VMA-121
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This web page is posthumously dedicated to
fallen members of VMA-121
Please read about them below.



VMF-121 - 194?
Provided by John Gabbard
VMF-121 - 1951
Provided by John Gabbard
VMF-121 - 1951
Provided by John Gabbard

Drawn by Bud Southworth
Courtesy of John Resnowski

Provided by John Gabbard
Source unknown
Drawn by Bud Southworth

Patch
Handle
Heritage
  • 24 JUN 1941 - VMF-121 Established
  • 1969- - - - - Redesignated VMA(AW)-121
  • 08 DEC 1989 - Redesignated VMFA(AW)-121

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Home Ports
  • After WWII: - - - NAS Glenview, IL.
  • 1951: - - - - - - MCAS El Tore, CA.
  • 1957: - - - - - - MCAS El Toro, CA.
  • 1969: - - - - - - MCAS Cherry Point, NC.
  • AUG 1994: - - - - MCAS Miramar, CA.

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Air Wings
  • 1941 - - - - - - - - - - - - 4x: - - Western Pacific
  • 01 DEC 1966 to 03 JUN 1967 - - - - - Assigned to MAG-12
  • 04JUN67 to 04SEP67 - - - - - - - - - Redeployed to Iwakuni Japan
  • 05 SEP 1967 to 31 JAN 1968 - - - - - Assigned to MAG-12
  • Nov 1966 to Oct 1967: - - - - VK - - MCAS Chulai

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Deployments
  • 1941-4x - - - - - - - Western Pacific WWII
  • 1951 to 1957: - - - - Pyongtaek, ROK
  • 1958: - - - - - - - - NAS Cecil Field
  • 1959 to 1960: - - - - WestPac
  • 1960 to 1961: - - - - WestPac
  • Nov 1966 to Oct 1967: MCAS Chu Lai
  • 199x: - - - - - - - - Desert Storm

