VMFA ( AW ) - 224 Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224 ( VMFA ( AW ) - 224 ) is a United States Marine Corps F / A - 18 Hornet squadron . Also known as the " Fighting Bengals " , 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 ) . Mission . Attack and destroy surface targets , day or night , under the weather ; conduct multi - sensor imagery reconnaissance ; provide supporting arms coordination ; and intercept and destroy enemy aircraft under all - weather conditions . History . World War II . Marine Fighter Squadron 224 ( VMF - 224 ) was commissioned on May 1 , 1942 at Naval Air Station Barbers Point , Hawaii . Flying Grumman F4F Wildcats , the Bengals entered World War II as part of the Cactus Air Force stationed on Henderson Field , Guadalcanal . Led by Medal of Honor recipient Maj Robert Galer , the squadron accounted for over sixty Japanese aircraft being destroyed in less than two months . The squadron also conducted close air support ( CAS ) missions while under constant attack from Japanese naval , air , and ground forces . VMF - 224 ’ s contributed significantly to the American victory during the Guadalcanal Campaign , which in turn , helped stem the tide of the Japanese advance across the Southern Pacific and secured a crucial foothold in the long island - hopping campaign against Japan . After Guadalcanal , the squadron was refitted with the Vought F4U Corsair and participated in the Marshall Islands Campaign . The spring of 1945 found VMF - 224 participating in the last great battle of the Pacific Campaign . During the Battle of Okinawa the squadron operated initially from Yomitan and then from 1 July from Chimu Airfield . Throughout the struggle for Okinawa , the Bengals flew infantry support and counter air missions accounting for an additional fifty - five enemy aircraft being destroyed . 1950s - 1970s . The squadron entered the jet era in 1951 with the acceptance of the F2H - 2 Banshee . In 1952 , after completing a Mediterranean Cruise aboard the USS Roosevelt , the squadron accepted the Grumman F9F Panther , and was re - designated Marine Attack Squadron 224 ( VMA - 224 ) . On September 29 , 1956 , the squadron became the first Marine unit to field the A4D Skyhawk aircraft . In 1965 , the Bengals deployed to South Vietnam as part of the United States ' buidup during the Vietnam War . For nearly a year the Bengals operated their “ Scooters ” from the expeditionary field at Chu Lai . On November 1 , 1966 , the squadron acquired the Grumman A - 6 Intruder and was re - designated as Marine All Weather Attack Squadron 224 ( VMA ( AW ) - 224 ) . In 1971 , the Bengals deployed to the South China Sea aboard the USS Coral Sea ( CV - 43 ) . As part of Carrier Air Wing 15 , the squadron completed six line periods on Yankee Station and participated in numerous operations including the historic Operation Pocket Money mining of Hai Phong Harbor . The Gulf War & the 1990s . The Bengals deployed to Southwest Asia , on August 28 , 1990 . Operating from Shaikh - Isa Air Base , Bahrain the squadron participated in Operation Desert Shield . From January 16 , to February 28 , 1991 , the Bengals participated in Operation Desert Storm , expending more than 2 . 3 million pounds of ordnance during 422 combat sorties . Shortly after their return to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point , North Carolina , on May 24 , 1992 , the Bengals celebrated their 50th anniversary . Less than a year later on March 5 , 1993 , the squadron was re - designated VMFA ( AW ) - 224 and moved to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort , South Carolina where the Bengals received the multi - mission F / A - 18D Hornet . From April to September 1994 the Bengals deployed to Aviano , Italy , as part of the United Nations force for Operation Deny Flight and Operation Provide Promise in Bosnia - Herzegovina . The squadron flew 1150 sorties for 3485 flight hours including 1150 night hours . The Marines of VMFA ( AW ) - 224 again deployed to Aviano , Italy in September 1995 , as part of NATO Operation Deliberate Force and Operation Joint Endeavor . Global War on Terror . On January 11 , 2005 , VMFA ( AW ) - 224 deployed to Al Asad Airbase , Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom ( OIF ) . While in support of OIF , the Bengals employed 65 , 225 lb of ordnance and flew over 2500 sorties and 7000 hours in direct support of Marine , Army and Coalition ground units . Misc . On March 12 , 2010 an F / A - 18D Hornet from the squadron crashed 35 miles off the coast of St . Helena Sound north of Beaufort due to an engine fire . The pilot and Weapons Systems Officer were able to safely eject .