VMFA - 115 Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115 ( VMFA - 115 ) is a United States Marine Corps F / A - 18 Hornet squadron . Officially nicknamed the " Silver Eagles " and on occasion " Joe ' s Jokers " after their first commanding officer Major Joe Foss , the squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort , South Carolina and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 31 ( MAG - 31 ) and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing ( 2nd MAW ) . The squadron has seen combat during World War II , the Korean and Vietnam War s and has deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and most recently in 2008 finished up a deployment to Al Asad Airbase in western Iraq . The Squadron radio callsign is " " Blade " " Mission . Intercept and destroy enemy aircraft under all - weather conditions and attack and destroy surface targets . History . World War II . Marine Fighting Squadron 115 ( VMF - 115 ) was organized on July 1 , 1943 at Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara , California , as a F4U Corsair squadron . One of the Marine Corps most famous aces , Major Joseph Foss assumed command 16 days later . The squadron gained the nickname " Joe ' s Jokers " , and in May 1944 joined the Pacific campaign . VMF - 115 was a contributor to the American victory in the Philippines providing close air support , fighter cover , and deep air strikes in Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago . With over 18 , 000 flight hours during 5 , 856 combat sorties , VMF - 115 was credited with shooting down 6½ enemy aircraft while losing 28 aircraft with nine pilots killed in action . To protect U . S . interests after the war and support Marines supervising the surrender of Japan , the squadron deployed to Peking , China . Communist troops began patterns of hostility leading to convoy coverage and " air presence " missions . 31 months after initial deployment , VMF - 115 left the Pacific theater . Korean War . In 1949 , VMF - 115 was the first Marine Corps squadron equipped with Grumman F9F - 2 Panther jets , and on November 20 , 1950 , the first Marine squadron to carrier qualify all 18 pilots aboard the USS " Franklin D . Roosevelt " . The squadron then deployed to Pohang , Korea , for combat operation in February 1952 . In late - June 1952 they participated in the attack on the Sui - ho Dam . Throughout the Korean War , VMF - 115 expended more ordnance than any other Marine jet fighter squadron . A total of 15 , 350 flight hours were logged on 9 , 250 combat sorties with a price of 19 aircraft lost . Six pilots were lost with their aircraft in a single day and a total of 14 pilots were killed in action . Close air support was provided by VMF - 115 in battles such as Bunker Hill , The Hook , Reno , Carson - Elko , Vegas , Berlin , East Berlin , and the Marines famous battle at the Chosin Reservoir . In the spring of 1957 , the squadron received the Marine Corps ' first Douglas F4D - 1 " Skyray " s were redesignated VMF ( AW ) - 115 and deployed to MCAF Mojave for the next six months for testing . Between 1957 and 1964 , the squadron was usually deployed at MCAS Cherry Point ( North Carolina , USA ) . From 19 April 1962 to 27 August 1962 the squadron was deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Independence ( CVA - 62 ) as part of Carrier Air Group Seven ( CVG - 7 ) to the Mediterranean Sea . From October 1962 to February 1963 the squadron was in Guantanamo Bay Cuba in support of the Cuban Crisis . Vietnam War . In 1964 / 65 the squadron transitioned the McDonnell F - 4B " Phantom II " and was redesignated VMFA - 115 . The " Able Eagles " were deployed to Da Nang , Republic of Vietnam on October 14 , 1965 . During the Vietnam War , VMFA - 115 flew more than 34 , 000 combat sorties , providing close air support for Marines during such battles as the Tet Offensive , Battle of Hue , Battle of Khe Sahn , and Task Force Delta . The squadron was awarded the Hanson Trophy in 1971 by the Commandant of the Marine Corps . In March 1971 VMFA - 115 was relocated to Iwakuni , Japan . In April 1972 , the squadron 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 in Operation Linebacker missions over North Vietnam . Post Vietnam . In July 1977 , VMFA - 115 relocated to MCAS Beaufort , South Carolina , and in October 1980 joined Carrier Air Wing 17 ( CVW - 17 ) aboard the USS Forrestal ( CVA - 59 ) . During this cruise VMFA - 115 participated in Cold War missions such as intercepting and escorting various Soviet aircraft . After flying Phantoms for more than 20 years , VMFA - 115 began the transition to the F / A - 18A Hornet on January 1 , 1985 , and officially stood up with 14 aircraft on August 16 , 1985 . The following year , the squadron became officially known as the " Silver Eagles . ” In July 1987 , VMFA - 115 returned to the Western Pacific to participate in the Unit Deployment Program ( UDP ) at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni , Japan . The squadron was recognized for superior maintenance , receiving the Secretary of Defense Phoenix Award for Maintenance Excellence , and earned the Hanson Award as Marine Corps Fighter Squadron of the Year for both 1987 and 1988 . This was the first time a Marine Fighter Squadron had won the Hanson Award two consecutive years . In 1989 , VMFA - 115 returned to the Philippines and supported government forces during a coup attempt there . The squadron flew armed combat air patrol and escort missions , helping to stabilize the situation . The squadron ’ s efforts were recognized again as the coveted Hanson Award became a “ Silver Eagle ” possession in 1990 for the third time in four years . During the years from 1991 to 2000 , the “ Silver Eagles ” conducted numerous six - month deployments in support of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing as part of the Western Pacific Unit Deployment Program ( UDP ) . Global War on Terror . Nearing the end of 2001 , the squadron was once again designated a carrier squadron . This coincided with the first delivery of the F / A - 18A + aircraft modification . After qualifying all personnel for carrier operations the squadron deployed with Carrier Air Wing 3 ( CVW - 3 ) aboard USS " Harry S . Truman " in October 2002 . In March 2003 , the Silver Eagles fought against Iraqi forces as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom , delivering more than 150 tons of ordnance . In October 2004 , the squadron again deployed with CVW - 3 aboard " Truman " for Operation Iraqi Freedom , providing close air support and overhead security in support of Iraq ’ s historic democratic elections . In July 2006 , VMFA - 115 returned to the Western Pacific for the first time since 2000 to serve under 1st MAW / III Marine Expeditionary Force for a UDP deployment . The Silver Eagles flew training sorties at various locations in Japan and squadron Marines also spent a month at Osan Air Base in South Korea . In February 2008 , VMFA - 115 deployed to Al Asad Airbase , Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom ( OIF ) where they were the Marine Corps ’ first forward - air - controller capable , single - seat F / A - 18 Hornet squadron to deploy to Al Asad . The Squadron returned to MCAS Beaufort on September 17 , 2008 . In September 2009 , the squadron transferred to Marine Aircraft Group 12 as part of the Unit Deployment Program at MCAS Iwakuni with a full complement of twelve F / A - 18A + Hornets .