapons exercise designated Operation Banzai. The

exercise encompassed all phases of conventional airto-ground delivery, day and night JATO, and day

and night aerial refueling.

In order to take advantage of the training areas on

Okinawa, on 19 April 1972, the squadron constituted

a six-plane detachment at Naha with plans to rotate

the crews in order to afford all Tomcats the opportunity to train on the island.

As part of the American effort to reinforce South

Vietnam against the all-out Easter offensive of the

NVA, Colonel Dean C. Macho's MAG-12 was

alerted on 12 May to move with two of its A-4

squadrons, VMAs -211 and -311, to Bien Hoa Airbase 15 miles northeast of Saigon. The move to Bien

Hoa began on 16 May. Sixteen VMA-311 Skyhawks

departed Iwakuni and Naha and at 0745 on 17 May.

the first ffight landed in RVN. The following day the

remainder of the squadron arrived by KC-130s.'9

MAG-12 operations began on 19 May as jets hit

targets throughout the southern half of RVN and

along the Cambodian border. MAG-1 5, flying Out of

Da Nang, concentrated on the northern half of the

country and along the Laotian border. From the

19th, when the commanding officer, Lieutenant

Colonel Kevin M. Johnston, flew the first mission,

to the end of the month, the Tomcats logged another

203 combat sorties to add to their previous total.

On 11 June 1972, the Tomcats combined their

efforts for another maximum support day while

responding to air requests from several AR\TN units

operating in Bien Hoa Province. For 12'/2 hours

beginning at dawn, squadron A-4s were continually

taking off, arming, and refueling until 40 sorties were

completed and 72.9 tons of explosives expended. In

continuation of their support of AR\TN forces, the

unit flew 737 combat sorties in 921 hours, and were

credited with killing 134 enemy and destroying 156

bunkers and 14 trucks in July.

53

USMC Photo A188211

Marine Chief Warrant Officer Thomas C. Van

Over, veteran of Nicaragua, World War II, Korea,

and Vietnam leaves for another duty assignment afier

40 years of military service. Van Over had served as

maintenance control officer of VMA -311 based at

Chu Lai, Vietnam.

The base at Bien Hoa received rocket attacks on

the first and last days of August. During the first

attack Sergeant Roger E. Slayden, Corporal Welton

L. Black, Corporal Earl J. Pittman III, and Lance

Corporal John J. McCracken were wounded and

three squadron aircraft were damaged; however, all

A-4s were back in commission by the following day.

The attack on the 31st caused no damage to the

aircraft or the Tomcats' area. On 29 August, First

lieutenant Charles G. Reed logged the 50,000th

combat sortie, a goal which the Tomcats felt had

eluded them when they left Da Nang in May 1971.

While the pilots were continuing the air war, the

men on the ground were busy fighting the violent

monsoon rains which by 3 September had flooded the

unit's spaces with 10'/2 inches of water. The

discomfort caused by the rains, soon seemed insignificant compared to the holocaust which occurred

on 10 September when a major portion of the
Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF) ordnance dump

exploded sending a mushroom cloud 6,000 feet into

the air and bomb fragments over the entire base.

More than 100 VNAF planes were destroyed and

damaged, but luckily the VMA-311 jets escaped

damage.

The month of October was one of business as usual

for the Tomcats and the normal pace of 26 sorties per

day was maintained. Two aircraft received substantial damage in two separate accidents during the

month. On the 16th, a flare dispenser caught fire on

one A-4 and on the 19th an aircraft loaded with eight

500-pound bombs caught fire in the dearming area.

Fortunately, no major injuries resulted from the

accidents.

On the morning of 22 October, the enemy hit the

airbase with 56 rounds of 122mm rocket fire. Again

no squadron personnel were injured nor were any

planes damaged. The month ended with a visit from

Colonel Macho who flew his 100th combat mission

with the Tomcats.

On 16 November, a nine-man advance party

departed for Iwakuni in anticipation of the forthcoming retrograde from RVN. The remainder of the

squadron joined others from the group in preparing

for their departure by saying goodby to their Vietnamese friends in the nearby orphanage. The

children were given a party at the base mess hail and

the orphanage was presented with $1,000 collected

from members of the group.

On 29 January 1973, MAG-12 (Forward), the last

American combat aviation unit in Vietnam, began

relocating to MCAS Iwakuni. After 54,625 combat

sorties, the war was over for VMA-311.

Conclusion

The squadron spent the first month in Japan

refamiliarizing pilots with the local flying area and

enjoying a well-earned rest. On 9 March the

squadron deployed to Naha to fulfill the requirements

for special weapons requalification. After returning

to Japan in April, the Tomcats began utilizing

training areas in Korea. This gave them the muchneeded aerial gunnery and bombing ranges they

required, as well as providing low-level navigation

routes. The unit also began extensive training using

the electronic countermeasures equipment in the

aircraft.

Four-plane detachments at Cubi Point and Naha,

on 28 April and 13 May respectively, provided

54

excellent training for the pilots in close air support as

they flew simulated missions for units of the 3d

Marine Division. During the last week in April,

VMA-311, the primary U. S. participant in

Operation Commando Jade, flew eight A-4s to South

Korea to test the Korean early warning and ground

control intercept radar. Through maximum use of

their ECM equipment and low-level terrain masking,

the Skyhawks contributed greatly to the regional air

defense posture while gaining valuable experience in

tactical doctrine.

