Corps Oldest Squadron Commemorates 75 Years
MCAS Cherry Point, NC
From dropping hand grenades from the cockpits of
bi-planes to the precision bombing of the AV-8B Harrier II, Marine Attack
Squadron 231 has come a long way in its close-air support role.
Through three-quarters of a century, the Corps' oldest squadron has
developed a rich tradition of courage and spirit, sentiments reflected
in the faces of the retired Marine Corps pilots who were here to celebrate
the squadron's 75th Anniversary in June.
The squadron's journey began in 1919, under the command of Capt. Walter McCaughtry.
The squadron's six Curtiss JN Jennys, stationed at Marine Flying Field, Miami, Fla.,
flew in support of ground Marines stationed in Santo Domingo.
Maj. Alfred A. Cunningham, known as the father of Marine Aviation, took
command of the squadron in December 1920. Soon after, the squadron which
had been designated Flight A, 1st Air Squadron, become the "Ace of Spades,"
and adopted a design that includes the face of a playing card inside a black
circle. The upper "A" is for air and the lower "S" for squadron. It was the
first insignia ever used by a Marine aviation unit.
The "Ace of Spades" continued to meet the constantly changing demands of the
Marine Corps. In 1922, as Division 1, Observation Squadron 1, assigned to
Marine 2d Brigade in Santo Domingo City, Capt. Francis Evans designed a way
to quickly evacuate Marines in need of medical attention. Evans modified the
DeHaviland DH-4Bs, which replaced the Curtiss Jennys, into ambulance planes.
The new configuration according to squadron history, cut evacuation time from
three days by mule cart, to two hours by air.
When Sandinista rebels threatened U.S. forces in Nicaragua, the "Ace of Spades,"
commanded by Maj. Ross Rowell, traveled to Managua forming the first Marine Air
Ground Task Force with the 2d Brigade. While attached to 2d Brigade, the squadron
made the first aerial dive bombing attack in the history of war, devastating a
force of rebels that was overwhelming a Marine garrison.
Reorganized into Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 241 in 1942, the "Ace of Spades"
fought the Japanese during the Battle of Midway. Outclassed in every aspect
except valor and courage, the Marines fought the well-equipped Japanese
Air Force in obsolete Vought SB2U-3 Vindicators and Douglas SBD-2 Dauntlesses.
According to squadron history, Capt. Richard Fleming, who was hit by enemy
anti-aircraft guns, continued his attack on the Japanese cruiser "Mikuma"
by crashing his Vindicator into the ship crippling it. He was posthumously
awarded the Medal of Honor.
Reverting to VMSF-231 that same year, the "Ace of Spades" dive-bombed
Japanese air bases on Guadalcanal in F4U Corsairs. Retired LtCol. Cecil
Alexander, a guest at '231's reunion, remembers his flights with the Corsair.
"We dive-bombed runways and gun emplacements from 11,000 feet. The Corsair
was a beautiful plane, ahead of its time, but it was hard to handle."
From 1946 through 1973, the squadron went through several phases of
deactivation and reactivation.
On July 31, 1973, the "Ace of Spades" reactivated as one of three
Marine Harrier squadrons. When introduced, the Harrier's ability to
take off and land vertically represented a revolutionary modernization
of the Corps' highly flexible, rapid response, light attack force.
The "Ace of Spades" demonstrated its abilities again in Desert Shield and
Desert Storm. As the war intensified, '231 set a gun squadron record of
just over 966 flight hours in one month. During the war, '231 tallied 987
combat sorties and accumulated 1,195.8 flight hours.
The "Ace of Spades" have now added the new Harrier II Plus to its already
formidable arsenal giving it all-weather capability and enhanced night
fighting ability.
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