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Aircraft
Commanding Officers
  • 24 JUN 1941: - - Major S.S. JACK
  • 01 MAR 1942: - - Captain L.K. DAVIS
  • 17 DEC 1942: - - 1st Lt. W.F. WILSON
  • 13 MAR 1943: - - Major D.K. YOST
  • 27 MAR 1943: - - Major J.N. RENNER
  • 15 MAY 1943: - - Captain R.E. BRUCE
  • 24 AUG 1943: - - 1st Lt. H.O. DEFRIES
  • 25 OCT 1943: - - Captain O.B. NELSON
  • 02 DEC 1943: - - Major W.J. MEYER
  • 26 MAY 1945: - - Major C.B. WELSH
  • 13 JUN 1945: - - Major R. TUCKER
  • 01 AUG 1945: - - 1st Lt. R.M. LOUGHERY
  • 01 JUL 1946: - - Major R.S. INGRAM
  • 20 JAN 1948: - - Major R.L. BRYSON
  • 20 APR 1951: - - Lt.Col. A.N. GORDON
  • 19 NOV 1951: - - Major F.P. BARKER
  • 01 DEC 1951: - - Lt. Col. P.B. MAY
  • 15 MAR 1952: - - Lt. Col. W.A. HOUSTON
  • 20 JUN 1952: - - Lt. Col. P.L. CRAWFORD
  • 11 SEP 1952: - - Lt. Col. W.M. CARGILL
  • 07 DEC 1952: - - Lt. Col. R.M. GURZENGA
  • 01 MAR 1953: - - Lt. Col. J.E. HUGHES
  • 21 APR 1953: - - Major R.L. BRAUN
  • 16 JUN 1953: - - Lt. Col. H.B. PENNE
  • 01 JAN 1954: - - Lt. Col. M.E. FLATER
  • 31 MAR 1954: - - Lt. Col. V.H. HUDGINS
  • 04 JUL 1954: - - Major E.K. GRISWOLD
  • 23 JUL 1954: - - Lt. Col. L.E. BONISKE
  • 13 JUN 1955: - - Lt. Col. W.H. RANKIN
  • 01 MAY 1956: - - Lt. Col. E.J. DOYLE
  • 01 SEP 1956: - - Major P.C. DELONG
  • 23 SEP 1956: - - Lt. Col. E.J. DOYLE
  • 02 OCT 1956: - - Major P.C. DELONG
  • 12 OCT 1956: - - Major L.F. CHILDERS
  • 02 DEC 1956: - - Major R.C. DELONG
  • 22 APR 1957: - - Lt. Col. E.W KELLY
  • 11 JUL 1957: - - Major W.D. WILCOX
  • 16 NOV 1957: - - Lt. Col. W.G. JOHNSON
  • 23 SEP 1958: - - Major J.E. DAVIS
  • 10 OCT 1958: - - Lt. Col. T.J. SAXON JR
  • 28 MAY 1960: - - Lt. Col. W.L. TRAYNOR
  • 05 APR 1961: - - Lt. Col. R.E. NELSON
  • 10 APR 1961: - - Lt. Col. R.F. SHIELDS
  • 17 APR 1962: - - Lt. Col. L.M. MCKLESON
  • 19 APR 1963: - - Lt. Col. W.E. SPARLING
  • 00 MAR 1965: - - Lt. Col. H.G. ROBINSON
  • 13 MAY 1966: - - Lt. Col. D.R. STIVER
  • 17 MAR 1967: - - Major F.G. DAWSON (acting)
  • 31 MAR 1967: - - Lt. Col. J.H. MCGEE
  • 25 SEP 1967: - - Lt. Col. R.J. KERN
  • 11 MAR 1968: - - Lt. Col. W.D. SHIPPEN
  • 16 OCT 1968: - - Lt. Col. D.A. LERPS
  • 14 FEB 1969: - - Lt. Col. E.E. JACOBSON JR.
  • 03 JUN 1970: - - Lt. Col. T.P BAKER
  • 11 JUN 1971: - - Lt. Col. E.A. BIRZER
  • 14 JUN 1972: - - Lt. Col. M.T. FOUNTAIN JR.
  • 13 JUN 1973: - - Major G.A. DAVIS
  • 25 JUL 1974: - - Lt. Col. B.G. RUTLEDGE
  • 05 AUG 1975: - - Lt. Col. E.P. CARROLL
  • 18 NOV 1976: - - Lt. Col. J.P. FAULKNER
  • 12 JUN 1978: - - Major W.T. ADAMS
  • 31 AUG 1979: - - Lt. Col. N.E. EBLERT
  • 25 NOV 1980: - - Lt. Col. J.M. WAGNER
  • 15 APR 1982: - - Lt. Col. J.W. RIPPY
  • 21 JUN 1983: - - Lt. Col. S.M. DAY
  • 26 OCT 1984: - - Lt. Col. W.R. MCPHERSON
  • 29 JUL 1986: - - Lt. Col. N.J. WESTON
  • 01 APR 1988: - - Lt. Col. P.G. JACOBS
  • 08 DEC 1989: - - Lt. Col. G.E. ADCOCK
  • 24 SEP 1990: - - Lt. Col. S.F. MUGG
  • 24 JAN 1992: - - Lt. Col. M.R. HUMBERD
  • 01 JUL 1993: - - Lt. Col. D.J. BORJE
  • 16 NOV 1994: - - Lt. Col. P.R. MORIARTY
  • 29 MAR 1996: - - Lt. Col. W.C. MACAK
  • 19 SEP 1997: - - Lt. Col. R.A. SIEGEL
  • 19 MAY 1999: - - Lt. Col. M.L. SAWYERS
  • 20 APR 2001: - - Lt. Col. D.C. MYERS
  • 11 OCT 2002: - - Lt. Col. M. SHIHADEH
  • 25 JUN 2004: - - Lt. Col. F.A. RICHIE
  • 27 JAN 2006: - - Lt. Col. J.A. CRAF
  • 07 DEC 2007: - - Lt. Col. M.T. PALMER

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Events
  • WWII
    Green Knights participated in combat operations as charter members of the "Cactus Air Force" in the Battle of Guadalcanal. The squadron flew from bases at Espirito Santo Island, Turtle Bay, Bougainville, and Emirau. The Squadron produced 14 Fighter Aces including Major Joseph J. Foss (Medal of Honor).

  • After WWII
    Upon moving to NAS Glenview, IL, the unit was changed to VMA-121.

  • 1958:
    First Marine squadron to be fully qualified in special weapons delivery.

  • First Marine squadron to win both the CNO Safety Award and the Commandant's Efficiency Trophy.

  • 1959 (Possibly 30 April)
    • I joined VMA 121 about Nov. of 1958 at El Toro . We were there for about (1) year and rotated to Iwakuni. We rotated back to the US from the Coral Sea about April of 61.

      We also lost two pilots in the US prior to going to Japan , Capt. Kiley and Lt. Fisher. It is my understanding they were making a “GCA” approach into El Toro at night in a dense fog. I was on duty that night. As I recall, Capt. Kiley was flying lead and Lt. Fisher was flying off his left wing when they went in. I was one of two who had guard duty at the crash site after pilot recovery.

