VMFA - 232 Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 ( VMFA - 232 ) is a United States Marine Corps F / A - 18 Hornet squadron . Nicknamed the " Red Devils " , the squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar , California and fall under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 11 ( MAG - 11 ) and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing ( 3rd MAW ) . The Red Devils are the oldest and most decorated fighter squadron in the Marine Corps . History . The early years . VMFA - 232 can trace its lineage back to VF - 3M , which was commissioned on September 1 , 1925 , at Naval Air Station San Diego , California . Originally equipped with Vought VE - 7 s , the squadron received three of the new Boeing FB - 1s in the first part of 1926 , allowing them to operate one division of modern aircraft while retaining the older VE - 7s for training purposes . With the civil war in China threatening American interests , it was decided to deploy U . S . forces and in November and December 1926 , seven additional FB - 1s were transferred to VF - 3M from VF - 1M and VF - 2M on the east coast , bringing the squadron ' s complement to 10 FB - 1s . As diplomacy and planning was taking place on the international level , the squadron concentrated on familiarizing itself with their new aircraft and training the influx of new pilots . On April 7 , 1927 , VF - 3M departed San Diego bound for China , but upon arrival , no airfield was available for operations . After waiting in the Philippines for almost two months , the squadron returned to China and eventually operated from airfields at Tientsin and Hsin - Ho , where they supported the 3rd Brigade . Shortly after setting up camp and starting flight operations , the squadron was redesignated VF - 10M on July 1 , 1927 , the first of many changes in designation caused by the reorganization of naval aviation assets . The mission to China demonstrated that Marine Aviation was vital to the expeditionary role Marine forces were called on to perform and the squadron performed photography , mapping and reconnaissance missions while deployed . Another change in designation occurred while the squadron was still in China , when on July 1 , 1928 , the squadron was redesignated VF - 6M . With its mission in China completed , the squadron withdrew on October 3 , 1928 , arriving back at San Diego on October 31 , 1928 , after stops at Guam and Hawaii . With its return to San Diego , most of the squadron ' s personnel were transferred to other units and the next year was spent re - organizing and training new personnel as they arrived . In addition to new pilots , several Boeing FB - 5s were assigned to the squadron in 1929 , the last of the in - line aircraft to be used by Marine squadrons . On July 1 , 1930 the squadron was again re - designated , this time reverting to VF - 10M , but the most noticeable change was the replacement of the FB - 5s with Curtiss F6C - 4s , the first radial engine fighters the squadron would be assigned . The squadron would operate the F6C - 4s for over two years and be awarded the Herbert H . Schiff Cup for aviation safety before they were replaced by factory - fresh Boeing F4B - 4s in late 1932 , the most advanced biplane fighter in service at that time . In 1932 , it was determined that Marine Aviation should be provided with two light bombing squadrons , and on July 1 , 1933 , VF - 10M became VB - 4M , and was re - equipped with Boeing F4B - 3s , a move considered a step back by members of the squadron . Participation in the Los Angeles National Air Races and annual Fleet Exercises were part of the routine that marked the squadron ’ s activity in the early 1930s . In 1935 , the squadron received 16 Great Lakes BG - 1s , large two - place dive bombers that would equip the squadron for over five years . On July 1 , 1937 , Marine aviation was completely reorganized to conform to Navy requirements , and VB - 4M became VMB - 2 . Still flying the BG - 1 , the squadron continued to take part in the annual Fleet Exercises , and in December 1940 , the squadron began receiving the new Douglas SBD - 1 , the first mono - plane in Marine Corps service . Arrival of the SBD also marked the first time that the Red Devil insignia was not carried on the squadron ' s aircraft , even though it was authorized to do so . World War II . With the tension in the Pacific increasing , VMB - 2 was deployed to Marine Corps Air Station Ewa , Oahu , Hawaii . Early 1941 also saw the transition from the colorful pre - war scheme to the tactical , and less colorful light grey scheme , but still the Red Devil insignia was absent . On July 1 , 1941 , in anticipation of the large expansion Marine Aviation was about to undergo , VMB - 2 became VMSB - 232 , the designation it carried during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor during which one member of the squadron was killed and nine of the squadrons aircraft were destroyed , with ten more requiring major overhaul . On Wake Island , a Red Devil detachment