USMC d VMFA 122 Fighter Squadron Patch F 4 Phantom US Marine Corps Aviation

US Marine Corps Aviation Marine Fighter Attack Squadron VMFA 122 Crusaders Patch 1967 Danang Vietnam F 4 Phantom Crusaders Japanese made Fully embroidered cut edge 94mm by 96mm three and eleven inches by three and three quarter inches.

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Vietnam War

Marine Fighter Squadron VMF 122 Candystripers was the first Marine Corps Squadron to equip with FJ 2 Fury aircraft in January 1954. In preparation for another carrier cruise the Candystripers became the first Navy or Marine Corps squadron to qualify in the Fury and upon its return to MCAS Cherry Point upgraded to the FJ 3.

VMF 122 relocated to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in September 1957. In December 1957 became the first squadron in the Marine Corps to fly the F 8 Crusader and changed their name from Candystripers to the Crusaders. The squadron upgraded to the all weather capable F 8E Crusaders in 1962 and was redesignated Marine Fighter Squadron All Weather VMF AW 122 and deployed to Key West Florida to fly combat air patrol during the Cuban missile crisis.

In 1964 VMF AW 122 deployed to Naval Air Facility Atsugi for a year and returned to MCAS El Toro in January 1965 where the Squadron requipped with F 4 B Phantom aircraft and were redesignated VMFA 122. The Squadron deployed to the Danang AB Vietnam in August 1967 and for the next five months flew 2540 sorties and delivered 4800 tons of ordnance. In February 1968 while supporting Marines during the Siege of Khe Sahn the squadron flew 629 sorties and dropped 1300 tons of ordnance. They rotated to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in September 1968 and returned to Vietnam during the summer of 1969 this time operating from Chu Lai AB.

This patch dates from 1967.