In July VMA-311 deployed to Naha for air-to-air

gunnery practice and conventional ordnance

delivery. The training objectives were successfully

completed despite having to evacuate the aircraft

from Okinawa for a week due to Typhoon Billie. This

was the first of seven typhoons which interrupted

squadron operations before Thanksgiving.'

Lieutenant Colonel John H. Miller, who assumed

command on Friday the 13th of July, describes the

events of the following year:

The Tomcats deployed to Cubi Point on 21 September

for the specific purposes of participating in an amphibious

operation on Mindoro and carrier qualifications on board

the USS Hancock (CVA 19). At the completion of the

amphibious operation, the Hancock deployed to the

Indian Ocean so special and conventional weapons

delivery training was conducted awaiting the availability

of a carrier deck. Radar controlled bombing was conducted to assist in training controllers of a deployed Ar

Support Radar Team. The squadron weathered the

passage of four typhoons through the Philippines, two

forcing evacuation of the aircraft. When it was determined a carrier deck would not become available, the

squadron returned to Iwakuni. With a dearth of training

ordnance, no live ordnance, aircraft availability at an alltime low (as was morale), and no opportunity to go aboard

ship after engaging sporadically in FMLP since late July,

the deployment could hardly be considered a success.2

Two deployments to Naha, 11 February to 19

March and again from 3 May to mid-June,

highlighted the squadron's activities for the first 7

months of 1974. Of this period Colonel Miller

comments:

May was particularly significant in terms of training

accomplishments. Through multimission sortie

scheduling (low-level navigation in sections, rendezvous

of two or more sections for air-to-air defensive tactics,

interdiction strike mission approaches to the target,

culminating in air-to-ground weapons delivery practice—all combined on each sortie) the squadron's 12 A4Es were flown on 430 sorties for 818 hours. This was the

highest training achievement in MAG-12 for the past

year.

On 5 June 1974, Lieutenant Colonel Ralph K.

Park relieved Lieutenant Colonel Miller as corn-
A flight of A-4Es from VMA-3llflying information

USMC Photo A422813

manding officer with the singular mission of

disbanding the squadron in MAG-12. VMA-311 was

to be transferred by records only to make room for

the first Hawker Siddeley AV-8A Harrier squadron

to deploy to the Far East. The disbanding was accomplished by turning aircraft over to the Navy for

shipment to the United States and distributing

personnel and equipment to other 1st MAW units.

On 1 September 1974, Lieutenant Colonel Bruce B.

Rutherford's VMA-324 at MCAS Beaufort, South

Carolina was redesignated VMA-311, MAG-32, 2d

MAW and VMA-324 was decommissioned.

With a fresh start back in CONUS, the new group

of Tomcats picked up the banner and continued its

proud heritage in the updated A-4M aircraft.

The first hurdle to overcome was the close

scrutiny of an inspection team administering a naval

technical proficiency inspection (NTPI), which

would recertify the squadron in special weapons

handling/loading. After a successful completion of

this major inspection in September of 1974, the

squadron deployed to NAF China Lake to sharpen its

skills in the technical art of special weapons delivery.

55

At the turn of the calendar year, 1975 found

VMA-311 with all of its aircraft grounded due to the

problem incurred with the variable speed constant

frequency (VSCF) generator. After the mechanical

problems were worked out, the squadron turned to

the task of preparing to carrier qualify on board the

USS John F. Kennedy in February. Due to the

limited deck space and time available not all the pilots

were able to qualify at night, but all qualified in day

landings and gained valuable training in carrier

operations.

Upon return from the ship, the squadron passed an

operations readiness inspection prior to deploying to

Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, to participate in

ration Rum Punch '75. After a successful

air/ground team operation, the Tomcats returned

to Beaufort only to face more mechanical difficulties

with the VSCF generator. After the final fix was

made, the banner changed hands again and a new

commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Dorsie D.

Page, Jr., took the reins of this proud and historic

squadron on 20 June 1975.

Without so much as a break in stride, the squadron

-a-.4 - 3A:)

I

-a-
continued to prepare for an inspection by the

Inspector General's team in August, which it passed

in noteworthy fashion. While continuing to support

the air/ground team concept, the Tomcats deployed

to NAF China Lake in September 1975, and at the

same time supported Operation Alkalai Canyon 76 at

MCB Twentynine Palms, California. No sooner had

the after-action report been completed than the

Tomcats packed their gear and headed for MCAS

Yuma on a conventional ordnance deployment.

Upon returning from Yuma, the squadron was faced

with another NTPI required for its periodic recertification.

Through FY-75, VMA-311 flew an array of

missions and tasks and compiled a safety record

which was rewarded by the presentation of the

FMFLant and CNO safety awards for that period.

At this time restructuring of the Marine aviation

community was taking place, and VMA-311 moved

from MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina, to MCAS El

Toro, California, on 12 January 1976.