suffered twenty five enlisted Marines killed or captured while assisting in the defense of the doomed island . On August 20 , 1942 , the squadron became part of the Cactus Air Force . and flew SBD Dauntless es from Guadalcanal ' s 3 , 000 - foot dirt runway Henderson Field . The Red Devils became the first Marine dive bomber squadron to fly against the Japanese . They left Guadalcanal on October 12 , 1942 and headed for Marine Corps Air Station El Toro , California where they were redesignated yet again as Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 232 ( VMTB - 232 ) , flying newly acquired Grumman TBF Avenger s . They returned to the Pacific in July 1943 when they were originally based out of Espiritu Santo . From there they moved to Munda in order to support allied forces during the Bougainville landings in November 1943 . For the next few months the squadron participated in strkies against the isolated Japanese garrison at Rabaul . On February 14 , 1944 , Avengers from VMTB - 232 and VMTB - 233 took part in a mission to sow mines in Simpson Harbor at Rabaul . The TBMs were to fly up in three groups of eight each at the slow speed of 160 knots to drop their parachute - mines , weighing 1 , 600 pounds a piece . The first group lost one plane . The commanding officer tried to radio the other TBFs to warn them to turn back but he couldn ' t make radio contact . The second group lost two planes . The third group was immediately found by searchlight and anti - aircraft guns while flying at 800 feet over the water and had five aircraft shotdown . A total of six planes and eighteen men were lost during the attack . Four of the eighteen men survived the loss of the six TBF ' s that evening . Of the four , none survived captivity . One was murdered at Tunnel Hill , two died of starvation / disease / medical neglect , and a fourth was murdered by the Japanese Navy some time in April . The next few months would see them move continuously , operating from Piva , Green Island , Emirau and Ulithi . VMTB - 232 landed at Kadena on April 22 , 1945 and began flying close air support missions 3 days later and for the rest of the Battle of Okinawa . In July 1945 they began to fly strikes against the Japanese mainland until the surrender of Japan . The price of victory did not come cheaply . During its participation in operations throughout World War II , VMTB - 232 lost forty nine Marines and seventeen aircraft . On November 16 , 1945 , the squadron , one of the few to earn two presidential citations during the war , arrived at San Diego , and was temporarily decommissioned . 1950s . On June 3 , 1948 the Red Devils were reactivated as a reserve fighter squadron at NAS Bennet Field , New York , with the name it currently holds ; Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 . With the outbreak of hostilities in Korea , the squadron was placed on alert and ordered to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro , California . Here , the squadron received its first delivery of the F4U Corsair . Although the unit itself did not deploy to Korea , by April 1951 nearly all the original aviators and forty percent of the enlisted Marines in the squadron had been detached and sent overseas for combat duty . In March 1953 , the Red Devils transitioned to the jet age with the receipt of the Grumman F9F Panther . In 1954 , homebase for 232 was changed from MCAS El Toro , to Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay , Hawaii , where they flew the FJ Fury , the " Navalized " version of the F - 86 Sabre . In March 1956 , the Red Devils , VMF 232 set a " till that time " record of 2558 flight hours and 1571 sorties in one month . The Red Devils moved to the final version of the Fury , the FJ - 4 from ' 56 - ' 59 . VMF 232 was deployed to Westpac on the USS " Bennington " during the Quemoy Matsu Crisis in the fall of 1958 and later was stationed at Naval Air Facility Atsugi . That year the squadron flew over 10 , 000 hours and was named by the Commandant , the Marine Fighter Squadron of the Year . In 1958 the squadron returned from Japan to transition into the F - 8 Crusader . Vietnam War . As a result of intensified operations in Southeast Asia , VMF ( AW ) - 232 departed MCAS Kaneohe Bay , and were flying combat sorties out of Danang , South Vietnam by December 1966 . Staying online for the next 290 consecutive days , the Red Devils flew 5 , 785 sorties encompassing 7 , 273 flight hours and delivering 6 , 221 tons of ordnance . The squadron ' s aircraft were equipped with TPQ - 10 bombing radar receivers thus making them ideal close air support platforms . They were also the only Marine aircraft capable of carrying 2 , 000 - pound bombs until the arrival of Marine A - 6 Intruder s . In September 1967 , the squadron returned to MCAS El Toro and painted the Red Devil insignia on their new McDonnell Douglas F - 4 Phantom s . Redesignated as Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 , the squadron returned to MCAS Iwakuni , Japan . In March 1969 , the squadron deployed