VMA - 331 Marine Attack Squadron 331 ( VMA - 331 ) was an attack squadron in the United States Marine Corps . The squadron , also known as the “ Doodlebugs ” and “ Bumblebees , ” was part of Marine Aircraft Group 32 , 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and were based out of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point . They squadron fought in World War II , the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm . They were deactivated as part of the post Cold War drawdown of the US Military on October 1 , 1992 . History . World War II . Marine Scout Bomber Squadron 331 ( VMSB - 331 ) was formed on January 1 , 1943 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point , North Carolina . On June 1 , 1943 , the squadron ' s personnel and aircraft were divided to form VMSB - 332 . Also in June of that year they were moved and became the first squadron to arrive at Bogue Field , North Carolina . This was followed by a move to San Diego in September to prepare for movement to the South Pacific . The squadron deployed overseas , finally arriving at Nukufetau on November 15 , 1943 . They operated from that island during the invasion of the Gilbert Islands . On November 30 , 1943 they sent a detachment to Tarawa to aid in patrol operations until December 26 , 1943 . In October 1944 , the squadron was redesignated Marine Fighter Bomber Squadron 331 ( VMBF - 331 ) , but they reverted to VMSB - 331 on December 30 , 1944 . The squadron remained the Pacific and carried out air strikes against by - passed Japanese positions in the Marshall Islands for the remainder of the war . Following the war , VMSB - 331 returned to the United States in October 1945 and were deactivated quickly thereafter on November 21 , 1945 . 1950s and early 1960s . In 1959 , VMA - 331 was the last squadron in the Marine Corps to deploy overseas while flying the A - 4D " Skyhawk " . VMA - 331 deployed to Guantanamo Bay , Cuba during the Bay of Pigs Invasion and Roosevelt Roads , Puerto Rico during the blockade of Cuba . Two Skyhawks were lost during a two plane section take - off the day the squadron left MCAS Beaufort for the Caribbean . A very gusty cross - wind blew the lead aircraft into the wingman . At Guantanamo Bay , a Skyhawk making a low - level practice gunnery run hit the base perimeter fence . Another Skyhawk had a flameout when turning base on approach into Beaufort , South Carolina . Vietnam War . The squadron made five deployments to Republic of Vietnam in support of combat operations during the Vietnam War . Three times they were based out of Chu Lai and once each they were stationed at Da Nang and Bein Hoa . In 1972 , the squadron received its first A - 4M , replacing the A - 4E . 1980s , the Gulf War and deactivation . On January 25 , 1985 , VMA - 331 became the first fully operational AV - 8B Harrier II in Marine Corps service . The squadron deployed on the USS " Nassau " ( LHA - 4 ) to the Persian Gulf and eventually flew 243 sorties , dropping 256 tons of ordnance , and became the first Marine Attack Squadron to conduct combat operations from a Landing Helicopter Assault ship . While supporting Operation Desert Storm , an AV - 8B Harrier II from the squadron was shot down by an SA - 7 over Safwan , Iraq on February 27 , 1991 . The pilot , Capt Reginald C . Underwood , was killed in action .