Immediately upon arrival at MCAS El Toro and

with the majority of the squadron still en route from

South Carolina, the Tomcats were supporting

Exercise Forward Pass at MCB Camp Pendleton with

six sorties per day as well as a detachment of 38

56

enlisted personnel. In March 1976 VMA-311 passed

an FMFPac inspection and then started participating

in Operation Palm Tree 4-76 at MCB Twentynine

Palms, California. The tactics planned and flown

were to be the basis of operations to come at the

"Stumps" which would explore the complex

problems of coordinating supporting arms in

association with troops on the ground in a high threat

environment.

Taking the tactics learned from Palm Tree 4-76,

the Tomcats deployed to the desert base of NAS

Fallon, Nevada, in June where, in corroboration

with VMO-2, and the electronic warfare facilities

available, they further explored all the variables of

attack profiles while working in conjunction with a

controlling agency for pinpoint target designation. In

addition to this, all pilots were able to fly the Shrike

missile against the electronic warfare range and the

Sidewinder to expand the mission capabilities of the

A-4 Skyhawk.

Marine Attack Squadron 311 enjoys a history and

reputation unequaled by most units. The present

Tomcats, who proudly fly the colors of this veteran

squadron, remain prepared to serve Corps and

country and add yet another chapter to their impressive history.
NOTES

Introduction

1. Robert Sherrod, History of Marine Corps Aviation in

World War II (Washington: Combat Forces Press, 1952), p.

34, hereafter Sherrod, Aviation.

2. Ibid, pp. 434-435.

From Birth to War: 1941-1 945

1. Muster Rolls, Marine Fighting Squadron 311, December

1942 (HistRefSec, Hist&MusDiv, HQMC), hereafter Muster

Rolls with unit, month, and year.

2. Sherrod, Aviation, p. 128.

3. History of VMA-311 1942-1962, p. 10 (UHistRpt File,

HistRefSec, Hist&MusDiv, HQMC).

4. Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1934-1 944, compiled and

ed. by Leonard Bridgman, (New York: MacMillian Co., 1945)

p. 218c, hereafter Jane'sAircraft with year.

5. Ibid., pp. 234-235.

6. Muster Rolls, VMF-311, August 1943.

7. History of VMA-311, op.cit. p. 2.

8. VMF-311 War Diary, September 1943 (UHistRep File,

HistRefSec, Hist&MusDiv, HQMC), hereafter War Diary and

date.

9. Sherrod, Aviation, p. 231. 10. 4th Marine Base Defense Aircraft Wing, Report of

Friendly and Enemy Losses, dtd 31 October 1943 (VMF-311

HistRpt File, HistRefSec, Hist&MusDiv, HQMC).

11. WarDiary, January-February 1944.

12. Sherrod, Aviation, p. 231.

13. Ibid.

14. Ibid., p. 235.

15. Ibid., p. 244.

16. War Diary, March 1944.

17. Ibid.

18. USMC Casualty Report, Case History Cards,

(HistRefSec, Hist&MusDiv, HQMC), hereafter Casualty

Cards.

19. History of VMA-311, op.cit. p. 6.

20. War Diary, May 1944.

21. War Diary, July 1944.

22. Sherrod, Aviation, p. 235.

23. Casualty Cards.

24. Ibid.

25. Sherrod, Aviation, p. 371.

26. War Diary, April 1945.

27. Ibid.

28. Ibid.

29. Ibid.

30. War Diary, May 1945.

31. Sherrod, Aviation, p. 392.

32. War Diary, May 1945.

33. Casualty Cards.

57

34. Biographical File (HistRefSec, Hist&MusDiv, HQMC).

35. Col Michael R. Yunck ltr to DirMCHist&Mus, dtd

28May76, Comment File, "History of VMA-311.''

36. War Diary, June 1945.

37. War Diary, July 1945.

38. Ibid.

39. Sherrod, Aviation,.pp. 412, 427, 431-432.

40. War Diary,July 1945.

41. War Diary, August 1945.

42. War Diary, September 1945.

43. Ibid.

Post-World War II: 1946-1 950

1. WarDiary, October 1945.

2. Ibid. 3. Muster Rolls, VMF-311, November 1945.

4. War Diary, January 1946.

5. Muster Rolls, VMF-311, June 1946.

6. Flight Jacket, (MCAS El Toro, California) 2 May 1947, p.

1, hereafter Flight Jacket, date, and page.

7.FlightJacket,9 May l947,p. 8.

8. Paul Hicks, "Jet Squadron,'' The Leatherneck, V.

XXXII, No. 1 (January 1949), p. 11.

9. Flight Jacket, 14 April 1948, p.8.

10. Flight Jacket, 2 April 1948, p. 1.

11. Flight Jacket, 14 April 1948, p. 2.

12. MajGen John P. Condon's official biography

(HistRefSec, Hist&MusDiv, HQMC).

13. Hicks, op. cit., p. 12.

14. Flight Jacket, 23 July 1948, p. 1.

15.Jane'sAircraft 1949-1950, pp. 240c-241c.

16. Hicks, op. cit., p. 12.

17. MajGen John P. Condon, intvw by OraiHistU,

Hist&MusDiv, HQMC, dtd December 1970, pp. 89-93.

18. Flight Jacket, 23 September 1949, p. 8.

19. MajGen Paul J. Fontana's official biography

(HistRefSec, Hist&MusDiv, HQMC).

