Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323

the battle for that island, VMF-323 distinguished itself among Marine, Navy, and Army Air Corps Squadrons by downing 124.5 enemy aircraft without a single aerial loss to Japanese fliers. Additionally, VMF-323 provided close air support for Marine and Army infantry units on the ground. Twelve Death Rattler pilots became aces in those 60 days of combat, 3 of them on a single day. March 1946 found the Death Rattlers based at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) El Toro where their tradition of excellence continued. Operating from land and sea, VMF-323 participated in training exercises throughout the Western United States, as far north as Alaska, and as far west as the Hawaiian Islands. The training and exercise experiences were to prove invaluable, as the Death Rattlers found themselves preparing for combat once again, this time in Korea. Operating from the USS BADOENG STRAIT (CVE-116), VMF-323 commenced operations in Korea on 6 August 1950, supporting ground forces in defense of the Pusan perimeter. Proving the value of close air support at Pusan, Inchon, Chosin, and virtually every other major campaign during the war, the Death Rattlers were instrumental in solidifying the relatively new concept of the Marine “Air-Ground” team. The squadron was re-designated VMA-323 in June 1952, reflecting the changes in its primary mission. After just under three years, 323 departed Korea in July of 1953 after accumulating over 48,000 hours of flight time. After returning to the United States, VMA-323 entered the jet age with the F9F-2 Panther and later the F9F-5 Panther. In December 1956, the squadron was re-designated VMF-323 and shortly thereafter became the first Marine Squadron to operate the FJ-4 Fury. Deploying to the Western Pacific in 1957, the Death Rattlers flew armed patrol missions over Quemoy and Matsu Islands in support of the re-supply of Chinese Nationalist Forces during the Taiwan Straits crisis. On their return to El Toro in 1959, the squadron received the Vought F-8U-1 Crusader. Assigned to Carrier Air Group 14 (CAG-14) aboard the USS LEXINGTON (CV-16) in 1961, VMF-323 was the first Marine F-8 squadron to go on cruise with the Crusader. During the cruise, VMF-323 was subsequently re-designated VMF(AW)-323 to reflect the enhanced “all weather” capabilities of the new Crusaders. In 1964 the squadron returned to Cherry Point where they received the present designation of VMFA-323 and began the transition to the F-4B Phantom II. While deployed for training to Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico in March 1965, the Dominican Crisis erupted. VMFA-323 provided aerial fighter cover during the evacuation of American citizens and flew numerous armed reconnaissance missions in their newly acquired Phantoms. These missions were to provide the foundation for tactics that would soon be tested in combat. On 1 December 1965, the squadron arrived at Da Nang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, marking its third combat tour of duty in the Pacific, spanning two decades and three wars. VMFA-323, now a part of the 1st Marine Air Wing, began combat operations the day following their arrival in country. The squadron was soon participating in combat operations such as HARVEST MOON, STEEL TIGER, and flew combat air patrols in support of armed reconnaissance missions. Except for a brief deployment out of Vietnam, the squadron served in the combat zone flying from Da Nang and Chu Lai from December 1965 until its departure in 1969. During their stay in country, the Death Rattlers flew over 17,000 combat sorties in support of I Corps ground operations and against targets north of the De-Militarized Zone (DMZ). On 14 September 1982 VMFA-323 bade farewell to its last F-4N, and officially began the transition to the world’s foremost strike fighter, the F/A-18 Hornet. As the first Marine Hornet squadron to deploy on board a ship, the Death Rattlers cruised on the USS CORAL SEA with Carrier Air Wing 13 (CVW-13) to the Mediterranean Sea in October of 1985. The squadron distinguished itself in the winter and spring of 1986 during Freedom of Navigation exercises held in international waters and airspace off the coast of Libya. On 15 April 1986, VMFA-323 Hornets were among the first Hornets ever in combat, providing Surface to Air Missile (SAM) suppression and combat air patrol sorties during overland strikes against Libya in support of a national policy deterring terrorism. From October 1988 through April 1989, VMFA-323 deployed to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, participating in the Unit Deployment Program for the first time. Following a short year at El Toro, the Death Rattlers again found themselves in the