VMA - 311 Marine Attack Squadron 311 ( VMA - 311 ) is a United States Marine Corps ATTACK squadron consisting of AV - 8B Harrier ( V / STOL ) jets . Known as the " Tomcats " , the squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma , Arizona and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 13 ( MAG - 13 ) and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing ( 3rd MAW ) . History . World War II . Born during the national call - to - arms immediately following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor , Marine Fighting Squadron 311 ( VMF - 311 ) was first commissioned on 1 December 1942 , assigned to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and headquartered at MCAS Cherry Point . Quickly transitioning from a training squadron flying the SNJ Texan to a combat squadron flying the F4U Corsair , VMF - 311 participated in what was one of the earliest American catapult operations involving the Corsair when 21 F4U ’ s launched from the USS Nassau ( CVE - 16 ) on October 6 , 1943 . By this time the squadron formed part of MAG - 31 . During World War II , VMF - 311 was one of the first to utilize and develop tactics for the Corsair in a ground attack mode , foreshadowing the squadron ’ s future role as an attack squadron . Indicative of its combat effectiveness the squadron destroyed 71 Japanese aircraft in a four - month period during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945 . The end of World War II saw VMF - 311 leaving Chimu Airfield on Okinawa to start occupational duty flying from Yokosuka airfield on Japan ' s mainland . 1946 - 1950 . Occupational duty in Japan lasted till May 1946 , when MAG - 31 was notified to prepare for the termination of its Japanese assignment ; VMF - 311 was going home . Between July 1946 and April 1947 the squadron had a sleeping existence and being transferred to MAG - 32 and later MAG - 12 while consisting of one officer , but in 1949 VMF - 311 became the first West Coast Marine jet squadron when it started flying the TO - 1 Shooting Star . Coincidentally the squadron was re - designated Marine Fighter Squadron 311 ( VMF - 311 ) and around that time acquired the code letters WL , phonetically pronounced as " William Love , " but from which also came the nickname " Willy Lovers " . The squadron quickly transitioned to the F9F Panther in October 1949 and found itself once again preparing for war by November 1950 , arriving once again at Yokusuka airfield in Japan . The Korean War , 1950 - 1955 . Arriving in Korea on December 7 , 1950 , VMF - 311 was the first land - based Marine jet squadron to be used in combat providing close air support for the Marines and Soldiers on the ground . In late - June 1952 the squadron participate in the attack on the Sui - ho Dam . Additionally the squadron pioneered strip - alert tactics still practiced today . Legendary pilots during this era included later Astronaut and Senator John Glenn and baseball star Ted Williams . In over 2½ years of action in Korea the squadron amassed 18 , 851 combat sorties . In 1957 , the squadron finally was re - designated Marine Attack Squadron 311 ( VMA - 311 ) . The nickname “ Tomcats ” was also bestowed during this era . Vietnam War . The first A4D - 2 Skyhawk was received by the " Tomcats " in the summer of 1958 , initiating 30 years of Skyhawk service . In May 1965 the squadron , now flying A4Es , deployed to Chu Lai in the Republic of Vietnam and on June 2 , they conducted their first combat mission of the Vietnam War . In August 1965 , VMA - 311 supported the 7th Marine Regiment in Operation Starlite — the first major American operation of the war . After almost eight years of operations in Vietnam the Tomcats totaled 54 , 625 combat sorties before leaving in January 1973 . Among the sortie count was an amazing four - day sortie total of 240 from 5 to 8 May 1968 in support of their fellow marines during the Battle of Khe Sahn . During most of their time they were based at Chu Lai . The squadron flew the last Marine Corps sorties out of Chu Lai on September 11 , 1970 . In May 1972 VMA - 311 once again deployed to Vietnam with MAG - 12 Forward at Bien Hoa , Vietnam . Their final sortie in - country would occur on January 29 , 1973 , a day before they would drop the last ordnance from a Marine A - 4 Skyhawk during the war . VMA - 311 would fly 54 , 625 combat sorties during their time supporting operations in Vietnam , Laos and Cambodia . The Gulf War . In 1988 VMA - 311 received its first AV - 8B Harrier and shortly thereafter headed into harm ’ s way again . On August 11 , 1990 , after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait , VMA - 311 deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield , leading all other Marine fixed - wing squadrons into Saudi Arabia where they were based out of King Abdulaziz Naval Base . While there , the Tomcats were the most forward deployed fixed - wing squadron . On January 17 , 1991 while in support of Operation Desert Storm the squadron became the first to utilize the AV - 8B in combat when a flight of four Harriers destroyed an Iraqi artillery position in support of the Battle of Khafji . During 43 days of air combat operations , Tomcat pilots flew 1 , 017 combat missions and delivered 840 tons of ordnance against enemy targets throughout Kuwait and Southern Iraq . Global War on Terror . On November 3 , 2001 , VMA - 311 Harriers attached to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked aboard the USS " Peleliu " became the first Harriers to fly combat missions in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom . On January 15 , 2003 , the Marines of VMA - 311 deployed to the Northern Persian Gulf as part of Amphibious Task Force West . On March 21 , 2003 , almost 59 years to the day after VMF - 311 ’ s first combat sortie in World War II , the Tomcats flew their first combat sortie of Operation Iraqi Freedom . During the war they flew over 550 sorties while dropping 77 tons of precision ordnance , destroying or neutralizing 132 Iraqi targets while operating from two amphibious assault carriers , the USS " Bonhomme Richard " and the USS " Tarawa " . The Tomcats returned from the Persian Gulf on July 24 , 2003 . In 2008 , they later deployed in support of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit , while simultaneously sending a detachment of Marines and Harriers to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom . These deployments were soon followed in 2010 with deployments again to the 15th MEU , and a Unit Deployment Program to the Pacific region . While there , the Tomcats spent over 2 months aboard the USS Essex with the 31st MEU while participating in the multilateral exercises Cobra Gold 2010 and Balikatan 2010 . VMA - 311 deployed to Camp Bastion , Helmand Province , Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from April to September 2013 . Squadron aces . A flying ace or fighter ace is a naval aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat . The following Marines from VMA - 311 have been credited with more than five victories :