20. Flight Jacket, 30 September 1949, p. 1.

21. Flight Jacket, 17 February 1950, p. 1.

22. Flight Jacket, 24 March 1950, p. 1.

23.Jane'sAircraft 1949-1 950, p. 228c.

24. Flight Jacket, 24 March 1950, p. 1.

25. VMF-311 Historical Diary, 30 November 1950

(FedRecCntr, Mechanicsburg, Pa.), hereafter HistDiary and

date.

26. Ibid.

The Korean Era: 1950-1 955

Unless otherwise noted, the material in this section is

derived from HistDiary December 1950- May 1955.
1. Col Neil R. Maclntyre ltr to DirMCHist&Mus, dtd

15Jun76, Comment File, ''History of VMA-311,'' hereafter

Maclntyre comments.

2. LtCol Pat Meid and Maj James M. Yingling, Operations

in West Korea—U.S. Marine Operations in Korea, 1950-1 953

(Washington: HistDiv, HQMC, 1972) Vol V, pp. 26, 489

hereafter Operations in West Korea,

3. Lynn Montross, Major Hubard D. Kuokka, and Maj

Norman W. Hicks, The East-Central Front—U.S. Marine

Operations in Korea 1 950-1 953 (Washington: HistDiv,

HQMC, 1962) Vol. IV, p. 64, hereafter The East-Central

Front.

4. Casualty Cards.

5. Operations in West Korea, p. 489.

6. Maclntyre comments.

7. Casualty Cards.

8. Maclntyre comments.

9. MajGen Paul J. Fontana ltr to DirMCHist&Mus, dtd

9Jun76, Comment File, ''History of VMA-31 1.''

10. VMF-311 Monthly Jet Information, April 1951, contained in HistDiary, May 1951, hereafter JetBul, date;

HistDiary, date.

11. Casualty Cards.

12. Operations in West Korea, p. 289.

13. The East-Central Front, p.148.

14. Casualty Cards.

15. The East-Central Front, p.144.

16. Operations in West Korea, p. 289.

17. The East-Central Front, pp. 95-96.

18. JetBul, June 1951; HistDiary, July 1951.

19. casualty Cards.

20. JetBul, July 1951, HistDiary, August 1951.

21. 1st MAW Bulletin, No. 16-51, dtd 9 September 1951,

contained in HistDiary, September 1951.

22. HistDiary, August 1951.

23. Casualty Cards.

24. ibid.

25. Operations in West Korea,p. 27.

26. Casualty Cards.

27. HistDiary, April 1952.

28. Casualty Cards.

29. Ibid. 30. ibid.

31. BGen Henry W. Hise ltr to DirMCHist&Mus, dtd

7Jun76, Comment File, ''History of VMA-311."

32. Operations in West Korea, p. 65.

33Jbid., p. 577.

34.Ibid.,p.174.

35.Ibid., p.492.

36. Casualty Cards.

37. VMA-311 Unit History File (HistRefSec,

Hist&MusDiv, HQMC).

38.Jane'sAircraft 1955-1956, p.263.

39. Col John H. Glenn, Jr., Biographical File (HistRefSec,

Hist&MusDiv, HQMC).

40. Operations in West Korea, pp. 291-295.

41. Ibid., p.324.

42. ibid., p. 350.

43.ibid., p.317.

44. Casualty Cards.

45. Operations in West Korea, pp. 333-334.

46.Ibid., p.374.

47.Ibid., p.375.

48. Ibid., p. 376.

49. Ibid. 50.ibid., p.393.

51.Ibid., p.397.

52. HistDiary, February 1954.

The Post-Korean Period. 1 955-1965

Unless otherwise noted, the material in this section is

derived from Flight Jacket (MCAS El Toro, California), I September 1955-16 April 1965. 1. VMA-311 Unit History File, (HistRefSec,

Hist&MusDiv, HQMC).

2. Flight Jacket, 8 February 1957, p. 3.

3. ibid., 1 March 1957, p.1.

4.Jane'sAircraft 1957-1958, pp. 301-302.

5. CNO Spdltr 2608P33 dtd 2 May 1957, cited in VMA-311

Unit History File (HistRefSec, Hist&MusDiv, HQMC).

6. VMA-311 Unit History File, op.cit.

7.Jane'sAircraft, pp. 285-286.

8. Marine Attack Squadron 311 1960-1961, Cruise Book

(HistRefSec, Hist&MusDiv, HQMC), hereafter VMA-31 1

Cruise Book.

9. Ibid.

10. Ibid.

2.

58

11. Ibid. 12. Toni Teller (MCAS, Iwakuni, Japan) 12 June 1960, p.

13. VMA-311 Cruise Book.

14. Ibid. 15. Toni Teller, op,cit. 12 March 1962, p. 2.

16. VMA-311 Cruise Book.

17. Ibid.

18.Jane'sAircnaft 1963-1964, p. 205.

The Vietnam Years: 1 965-1973

Unless otherwise noted, the material in this section is derived from Marine Attack Squadron 311 Command

Chronology June 1965-June 1973; 1st Marine Aircraft Wing

Command Chronology, May 1965-October 1970; and 1st

Marine Aircraft Wing Command Chronologies, Informational

Services Office Appendixes, August 1965-October 1970

(HistRefSec, Hist&MusDiv, HQMC).

