View source for VMFA-314

{{Use American English|date=January 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314
| image                         = Knight314.png
| image_size                    = 200
| caption                       = VMFA-314 Insignia
| dates                         = 1 October 1943{{spaced ndash}}30 April 1947<br />1 February 1952{{spaced ndash}}present
| country                       = {{flagu|United States}}
| allegiance                    =
| branch                        = {{Marines|United States}}
| type                          = Fighter/Attack squadron
| role                          = [[SEAD]]<br />[[Air Superiority]]<br />[[Aerial Reconnaissance]]<br />[[Close air support]]<br />[[Land/Maritime Strike]]
| command_structure             = [[Marine Aircraft Group 11]]<br />[[3rd Marine Aircraft Wing]]<br />[[Carrier Air Wing Nine]]
| current_commander             = LtCol Jeffrey C. Davis
| notable_commanders            = [[Homer S. Hill]], [[Frank E. Petersen]]
| garrison                      = [[Marine Corps Air Station Miramar]]
| ceremonial_chief              =
| colonel_of_the_regiment       =
| nickname                      = Black Knights<br />Bob's Cats (World War II)
| patron                        =
| motto                         = ONCE A KNIGHT IS NEVER ENOUGH
| colors                        = '''[[Tail Code|VW / NG]]'''
| colors_label                  = Tail Code
| march                         =
| mascot                        =
| battles                       = {{tree list}}
*[[World War II]]
**[[Battle of Okinawa]]
*[[Vietnam War]]
*[[1986 United States bombing of Libya|Operation El Dorado Canyon]]
*[[Gulf War|Persian Gulf War]]
*[[War on Terror|Global War on Terrorism]]
**[[Operation Noble Eagle]]
**[[Operation Enduring Freedom]]
**[[Operation Inherent Resolve]]
*[[Iraq War]]
{{tree list/end}}
| aircraft_fighter              = [[F4U Corsair]]<br />[[F9F Panther]]<br />[[F4D Skyray]]<br />[[F-4 Phantom II]]<br />[[F/A-18 Hornet]]<br />[[F-35C Lightning II]]
| anniversaries                 =
}}
'''Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314''' ('''VMFA-314''') is a [[United States Marine Corps]] [[Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II| F-35C Lightning II]] squadron. The squadron, known as the "Black Knights", is based at [[Marine Corps Air Station Miramar]], [[California]] and falls under the command of [[Marine Aircraft Group 11]] (MAG-11) and the [[3rd Marine Aircraft Wing]] (3d MAW), but deploys with the [[US Navy]]'s [[Carrier Air Wing Nine]] (NG).
==History==
===World War II===
[[File:Vmf314 insig.jpg|thumb|left|upright|The squadron's World War II logo.]]
[[File:F4U VMF-314 battle damaged on Ie Shima 1945.jpeg|thumb|left|upright|A battle-damaged VMF-314 F4U Corsair on Ie Shima in 1945.]]
