USMC d VMFA 312 Fighter Attack Squadron Patch F 4 Phantom US Marine Corps Aviation

US Marine Corps Aviation Marine Fighter Attack Squadron VMFA 312 Checkerboards Patch 1966 MCAS Beaufort F 4 Phantom II Embroidered on twill cut edge 105mm by 103mm four and one eighth inches by four inches.

Free Shipping

Marine Fighter Squadron VMF 312 Checkerboards received F8U 1 Crusader aircraft at MCAS Miami Florida in mid 1959. The Squadron relocated to MCAS Beaufort in February 1966 reequipping with F 4B Phantom II aircraft and redesignated Marine Fighter Attack Squadron VMFA 312. During the Vietnam War the Checkerboards were responsible for training combat aircrews prior to their deployment to Southeast Asia. In 1973 the Squadron upgraded to F 4J Phantoms. 

In 1979 the VMFA 312 Checkerboards became the first 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing fighter squadron to deploy for a six month UDP rotation to the Western Pacific under the Unit Deployment Program UDP. Upon completion of the deployment the Checkerboards upgraded to F 4S Phantoms. Since then the Squadron made five six month deployments to the Western Pacific as well as participated in numerous training deployments around the United States.  

In July 1987 VMFA-312 retired its F 4 Phantom aircraft and reequipped with FA 18 A Hornet fighters. 

This patch dates from 1966.