      I was one of three parachute riggers with the squadron. Gunny Giffin, Cpl. Martin and myself Cpl Branner.
      Comments From: Ken Branner

    • My name is James A. Coker PFC in VMA-121 from October 1958 'til we returned from the far east in early 1961. I was then assigned to MCAS Buford, SC in VMA-131 before I was discharged in November 1961.
      In regards to the crash that killed Cpt. Kiley and Lt. Fisher, who was called Charlie Brown. I was the plane captain on VK-16, one of the planes that crashed, and was on duty with the 4th duty section that night. I was awakened early in the morning to go walk guard duty around the wreckage. This was very hard as there was still a lot of human remains out there.
      As I remember the crash sight, it looked as if they were coming in too low and you could see where the lead plane flew right into the ground as you could see where all three landing gear hit.
      Then you could see where the wingman tried to pull up to the left and his left wing tip hit and he did a cart wheel and when his nose hit, it stuck his his refueling probe into the ground like a nail, then the plane blew up.
      I had the honor to go to New Mexico to attend LT. Fisher's funeral.
      Comments from: James A. Coker

    • Quite possibly BuNo 142856 & BuNo 142927 as both planes lost 30 April 1959.
      John Gabbard

  • Deployed WestPac 1959 - 1960.

  • 1960
    Two VMA-121 pilots lost off the USS Coral Sea during training. Capt. Maitland, lost to a bad cat shot and Lt. Elder who never returned to the ship same time period. I received the information via snail mail in the form of emails thru the director of the Marine Corps University and others. I was a plane captain and on deck when Capt. Maitland was lost.
    Gunny Rav USMC (Ret.)

  • 1960/1961
    Embarked on Ticonderoga, Ranger, and Coral Sea.

  • July of 1966
    Replaced VMA-211 at Chu Lia, Vietnam per Sgt. Tom Pulliam.
    After six months of combat operations, the Squadron rotated back to Iwakuni, Japan and Naha Air Base, Okinawa before returning to Chu-Lai for another combat tour in 1968.

  • Chu Lai, Vietnam Statistics
    • Sorties flown = 18,471
    • Hours flown = 21,036.5
    • Ordanance delivered = 23,533.41 tons
    • * data does not include Feb 67 or 1-15 OCT 68

  • '67/'68 Cruise Book(5MByte PDF file)

  • MAG 12:
    • 25 NOV 1966
      Lost in combat was Capt C.N. Williams, 25 Nov ¹66, A-4E BuNo 151123 while flying with VMA-223 as part of VMA-121 advanced party.

    • 06 JAN 1967
      Capt. Adams, flying A-4E BuNO 150036 was shot down. Capt. Adams was recovered.

    • 14 JAN 1967
      Capt. Frye, flying A-4E BuNO 150106 was shot down. Capt. Frye was recovered.

    • 27 FEB 1967
      Lost in combat was Capt H.J. Alwan, while flying A-4E BuNo 152051.

    • 11 MAY 1967
      Capt. G.R. Romano flying A-4E 150011 was Wounded In Action and recovered.

    • 30 MAY 1967
      Lost in combat was 1stLt. Michael Walter Thoennes, while flying A-4E BuNo 150032.

    • 28 AUG 1967
      Lost in combat was Maj. C.F. Wallace, in A-4E BuNo 150038 flying with VMA-211 as part of VMA-121 advanced party.

    • 05 MAY 1968
      1st Lt. Aiton flying A-4E BuNo 151105 was shot down. Aiton was recovered.

    • 09 MAY 1968
      Maj. Tyrell flying A-4E BuNo 152092 was shot down. Maj. Tyrell was recovered.

    • 09 JUN 1968
      Lost in combat was 1stLt. Walter Schmidt, flying A-4E BuNo 151080.

    • 22 JUN 1968
      Maj. Ingraham was Wounded In Action, was able to land at Da nang.

    • 27 JUL 1968
      Lost in combat was Maj. Don Campbell, flying A-4E BuNo 151143.

    • 26 SEP 1968
      Lost in combat was Capt. Dale Luster, flying A-4E BuNo 150094 (2nd tour, 372 missions).

    • 01 OCT 1968
      1st Lt. Bob Coop flying A-4E BuNo 151159 was involved in an aborted takeoff at Chu Lai. Aircraft was lost, but Coop escaped the burning a/c.

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Awards

Sources
  • Bill "Jigger" Egen
  • Masaaki Hayakawa
  • W. L. "Moose" Tranor, Colonel, USMC (Ret.)
  • John Resnowski
  • Gunny Rav USMC (Ret.) [William D. Ravgiala, Jr.]
  • Ken Branner
  • James A. Coker
  • John Gabbard

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Those fallen
  • Capt C.N. Williams - - - - - - - 25 NOV 1966
    (Member of VMA-121 advanced party flying with VMA-223)

  • Capt H.J. Alwan - - - - - - - - -27 FEB 1967

  • 1stLt. Michael Walter Thoennes - 30 MAY 1967

  • Maj. C.F. Wallace - - - - - - - -28 AUG 1967
    (Member of VMA-121 advanced party flying with VMA-211)

  • 1stLt. Walter Schmidt - - - - - -09 JUN 1968

  • Maj. Don Campbell - - - - - - - -27 JUL 1968

  • Capt. Dale Luster - - - - - - - -26 SEP 1968
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