Marine Fighting Squadron 314 ('''VMF-314''') was commissioned on October 1, 1943, at [[Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point]], [[North Carolina]].<ref>[https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:19431001_-_Wing_General_Order_22_-1943_-_Commissioning_of_9_squadrons.jpg 3d MAW General Order 23-1943 Commissioning nine squadrons on 1 October 1943]</ref>  The squadron was originally given the nickname of, "Bob's Cats".{{sfn|Rottman|2002|pp=443}} The squadron was assigned to [[Marine Aircraft Group 32]] (MAG 32) flying the [[F4U Corsair]] and began training immediately for combat in the [[Pacific Ocean|South Pacific]]. In February 1944, the squadron, along with [[VMF-324]], was among the first units aboard [[Marine Corps Auxiliary Air Field Kinston]].{{sfn|Shettle|2000|pp=101}} The squadron departed MCAAF Kinston for the [[Pacific War|Pacific theater]] and arrived at [[Marine Corps Air Station Ewa]] on June 18, 1944, and was reassigned to [[Marine Aircraft Group 23]], 3rd MAW.{{sfn|Sherrod|1952|pp=467}} From there it deployed to [[Midway Atoll]]. VMF-314 returned to MCAS Ewa in December 1944 and remained there until April 1945. In May 1945 the squadron moved to [[Ie Shima]] to take part in the [[Battle of Okinawa]]{{sfn|Sherrod|1952|pp=467}} as part of [[Marine Aircraft Group 22]] (MAG-22).{{sfn|Sherrod|1952|pp=372}} During the campaign, VMF-314 pilots were credited with 11 kills{{sfn|Sherrod|1952|pp=431}} and the squadron was awarded the [[Presidential Unit Citation (US)|Presidential Unit Citation]].{{sfn|Sherrod|1952|pp=427}} After the [[surrender of Japan]], VMF-314 moved to [[Kyūshū]], [[Japan]] as part of the [[Occupation of Japan|occupation]] force. VMF-314 returned to [[Marine Corps Air Station El Toro]] in November 1945 and in March 1946 they arrived back at MCAS Cherry Point.  For a short time, the squadron was reassigned to [[Marine Aircraft Group 22]] (MAG-22), [[9th Marine Aircraft Wing]] but was later decommissioned on April 30, 1947.{{sfn|Rottman|2002|pp=443}}
===Postwar years===
VMF-314 was recommissioned in 1952 at [[Marine Corps Air Station Miami|MCAS Miami]], [[Florida]] and was assigned to [[Marine Aircraft Group 31]] (MAG-31), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing flying the latest version of the Corsair. That same year, the squadron transitioned to the new [[F9F Panther]]. The next three years saw VMF-314 deployed twice, first to [[Roosevelt Roads]], [[Puerto Rico]], and then to [[Naval Air Facility Atsugi]], [[Japan]] for an 18-month tour. VMF-314 earned the [[Korean Service Medal]] for operations conducted between 11 September 1953 and 27 July 1954.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/medals/kormedal/korusmc.htm
|title=The Korean Service Medal 1950-1954, U.S. Marine Corps Units
|work=Service Medals & Campaign Credits of the United States Navy
|date=28 February 2001
|publisher=[[Naval Historical Center]], Department of the Navy}}</ref>  In 1955, VMF-314 returned from Japan and was assigned to [[Marine Aircraft Group 15]], 3rd MAW, now stationed at [[Marine Corps Air Station El Toro]], [[California]].
[[File:Vmf(aw)314 1.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Four F9Fs from VMF(AW)-314 in formation.]]
In 1957, the squadron received the new [[F4D Skyray]] and was designated VMF(AW)-314. During that same year, the squadron officially became the "Black Knights", was awarded the Commandant’s Aviation Efficiency Trophy.  They were briefly deployed to NAF Atsugi, Japan and then throughout the Far East both on land, including Ping-tung, [[Taiwan]] in support of the [[Republic of China]] against the [[People's Republic of China|communist China]], as well as on board the fast attack carriers {{USS|Hancock|CV-19|6}} and {{USS|Ticonderoga|CV-14|6}}.
In 1961, the squadron became the first Marine squadron to transition to the new [[F-4 Phantom II|F-4B Phantom II]] and was designated VMFA-314. Between 1961 and 1964, the squadron deployed eight times. These included three separate carrier deployments and a single-flight aerial refueling mission spanning the [[Pacific Ocean]] from MCAS El Toro to [[Naval Air Station Atsugi]], Japan.
===Vietnam War===
[[File:F-4B VMFA-314 1968.jpg|thumb|upright|right|A F-4B Phantom from VMFA-314 returns to Chu Lai in September 1968.]]
In 1965, VMFA-314 headed off on board {{USS|Valley Forge|CV-45|6}} for combat operations in [[South Vietnam]]. From 1965 to 1970, the squadron flew more than 25,000 combat hours out of [[Chu Lai Air Base]] and [[Da Nang Air Base]], and employed more than 100 million pounds of ordnance in support of the Marine rifleman and other allied ground units. In 1968, they received the [[Chief of Naval Operations]] Aviation Safety Award. In 1969, VMFA–314 was awarded the Hanson Trophy as the best Fighter Attack Squadron in the Marine Corps while under the command of [[Frank E. Petersen]]. The [[Commandant of the United States Marine Corps|Commandant's]] Efficiency Trophy was awarded to the squadron in 1969 and again in 1970. In September 1970, VMFA-314 ended forty-nine months of deployed combat operations and received the [[Meritorious Unit Commendation]] for its outstanding performance.