1. VMA-311 Command Chronology, June 1965.

2. MAG-12 Command Chronology, October 1965. 3. 1st MAW Command Chronology, December 1965,

Appendix 20.

4. MAG-13 Command Chronology, January 1966. 5. Jack Shulimson, ''Marines in Vietnam - 1966" Ms

(HistSec Hist&MusDiv, HQMC).

6. 1st MAW Command Chronology, February 1967,

Appendix 7.

7. VMA-311 Command Chronology, October 1967.

8. 1st MAW Command Chronology, January 1968,

Appendix 6.

9. Capt Moyers S. Shore II, The Battle for Khe Sanh.

(Washington: Hist&MusDiv, HQMC, 1969), p. 53.
11. Ibid., p. 100.

12. FMFPac, Operations of the Marine Forces in Vietnam,

January 1968, (HistRefSec, Hist&MusDiv, HQMC) p. 18.

13. 1st MAW Command Chronology, May 1968, Appendix

6.

14. 1st MAW Command Chronology, September 1968,

Appendix 6.

15. FMFPac, Operations of the Marine Forces in Vietnam,

December 1968, op.cit., p. 78.

16. 1st MAW Command Chronology, June 1970, Appendix

6.

17. Navy Preliminary Report of Aircraft Accident 1-71A,

cited in 1st MAW Command Chronology, September 1970.

18. Navy Supplementary Report of Aircraft Accident 2-71A,

cited in 1st MAW Command Chronology, September 1970.

19. BGen Edwin H. Simmons, "Marine Corps Operations

59

in Vietnam 1969-1972,'' Naval Review, 1973 (Annapolis:

U.S. Naval Institute, 1973), p. 221.

Conclusion

Unless otherwise noted, the material in this section is derived from VMA-311 Command Chronology, January-June

1974 - January-June 1976, (HistRefSec, Hist&MusDiv,

HQMC).

1. MAG-12 Command Chronology, July-December 1974.

2. Col John H. Miller's comments, Comment File,

"History of VMA311."

3. Ibid. 4. Lieutenant Colonel Dorsie D. Page, Jr., ltr to Dir MC

Hist&Mus, dtd 30Jul76, Comment File, ''History of VMA311''.

7 Feb 1944

23 Feb 1944

23 Mar 1944

26 Mar 1944 May 1944-

Jan 1945 11 Mar 1945

Appendix A

CHRONOLOGY

20Jun3 Jul 1946 4 Jul1946

5-17 Jul 1946

17 Jul 1946 26Sep- Nov 1946

21 Apr 1947

1 Oct 1947 15 Apr 1948

1 Oct 1949 28 Aug 1950

10-13 Nov 1950

14 Nov 1950

29 Nov 1950

7-13 Dec 1950

7 Apr26 Aug 1945

22 Jul 1945

16).

1 Dec 1942 Activated as Marine Fighting Squadron 311 at

MCAS, Cherry Point, NC. and assigned to

3d. MAW.

18 Apr 1943 Moved to Parris Island, S.C.

31 Aug- En route to MCAD Miramar, California.

8Sep 1943

8 Sep 1943 Assigned to Marine Fleet Air, West Coast.

25 Sep 1943 Air echelon sailed on board USS Nassau (CVE

30 Sep 1943 Ground echelon sailed on board USAT

Puebla. Assigned to MAG-31, FMF.

5 Oct 1943 Air echelon arrived Tutuila, Samoa.

6 Oct 1943 Designation changed to MAG-31, 4th Marine

Base Defense Aircraft Wing.

8 Oct 1943 Air echelon arrived Wallis Island.

19 Oct 1943 Ground echelon arrived Wallis Island;

disembarked next day.

26 Jan 1944 Embarked on board USS Cape Consianline and

USS Typhoon (LST-1118) en route Roi,

Kwajalein Atoll.

Squadron arrived Roi Island.

Squadron moved to Kwajalein Island in LST

First attack against enemy.

Squadron moved from Kwajalein to Roi.

Participated in neutralization of enemyoccupied Marshall Islands.

MAG-31 transferred from 4th MBDAW to 2d

MAW.

7 Apr 1945 Flight echelon catapulted from USS Breton

(CVE 23) and USS Sitkoh Bay (CVE 86) and

landed at Yontan Airfield, Okinawa.

Squadron shot down its first enemy aircraft.

Okinawa Operations. Assigned to MAG-31,

2d MAW, Tenth Army Tactical Air Force.

Fighter cover provided for cruiser task force

close in to the East China coast. Flight

overfiew Wenchow area in what is believed

the first flight over China by land-based

Marine aircraft since 1929.

9-29 Sep 1945 Squadron in process of moving from Okinawa

to Yokosuka, Japan for occupational duty.

En route from Japan to U.S. on board USS San

Saba (APA 232).

Arrived at San Diego, California.

Attached to MAG-31, Marine Air West

Coast, MCAS Miramar.

Reduced in strength to one officer and transferred to MAG-32.

Station changed to MCAS El Toro, California.

Squadron reconstituted at El Toro.

Transferred to MAG-12, MAWC.

Designation changed to MAG-12, 1st MAW.

Transferred to 1st MAW as an independent

squadron.

20 Jul 1948 First Marine west coast squadron to receive jet

aircraft.

Reassigned to MAG-12, 1st MAW.

