Authentic USMC VMA-311 Tomcats Vinyl Sticker

Description

USMC VMA-311 Tomcats Sticker

Marine Attack Squadron 311 (VMA-311) — “Tomcats”

Marine Attack Squadron 311, the Tomcats, traces its lineage to 1 December 1942, when VMF-311 was commissioned at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina. Redesignated VMA-311 on 1 June 1957, the squadron earned its “Tomcats” nickname during this era while transitioning to the Grumman F9F-8 Cougar. The first A4D-2 Skyhawk arrived in the summer of 1958, initiating 30 years of Skyhawk service that would carry the Tomcats through one of the most intense combat histories in Marine aviation.

In May 1965, VMA-311 deployed to Chu Lai Air Base, South Vietnam, flying A-4E Skyhawks. By September, the Tomcats had logged 25,000 combat sorties, and by war’s end on 29 January 1973, they had flown an astounding 54,625 combat sorties and dropped 105,000 tons of ordnance — believed to be a record for any fixed-wing squadron in a single conflict. Transitioning to the AV-8B Harrier, VMA-311 became the first Marine squadron to employ the Harrier in combat on 17 January 1991 during Operation Desert Storm, flying 1,017 combat missions and delivering 840 tons of ordnance across 43 days. On 3 November 2001, Tomcat Harriers became the first to fly combat missions in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom.

VMA-311 was decommissioned at MCAS Yuma on 15 October 2020, but the Tomcats’ legacy was reborn when the squadron was reactivated on 14 April 2023 as VMFA-311, now flying the F-35C Lightning II from MCAS Miramar, California, under MAG-11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. The Tomcats declared Initial Operational Capability in July 2024.

Perfect For: VMA-311 and VMFA-311 Tomcats veterans, A-4 Skyhawk and AV-8B Harrier enthusiasts, F-35C Lightning II supporters, MCAS Yuma and Miramar personnel, and Marine attack aviation heritage collectors.

The Tomcats of VMA-311 — from Corsairs over Okinawa to Lightning IIs over Miramar, 80 years of Marine attack aviation excellence.

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