{{Clear}}
===Post-Vietnam War years===
In May 1982, the squadron’s last F-4 was transferred in preparation for transition to the new [[McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet|F/A-18A Hornet]]. In 1982, VMFA-314 received the first of its F/A-18s under the command of Lt Col P.B. Field, becoming the first tactical squadron in the Marine Corps and Navy to employ the Hornet.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |title= Trials Evaluate Hornet, El Toro receives F/A-18|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/publication/issues/19554 |work=Hawaii Marine |volume=11 |issue= 22|location= Marine Corps Base Hawaii |date=2 June 1982 |page= 8|access-date=13 January 2021}}</ref>
[[File:F-18s from VFMA-314 in formation.jpg|thumb|right|F/A-18A Hornets from VMFA-314 conducting formation flying in 1984.]]
In 1985, VMFA-314 transferred to [[Carrier Air Wing 13]] (CVW-13), and embarked on board {{USS|Coral Sea|CV-43|6}} for duty with the [[United States Sixth Fleet|U.S. Sixth Fleet]] in the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. They participated in Freedom of Navigation operations in the vicinity of [[Libya]] and took part in combat operations in support of [[Operation El Dorado Canyon]] in the [[Gulf of Sidra]] and in Libya.
===Persian Gulf War and the 1990s===
In the summer of 1990, while preparing to return to the Western Pacific, the squadron were rapidly deployed to the [[Persian Gulf]] and were the first Marine F/A-18 squadron to arrive in [[Bahrain]] for [[Gulf War#Operation Desert Shield|Operation Desert Shield]] as part of Marine Air Group 70. For nearly six months the "Black Knights" maintained 24-hour-a-day Combat Air Patrols over the Persian Gulf.
On 16 January 1991, Operation Desert Shield shifted to [[Operation Desert Storm]]. The squadron flew over 1,500 hours and 814 combat sorties, more sorties than any other [[United States Navy|Navy]] or Marine Corps squadron. Missions flown during the war included Escort, SEAD, Mig Sweep, and Strike. They returned from the Middle East in March 1991 without the loss of a single squadron member or aircraft.
In August 1992, VMFA-314 transferred to [[Carrier Air Wing 11]] and in 1993 deployed to the [[Indian Ocean]] and Persian Gulf on board USS ''Abraham Lincoln''. During the deployment the squadron participated in [[Operation Southern Watch]], enforcing the [[United Nations|U.N.]] "no-fly-zone" in southern [[Iraq]], and in [[Operation Continue Hope]], providing [[close air support]] to the [[13th Marine Expeditionary Unit]] (13th MEU) and [[22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit]] (22nd MEU) off the coast of [[Somalia]]. The squadron returned from cruise in December 1993 and was reassigned to [[Marine Aircraft Group 11]] (MAG-11).
In June 1994, VMFA-314 was one of the first MAG-11 squadrons to move from MCAS El Toro to [[Marine Corps Air Station Miramar|MCAS Miramar]]. In February 1996, the squadron received new lot 18 F/A-18C aircraft. In 1997, VMFA-314 transferred to [[CVW-9|Carrier Air Wing 9]] and deployed on an "Around the World" cruise on board {{USS|Nimitz|CVN-68|6}}. During the deployment, the squadron again participated in Operation Southern Watch.
In January 2000, the squadron deployed aboard {{USS|John C. Stennis}}, with Carrier Air Wing Nine, for a six-month deployment to the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch. While in the Gulf, the "Black Knights" flew contingency operations under combat conditions in support of U.N. Resolutions, delivering accurate air-to-ground ordnance under hostile fire.