Transferred to MAG-iS, Air FMFPac,

MCAS El Toro from MAG-12.

Squadron aircraft ferried to NAS San Diego for

preparation for shipment overseas.

Departed for Japan on board USS Bairoko

(CVE 115).

Arrived Yokosuka, Japan.

Operating from Yonpo, Korea. (K-27).

477.

61
8 Dec 1950 Assigned to MAG-12, 1st MAW.

10 Dec 1950 First squadron combat mission flown and the

first time Marine jet aircraft were flown in

combat.

13 Dec 1950 Moved to Pusan, Korea (K-9).

25 Jan 1951 Redeployed to Itami AFB, Japan.

7 Feb 1951 Joined MAG-33, 1st MAW.

17 Feb 1951 Redeployed to Pohang, Korea (K-3) by air and

LST 914.

16 Aug 1951 Furnished air support for 7th InfDiv on Hills

851 and 820. Received Letter of Commendation from MajGen C. B. Ferenbaugh,

USA, on 26 Aug 1951.

28 Mar 1952 10,000th sortie flown by Captain F. J. Hubka.

27 Jul 1953 Capt W. I. Armagost flew last Marine jet

mission of Korean War.

27 Apr 1955 Embarked on board USS Princeton (CVE 37)

at Iwakuni and departed therefrom for

CONUS.

31 May 1955 Squadron arrived at San Diego and departed for

MCAS El Toro.

1 Jun 1955 Redesignated from MAG-33, 1st MAW to

MAG-33, Air FMFPac.

15 Sep 1955 Designation changed to MAG-33, 3d MAW

from MAG-33, AirFMFPac.

1 Jun 1957 Designation changed from VMF-311 to

Marine Attack Squadron 311 (VMA-311).

1 Aug 1957 Transferred from MAG-33 to MAG-15.

18 Mar 1961 Squadron deployed to 1st MAW, Japan by

MSTS and Marine transport aircraft.

23 Mas 1961 Transferred to MAG-12, 1st MAW, MCAF

Iwakuni.

4Apr 1961 Transferred to CAG-15, USS Coral Sea (CVA

13 Apr 1961 Transferred to CAG-2, USS Midway (CVA

41).

3Jun 1961 Transferred to MAG-12, 1st MAW, MCAS

Iwakuni.

27 Mar 1962 Squadron departed NAS Cubi Point, P.1. on

board Marine transport aircraft while

aircraft were transported by surface.

15 Feb 1966-

1 Mar 1967

2 Mar3Jun 1967

4Jun 1967-

11 Feb 1970

12 Feb25 Jul 1970

26 Jul 197 0-

11 May 1971

30 Mar 1962 Transferred to MAG-15, 3d MAW, MCAS,

El Toro.

30 Mar 1965 Squadron aircraft were flown from El Toro to

NAS Atsugi, Japan.

1 Apr 1965 Transferred to MAG-12, 1st MAW, MCAS

Iwakuni.

7 May 1965 Deployed to the Republic of Vietnam with

MAG-12.

24 May 1965 Ground elements arrived at Chu Lai, RVN.

1 Jun 1965 Air elements arrived in Chu Lai.

16 Dec 1965- Deployed to MCAS Iwakuni.

14 Feb 1966

20 Dec 1965 Transferred to MAG-13, 1st MAW, Iwakuni,

Japan.

Deployed to Chu Lai, RVN; assigned to MAG-12, 1st MAW.

At MCAS Iwakuni and transferred to MAG15, 1st MAW (Rear).

At Chu Lai, RVN; assigned to MAG-12, 1st

MAW.

Transferred to MAG-13, 1st MAW, Chu Lai,

RVN.

Transferred to MAG-il, 1st MAW, Da Nang

Air Base, RVN.

12 May29 Oct 1971

30 Oct 1971-

15 Jan 1972

16 Jan17 May 1972

18 May 1972.

29 Jan 1973

30 Jan 1973-

31 Aug 1974

Assigned to MAG-12, 1st MAW, at

MCAS Iwakuni.

Squadron deployed to USNF Naha, Okinawa.

At MCAS, Iwakuni, Japan.

Deployed with MAG-12, 1st MAW, Bien

Hoa, RVN.

Squadron returned to MCAS Iwakuni with

MAG-12.

43).

1 Sep 1974 VMA-311 relocated to MCAS Beaufort, S. C.

and assigned to MAG-32, 2d MAW, Personnel and aircraft remained in Japan and

VMA-324 assumed the designation of the

squadron.

12 Jan 1976 Squadron transferred to MCAS El Toro,

California and assigned to MAG-13, 3d

MAW.

