After over a century of service, the Marine Corps’ oldest flying squadron has flown its final Harrier II mission. VMA-231 will soon relaunch as an advanced F-35B Lightning II unit.
The United States Marine Corps’ oldest flying squadron is preparing for its impending deactivation this coming September. Last week, Marine Attack Squadron 231 (VMA-231), the “Ace of Spades,” concluded flight operations with its McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II. The unit, which was established as the 1st Division, Squadron 1, in February 1919, has operated the AV-8B since September 1985 and became the first unit to operate the Harrier II in combat during the 1991 Desert Storm.
It went on to take part in Operations Allied Force, Odyssey Dawn, Inherent Resolve, and Prosperity Guardian.
The Harrier II Will Be Retired Soon
The squadron held its final flight and colors ceremony on May 29 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, and the event was attended by active-duty personnel, their families, and even veterans who had previously served with the squadron.
“Today is not a sad day,” stated Lt. Col. Paul Truog, current commanding officer of VMA-231, during the ceremony, “This is a momentous day for Marine aviation. It’s a day that we’re going to celebrate.”
Though the unit will deactivate, it doesn’t mean the deck has run out for the Ace of Spades. VMA-231 will reactivate in fiscal year 2026 (FY26), but as Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 231 (VMFA-231), which could be even before the end of this calendar year, though a timeline hasn’t been confirmed.
According to the USMC, “As VMFA-231, the squadron will continue the unit’s storied legacy with fifth-generation capabilities as an F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter squadron.”
It won’t be the first changeover for the storied squadron.
VMA-231 was reactivated in 1973 to operate the Hawker Siddeley AV-8A Harrier, the first vertical and short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) aircraft adopted by the USMC. In 1977, the unit was also named the US military’s inaugural recipient of the V/STOL Squadron of the Year award.
The transition to the F-35B Lightning II, the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, is part of the modernization efforts being undertaken by the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), the aviation combat element of the Marine Expeditionary Force.
“Everybody knows that VMA-231 is transitioning to F-35s. The Wing, the [Marine Aircraft Group], and the squadron will be more capable of responding to crises. But that capability is not just because it’s our most technically advanced weapons system,” Truog continued.
“That capability is because of the Marines and the pilots that, in record amounts, raise their hands saying, “I want to continue, I want to keep moving forward.”
The F-35 Is Very Popular with the Marines
The complete service-wide transition to the F-35 will continue through the decade’s end. While the Marines’ final Harrier IIs won’t be retired until 2027, the F/A-18 Hornet could continue operations until 2030. The USMC had previously set a procurement goal of 420 Lightning IIs for its eventual fleet, comprising 353 F-35B models and an additional 67 F-35Cs, the carrier-based version also in service with the US Navy.
In February of this year, the USMC unveiled its latest Aviation Plan (AVPLAN), which called for the service to more than double the number of F-35Cs to 140 while reducing the F-35Bs to 280. Mission readiness for the F-35C significantly exceeded that of the F-35B, but other factors, including the USMC’s support for expeditionary mobility, are also being considered. Nearly all of the US Navy’s Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarriers and Gerald R. Ford-class carriers will embark air wings with F-35Cs.
VMA-231 won’t be on any carriers but will operate from the US Navy’s Wasp-class landing helicopter dock (LHD) amphibious assault ships or the America-class landing helicopter assault (LHA) amphibious assault ships.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image Credit: Shutterstock/DLeng.