to MAG 13 in Chu Lai , Vietnam , supporting ground operations in I Corps . They returned to Iwakuni in late 1969 . In April 1972 , the entire squadron redeployed from Japan to Vietnam with minimum notice to counter the spring offensive of that year . After a three - month stay at DaNang , VMFA - 232 moved its operations to Royal Thai Air Base Nam Phong , Thailand . Here they continued to fly air to ground sorties in addition to playing a key fighter role on Operation Linebacker missions over North Vietnam . During their time operating out of Thailand , the squadron lost three F - 4J Phantoms and two crewman . One of these aircraft was shot down by a MiG - 21 over North Vietnam . The only " last " in VMFA - 232 ' s history occurred in September 1973 as the Red Devils became the last Marine squadron to leave the Vietnam War . The squadron remained at MCAS Iwakuni , Japan as a force in readiness while participating in numerous training deployments and exercises . In 1974 , the Red Devils received the coveted Robert M . Hanson " Marine Fighter Attack Squadron of the Year " award . In October 1977 , the Red Devils of VMFA - 232 returned to MCAS Kaneohe Bay , Hawaii , after an eleven - year absence . This event , in turn , marked the beginning of Red Devils participation in the demanding Westpac Unit Deployment Program . In October 1986 , the Red Devils completed their sixth , and last six - month tour of the Western Pacific in the venerable F - 4 Phantom . In December 1988 , VMFA - 232 turned in their last F - 4 Phantom II to the National Air and Space Museum . 1980s and 1990s . In early 1989 , the Red Devils began their transition to the F / A - 18 Hornet . Aircrew trained at VMFAT - 101 at MCAS El Toro and the maintenance department at FRAMP in Lemoore , California . In June 1989 , with return of aircrew and maintenance personnel to Kaneohe Bay , Hawaii , and receipt of their twelfth Hornet , the Red Devils had completed the transition . In December 1990 , with intensification of Operation Desert Shield , the squadron deployed to Shaikh Isa , Bahrain . On January 17 , 1991 , the Red Devils were among the first to cross the Iraqi border during Operation Desert Storm . After 41 days of intense combat operations , Kuwait was liberated as the Red Devils completed 740 combat missions and 1 , 390 hours . For their outstanding performance in Southwest Asia , VMFA - 232 received the Navy Unit Commendation . Returning to Hawaii in April 1991 , the squadron spent four short months at home before they were again deployed to Westpac . Upon completion of their Westpac deployment in July 1993 , the squadron stopped briefly at MCAS Kaneohe Bay en route to their new home at MCAS El Toro , California , ending a sixteen - year absence . In October 1993 , a significant milestone was reached when members of the Hornet Industry Team presented the squadron with a plaque honoring the Red Devils for achieving 50 , 000 accident free flight hours . This achievement spans almost 13 years of flying in the F - 4 and F / A - 18 . The squadron returned to Iwakuni in February 1996 and began what was to be a most memorable WestPac . While deployed to WestPac , the squadron achieved two impressive milestones . The squadron was honored as it received both the 1995 Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award as they surpassed 66 , 000 hours and 17 years of mishap free flying , and the 1996 Marine Corps Aviation Association ' s , Marine Fighter Attack Squadron of the Year Award . VMFA - 232 returned to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in August 1996 . Global War on Terror . The squadron deployed to Kuwait in January 2003 and took part in the 2003 invasion of Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom . During the three and a half weeks of the war the squadron flew 1 , 150 hours during 540 sorties dropping 620 , 000 pounds of ordnance . The squadron returned to MCAS Miramar in April 2003 . In 2005 , VMFA - 232 became part of the United States Navy ' s Carrier Air Wing 11 . In May 2005 they deployed with the rest of CVW - 11 aboard the USS " Nimitz " to the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf , participating in combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom , Operation Enduring Freedom , and multinational exercises with Japan , Egypt , and India until November 2005 . Early in the " Nimitz " deployment , several of the squadron members were interviewed for the PBS documentary " Carrier " . In 2007 the squadron deployed on the Nimitz again for a six - month cruise to the Persian Gulf . Four months later they did another WestPac deployment on the Nimitz . In January 2010 VMFA - 232 accepted two F / A - 18D Hornet aircraft and left in May 2010 for a deployment to Kandahar , Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom . While in Afghanistan the Red Devils flew 4 , 090 Flight hours encompassing 1190 sorties and dropped 240 , 000 lbs of ordnance and expended 30 , 000 rounds of 20mm ammunition . They returned to MCAS Miramar in November 2010 .