62
Appendix B

COMMANDING OFFICERS

Maj Ralph K. Rottet 1 Dec 1942 - 31 Jan 1943

2d Lt Harry B. Woodman 1 Feb 1943 -4 Feb 1943

2d LtRoy A. Neuendorf 5 Feb 1943- 15 Feb 1943

2d Lt MichaelJ. Curran, Jr. 16 Feb 1943-25 Feb 1943

Capt Jack D. Kane 26 Feb 1943 - 31 May 1943

Maj Harry B. Hooper, Jr 1 Jun 1943 - 22 Oct 1943

Maj Charles M. Kunz 24 Oct 1943- 9Feb 1945

Maj Perry L. Shuman 11 Feb 1945 - 14 Jun 1945

Maj Michael R. Yunck 15 Jun 1945 - 25 May 1946

Maj James C. Otis 26 May 1946- 11 Jun 1946

Capt James W. Baker 12 Jun 1946 - 16 Jul 1946

1st Lt Rupert C. Wesley, Jr 18 Jul 1946- 21 Oct 1946

Maj Francis F. Pierce, Jr 22 Oct 1946- 31 Dec 1946

Capt Joseph F. Davis 1 Jan 1947 - 3 Mar 1947

Capt Elswin P. Dunn 4 Mar 1947- 29 Apr 1947

Maj Otis V. Calhoun, Jr 30 Apr 1947- 31 Aug 1947

Lt Col Harlan Rogers 1 Sep 1947 - 13 Apr 1948

Maj Michael R. Yunck 14 Apr 1948- 18 Apr 1948

Lt Col John P. Condon 19 Apr 1948 - 10 Jul 1949

Maj Joseph F. Quilty, Jr 11 Jul 1949 -26 Jul 1949

Lt Col Paul J. Fontana 27 Jul 1949 - 13 May 1950

Lt Col Neil R. Maclntyre 14 May 1950 - 10 Mar 1951

Lt Col John F. Kinney 11 Mar 1951 -27 Jul 1951

Maj Frank S. Hoffecker (Actg.) 28 Jul 1951-31 Jul 1951

LtColJamesB. Moore lAug 1951- 30 Nov 1951

LtColJohn S. Payne 1 Dec 1951- 26 Feb 1952

Lt Col Darrell 1.). Irwin 27 Feb 1952 - 2 Jun 1952

Maj Henry W. Hise 3 Jun 1952-9 Jun 1952

Maj Kenneth D. Frazier 10 Jun 1952 - 25 Jun 1952

Lt Col William J. Sims 26 Jun 1952 -23 Sep 1952

Maj Walter R. Bartosh 24 Sep 1952 - 30 Sep 1952

LtCol Arthur H. Adams 1 Oct 1952-31 Jan 1953

LtColFrancisK. Coss IFeb 1953-20Apr1953

Lt Col Arthur M. Moran 21 Apr 1953-31 May 1953

Lt Col Bernard McShane 1 Jun 1953 - 20 Aug 1953

Lt Col Martin E.W. Oelrich 21 Aug 1953 - 28 Feb 1954

Lt Col Edward K. Peciersen 1 Mar 1954 - 20 Jun 1954

Lt Col Michael R. Yunck 21 Jun 1954- 25 Nov 1954

Ma; Manning T. Jannell 26 Nov 1954- 20 Jun 1955

Lt Col James E. Johnson 21 Jun 1955 - 5 Jun 1956

Lt Col Harold L. Lantz 6 Jun 1956 - 11 May 1957

Lt Col Murray M. Staples 12 May 1957 - 24 Jun 1957

63
Lt Cot Robert E. Smith, Jr. 25 Jun 1957-7 Aug 1958

Maj/Lt Cot David D. Rickabaugh 8 Aug 1958- 8 Jul 1959

Lt Cot Paul A. Lemarie, Jr 9 Jul1959 -20 Jan 1960

Lt Col Ray D. Rushtow 21 Jan 1960- 29 Mar 1962

Lt Cot Harry Hunter, Jr 30 Mar 1962- 8 Jul 1963

Lt Cot William L. Walker 9 Jul1963 - 16 Apr A964

Lt Col Bernard J. Stender 17 Apr 1964 - 25 Nov 965

Lt Cot Jack W. Harris 26 Nov 1965 -20 May 1966

Lt Cot Paul G. McMahon 21 May 1966- 5 Dc 1966

Lt Cot Roger A. Morris 6 Dec 1966- 7 Jun 1967

Maj Eugene Lichtenwatter 8 Jun 1967 - 25 Aug 1967

LtCol EdgarK. Jacks 26 Aug 1967-21 5tp 1967

LtCol Richard B. Taber 22 Sep 1967-10 Mar 1968

Lt Cot Norman B. McCrary 11 Mar 1968 - 24 Sep 196S

Lt Cot Charles 0. Hiett 25 Sep 1968- 30 Apr 1969

Lt Cot David A. Kelly 1 May 1969- 24 Nov 1969

Lt Cot Arthur R. Hickle 25 Nov 1969-31 May 1970

Lt Cot James M. Bannan 1 Jun 1970- 10 Oct 1970

Lt Col Jerome T. Hagan 11 Oct 1970- 24 Jun 1971

Lt Cot Karlton L. Batt 30 Jun 1971 - 13 Mar 1972

Lt Cot Kevin M. Johnston 14 Mar 1972 -6 Sep 1972

Lt Cot John J. Caldas, Jr 7 Sep 1972- 12 Jul1973

Lt Cot John H. Miller 13 Jul1973 -5 Jun 1974

LtCol Ralph K. Park 6Jun 1974-31 Aug 1974

Lt Cot Bruce B. Rutherford 1 Sep 1974 - 20 Jun 1975

LtCol Dorsie D. Page, Jr 21 Jun 1975 -4 Feb 1977

LtCol Albert J. Ransom 5 Feb 1977 -

64
Appendix C

STREAMER ENTITLEMENTS

PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION STREAMER WITH TWO BRONZE STARS

