U.S.A. Marine A-4 Skyhawk Units
And
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The Unit Duty Officer (SDO) is the unit contact point, who communicates
with former unit members about unit information, pictures, scuttlebutt,
and gathers information about former unit buddies. For your unit please
contact the Unit SDO as listed
here. If you are interested in becoming a Unit SDO, please
contact the SDO-C.
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Douglas Poster courtesy of Gary Verver
MARINE AIR GROUP (MAG), with Headquarters and
Maintenance Squadrons (H&MS) and Marine Aviation Logistics
Squadrons (MALS).
MAG-32
H&MS-32 Bandits
MALS-32 |
MAG-41
Det A Memphis |
MAG-42
H&MS-42 Flying Gators
MALS-42 |
MAG-46
Det B Alameda
Det South Weymouth |
MARINE ATTACK SQUADRONS:
VMA-324
Vagabonds / Devil Dogs MAG 32
MCAS Beaufort, SC.,
MCAS Yuma, AZ |
VMA-331
Bumblebees
MCAS Opa Loca, Miami Fl., MCAS Beaufort, SC. |
MARINE TRAINING SQUADRONS:
MARINE CORPS AIR STATIONS:
(Skyhawks used on a limited basis)
Station Operations
and Engineering Squadron (SOES)
AES-12 (Aircraft Engineering Squadron)
MCAS Quantico VA.
HU-2
NAS Lakehurts, NJ.
This Skyhawk
Association website page is dedicated to:
Colonel
Gregory "Pappy" Boyington, United States Marine Corps.
Medal of Honor holder, Marine Aviator and AVG
Flying Tiger Pilot.
Also awarded the Navy Cross.
- Rank and organization: Major, United States
Marine Corps Reserve, Marine Squadron 214.
- Place and date: Central Solomons area, from 12
September 1943 to 3 January 1944.
- Entered service at: Washington.
- Born: 4 December 1912, Coeur D'Alene, Idaho.
Citation
For extraordinary heroism and valiant devotion to duty as commanding
officer of Marine Fighting Squadron 214 in action against enemy
Japanese forces in the Central Solomons area from 12 September 1943 to
3 January 1944.
Consistently outnumbered throughout successive hazardous flights over
heavily defended hostile territory, Major Boyington struck at the enemy
with daring and courageous persistence, leading his squadron into
combat with devastating results to Japanese shipping, shore
installations, and aerial forces.
Resolute in his efforts to inflict crippling damage on the enemy, Major
Boyington led a formation of 24 fighters over Kahili on 17 October and,
persistently circling the airdrome where 60 hostile aircraft were
grounded, boldly challenged the Japanese to send up planes. Under his
brilliant command, our fighters shot down 20 enemy craft in the ensuing
action without the loss of a single ship.
A superb airman and determined fighter against overwhelming odds, Major
Boyington personally destroyed 26 of the many Japanese planes shot down
by his squadron and, by his forceful leadership, developed the combat
readiness in his command which was a distinctive factor in the Allied
aerial achievements in this vitally strategic area.
Colonel Boyington was the total victor in many more than twenty-six
aerial combats during World War II in the Pacific and Asia. "Pappy"
Boyington was finally shot down and captured. As a prisoner of war
Colonel Boyington suffered brutal and horrible prolonged torture at the
hands of the Japanese before being released at war's end. Colonel
Boyington died of cancer January 12, 1988.
Pappy
in Nam
This
Skyhawk Association website page is also dedicated to:
First Lieutenant Ronald D. Layton United States Marine Corps.
R.D. Layton was commissioned on 01 SEPT 1966 after completing OCS at
Quantico. After flight training, he shipped out to Vietnam in SEPT 1968
and was stationed at Chu Lai with VMA-211.
On April 4, 1969 First
Lieutenant Ronald D. Layton, flying a VMA-211 A-4 Skyhawk
against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam, was shot down and killed
by enemy ground fire. His actions during this mission earned him the
Distinguished Flying Cross.
"For heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight while
serving as a Pilot with Marine Fighter/Attack Squadron 211, Marine
Aircraft Group Twelve, First Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with
operations against the enemy of the Republic of Vietnam. Early on the
afternoon of 4 April 1969, First Lieutenant Layton launched as Section
Leader of a flight of two A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to destroy an
enemy staging area seventeen miles southwest of DaNang in Quang Nam
Province. Arriving over the designated area, he found that visibility
was extremely poor due to a heavy ground haze and that friendly units
were within 300 meters of the target. Effectively coordinating with the
Ground Forward Air Controller, he skillfully maneuvered his aircraft on
the initial pass against the hostile position and delivered his
ordnance with pinpoint accuracy, causing numerous fires. Undaunted by
the threat of enemy fire and the smoke and haze which nearly
obliterated the target, he completely disregarded his own safety as he
fearlessly maneuvered his Skyhawk into the hazardous area a second time
and released his rockets with devastating effectiveness against the
hostile position. As his A-4 began its climb out of the dangerous area,
it came under intense hostile ground fire and sustained severe battle
damage, forcing the aircraft to crash and fatally injuring First
Lieutenant Layton. First Lieutenant Layton’s courage, resolute
determination and unfaltering devotion to duty were in keeping with the
highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval
Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country."
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