page_title: List of decommissioned United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons
section_title: Marine Observation Squadrons
hierarchical_section_title: List of decommissioned United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons / Decommissioned squadrons / Marine Observation Squadrons
caption_attribution_description: A flight deck crewman uses an MD-3A tow tractor to position a North American Rockwell OV-10A Bronco (BuNo 155447) of U.S. Marine Corps observation squadron VMO-1 on the port elevator of the U.S. amphibious assault ship USS Nassau (LHA-4) in 1983. After its retirement this aircraft was leased by the U.S. Department of State to the Colombian national police.
context_page_description: While other nations have Marines who are aviators, only the United States Marine Corps has its own dedicated aviation arm. Most squadrons have changed names and designations many times over the years so they are listed by their final designation.
context_section_description: The Marine observation squadrons were formed during the latter stages of World War II with the primary mission of forward air control of strike aircraft for close air support and air interdiction. They saw extensive service during the Vietnam War flying the North American OV-10 Bronco. The Marine Corps began decommissioning the VMO squadrons following their participation in Operation Desert Storm as turboprop-driven aircraft were being perceived in the wake of that conflict as being too vulnerable to surface-to-air missiles, especially shoulder-launched man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), to fly over modern battlefields. Their mission has been assumed by the VMFA(AW) squadrons flying the F/A-18D Hornet.
caption: OV-10 Bronco of VMO-1
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