Okinawa, 4 Apr-14 Jul1945

Korea, 8 Mar-30 Apr 1951, 18 May-30 Jun 1951, 3 Aug-29 Sep 1951

Vietnam, 1 Jun-15 Dec 1965, 15 Feb 1966-15 Sep 1967

ARMY DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION STREAMER

Korea, 22 Nov-14 Dec 1950

NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION STREAMER WITH ONE SILVER AND TWO BRONZE STARS

Korea, 1 Aug 1952-27 Jul 1953

Vietnam, 18-23 Aug 1965

Vietnam, 7 May 1965-15 Apr 1966

Vietnam, 15 Sep 1967-31 Mar 1968

Vietnam, 1 Apr 1968-31 Mar 1969

Vietnam, 12 Feb-i Jun 1970

Vietnam, 1 Nov 1970-7 May 1971

Vietnam, 17 May-31 Dec 1972

ASIATIC-PACIFIC STREAMER WITH THREE BRONZE STARS

Marshall Islands, 7-8 Feb 1944

Okinawa, 2 Apr-3OJun 1945

Third Fleet Operations Against Japan, 22 Jul 1945

WORLD WAR II VICTORY STREAMER

1 Dec 1942-31 Dec 1946

NAVY OCCUPATION SERVICE STREAMER WITH ASIA CLASP

Japan, 30 Sep 1945-20 Jun 1946

NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE STREAMER WITH ONE BRONZE STAR

27 Jun 1950-27 Jul 1954

1 Jan 1961-15 Aug 1974

KOREAN SERVICE STREAMER WITH ONE SILVER AND THREE BRONZE STARS

Communist China Aggression, 10 Dec 1950-24 Jan 1951

First U.N. Counteroffensive, 25 Jan-21 Apr 1951

Communist China Spring Offensive, 22 Apr-8 Jul1951

U. N. Summer-Fall Offensive, 9 Jul-27 Nov 1951

2d Korean Winter, 28 Nov 1951-30 Apr 1952

Korean Defense, Summer-Fall, 1952, 1 May-30 Nov 1952

3d Korean Winter, 1 Dec 1952-30 Apr 1953

Korea, Summer-Fall, 1953, 1 May-27 Jul1953

VIETNAM SERVICE STREAMER WITH TWO SILVER AND FOUR BRONZE STARS

Vietnam Defense Campaign, 24 May-8 Dec 1965

Vietnamese Counteroffensive Campaign, 15 Feb-30 Jun 1966

Vietnamese Counteroffensive, Phase II, 1 Jul 1966-1 Mar 1967

Vietnamese Counteroffensive, Phase III, 4 Jun 1967-29 Jan 1968

Tet Counteroffensive, 30 Jan-i Apr 1968

65
Vietnamese Counteroffensive, Phase IV, 2 Apr-30 Jun 1968

Vietnamese Counteroffensive, Phase V, 1 Jul-i Nov 1968

Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase VI, 2 Nov 1968-22 Feb 1969

Tet 69/Counteroffensive, 23 Feb-8 Jun i969

Vietnam, Summer-Fall 1969, 9 Jun-31 Oct i969

Vietnam, Winter-Spring 1970, 1 Nov 1969-30 Apr i970

Sanctuary Counteroffensive, 1 May-30 Jun 1970

Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase VII, i Jul 1970-11 May 1971

Vietnam Ceasefire Campaign, 18 May i972-28 Jan 1973

KOREAN PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION STREAMER

9 Dec 1950-11 Jun 1953

VIETNAM CROSS OF GALLANTRY WITH PALM

24 May 1965-20 Sep 1969

VIETNAM MERITORIOUS UNIT CITATION CIVIL ACTIONS STREAMER

21 Sep 1969-20 Nov 1970

66
Appendix D

SQUADRON INSIGNIA

Appendix D

The Tomcat first appeared on VMA- 311 aircraft after

the Korean War. Although individual artists have

made minor changes in the design, the basic idea

is unchanged. The elements of the insignia are:

the cat,which naturally represts the Tomcats;

a bomb which signifies that the squadron

flew bomb missions in both World War II

,_and Korea; the flames coming from the bomb

symbolize that 311 was one

of the first Marine

jet squadrons and

the first to fly

jets in combat; the

patch on the cat's derriere

to signify frequent relocations and

''kicking around''; and the heart

developed from the matrix

letters WL, which were

phonetically pronounced

as William Love

and caused the squadron to

become known as Willy Lovers.

Versions of the Tomcat insignia

pictured here are (clockwise from the center):

—The head of the Tomcat was adopted as the

official squadron patch in 1961.

—A recent insignia shows the Tomcat

with a sharpened claw out and ready for attack.

—The current version in which the Tomcat rides

with both paws on the bomb.

—A version almost identical with the original.

The difference is that the cat is on a bomb,

whcre the original had him riding a stovepipe with

a bomb attached.

—A version in which the matrix letters WI. share space

on an A-4 Skyhawk with a battlehardened Tomcat poised

kiranew fight.

67

The squadron insignia of VMA -311 is shown on

the back cover. For a detailed history of the insignia

and other illustrations see Appendix D.