Western Pacific on what began as a 6 month deployment but was extended to 11 months to cover contingencies generated by Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM. In 1994, the Death Rattlers joined Carrier Air Wing 2 (CVW-2) and began pre-deployment work-ups on board the USS CONSTELLATION (CV-64). On 10 November 1994, the USS CONSTELLATION set sail for WESTPAC 94/95. After a short stay off the coast of Korea, the USS CONSTELLATION sailed through the Straits of Hormuz and the Death Rattlers supported Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. While stationed in the North Arabian Gulf, VMFA-323 flew numerous combat sorties enforcing the United Nation’s “No-Fly” zone below the 32nd parallel in Iraq. In 1996, the Death Rattlers rejoined CVW-2 and began pre-deployment work-ups yet again. The Death Rattlers set sail aboard the USS CONSTELLATION once again in April 1997. While on station in Southwest Asia, the Death Rattlers flew combat sorties in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH, notably participating in large scale simulated strikes against targets in southern Iraq. During the squadron’s third consecutive deployment on board the USS CONSTELLATION as part of CVW-2, continued combat operations in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH were conducted from September through November 1999. The Death Rattlers led several strikes into southern Iraq; expending laser guided bombs and missiles while safely executing over 200 combat sorties and more than 600 hours. On 17 December 1999 the USS CONSTELLATION returned to San Diego having sailed to Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, the Arabian Gulf, Australia, and Hawaii. In July of 2000, the Death Rattlers rejoined CVW-2 for work-ups with the USS CONSTELLATION in preparation for WESTPAC 01. VMFA-323 deployed once again to the Northern Arabian Gulf and spent the summer enforcing the Southern No-Fly Zone. The squadron, embarked aboard the USS CONSTELLATION, was two days from returning to San Diego after a six-month cruise when the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 occurred. The squadron finally flew back to Miramar on 16 September, having spent several days off the California coast ready to deal with any contingencies. The Death Rattlers deployed once again with CONSTELLATION and CVW-2 to the Persian Gulf in October 2002. The Snakes arrived in the Northern Arabian Gulf on 17 December 2002, and immediately began flying missions in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. Three months and more than 2,000 flight hours later, the Death Rattlers were in an ideal position to spearhead the liberation of Iraq on the first night of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Numerous strikes were flown by VMFA-323 in the opening days of the conflict against regime targets in Baghdad. Operations shifted to Airborne Interdiction and Close Air Support sorties as coalition forces moved forward to secure strategic objectives within Iraq. More than 360,000 pounds of ordnance, virtually all of it precision-guided, were employed by the squadron. The squadron returned to Miramar in June of 2003 and quickly began preparations for the next deployment. In 2005, VMFA-323 completed an around-the-world deployment aboard the USS CARL VINSON (CVN-70) as part of Carrier Air Wing 9 (CVW-9). While passing Southeast Asia, two Snake pilots had the opportunity to fly against Malaysian Air Force MiG-29 Fulcrums. The squadron again supported Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, providing on-call Close Air Support, for over three months. By January of 2007, the Snakes were underway again, this time as part of CVW-9 embarked aboard the USS JOHN C. STENNIS (CVN-74). During this seven-and-a-half month deployment, the squadron continued to build on its significant combat legacy, conducting operations in support of both Operations IRAQI
FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM. The Marine Corps has recognized the Death Rattlers as the “Outstanding Marine Fighter Squadron” by presenting the coveted Hanson Award Trophy in 1975, 1976, 1980, 1986, and 2003. In 1992, 1998, and 1999, the Marine Corps Aviation Association presented the Mike Yunck Award to VMFA-323, recognizing the Death Rattlers as the “Best of the Best” in the Third Marine Aircraft Wing. Seventy years after the birth of the finest fighter squadron in the Marine Corps, the bite of the Death Rattlers is even deadlier. Tenacity, tactical proficiency, loyalty, and professionalism are constant themes within the unit and continue to embody the spirit of VMFA-323. Whenever the Marine Corps responds to national commitments, the Death Rattlers of VMFA-323 will remain steadfast to their motto, “COME TO FIGHT, COME TO WIN.”