===Global War on Terrorism===
VMFA-314 was called upon to deploy U.S. Marines and aircraft on board USS ''John C. Stennis'' in support of [[Operation Noble Eagle]]. The [[September 11 attacks]] of 2001 caused the planned deployment on board ''John C. Stennis'' to be accelerated by two months. Following a shortened at-sea period for FleetEx, VMFA-314 deployed on 12 November 2001 in support of [[Operation Enduring Freedom]]. The squadron began flying combat sorties on 18 December 2001 and delivered over 69,000 pounds of ordnance in support of U.S. forces on the ground in [[Afghanistan]]. Midway into a six-month deployment, VMFA-314 was extended in theater an extra five weeks resulting in a monumental 265 deployed days over a year’s period including a 98-day straight at-sea period.
The squadron deployed to the [[Iraq War]] in support of [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]] in March 2009. They were based at [[Al Asad Airbase]] and returned in September 2009.<ref>[http://www.dvidshub.net/?script=news/news_show.php&id=35425 Black Knights Fight for the Commander's Cup]</ref>
The Black Knights were the first U.S. Marine Squadron to conduct offensive operations against ISIS in support of Operation Inherent Resolve 2014.
===F-35C Transition===
[[File:F-35C Lightning II and FA-18A Hornet of VMFA-314 in flight over California on 5 June 2019 (190605-N-SS390-0118).JPG|thumb|A F-35C and a F/A-18A of VMFA-314 in flight, in June 2019.]]
On 21 June 2019, the squadron retired the F/A-18A++ and began training on the F-35C.<ref name="CAISEPT19-11">{{cite book|title=[[Combat Aircraft Monthly (magazine)|Combat Aircraft]]|date=September 2019|publisher=[[Key Publishing|Key Publishing Ltd]]|location=[[Stamford, Lincolnshire|Stamford]], [[Lincolnshire]], [[England]]|pages=11}}</ref>  VMFA-314 was the first Marine Corps squadron to transition to the F-35C receiving its first aircraft on 21 January 2020.{{r|NavalNews}}
On 3 January 2022, VMFA-314 departed [[Naval Base San Diego]] onboard the {{USS|Abraham Lincoln|CVN-72}} as part of [[Carrier Air Wing Nine]]. VMFA-314 was the first Marine Corps F-35C squadron to deploy on an aircraft carrier.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.flyingmag.com/uss-abraham-lincoln-deploys-with-first-female-commander/ |title=USS Abraham Lincoln Deploys With First Female Commander |last=Johnson |first=Kimberly |date=2022-01-04 |website=Flying Magazine |publisher= Flying Media |access-date=2022-01-05 |quote=}}</ref><ref name="NavalNews">{{cite web |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/01/first-usmc-f-35c-squadron-deploys-on-an-aircraft-carrier/ |title=First USMC F-35C Squadron Deploys On An Aircraft Carrier |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2022-01-05 |website=navalnews.com |publisher=Naval News |access-date=2022-01-05 |quote=}}</ref>
During their 2024 deployment as part of Carrier Air Wing 9 (CVW-9) aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), VMFA-314 left MCAS Miramar for stationing in the South China Sea as part of their WESTPAC deployment. Shortly after their departure, Carrier Strike Group 3 (CSG-3) was redirected to C5F within Central Command (CENTCOM) by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
For 4 continuous months, VMFA-314 participated in numerous missions supporting NAVCENT and CENTCOM operations, ultimately culminating in a series of strikes targeting military facilities deep within Houthi-controlled Yemen. These deep strikes marked the first combat employment of the F-35C Lightning II, affectionately known as the ‘Panther’.
The Marines and their Panthers employed 72,000 lbs of ordnance in 24hrs, once again solidifying the Black Knights’ legacy at the leading edge of Marine Corps Aviation.
==Awards==
*[[File:United States Navy Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg|45px|border]]&nbsp;[[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|Presidential Unit Citation]], with two Bronze Stars
*[[File:Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|45px|border]]&nbsp;[[Navy Unit Commendation]], with four Bronze Stars
*[[File:Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|45px|border]]&nbsp;[[Meritorious Unit Citation]] streamer, with one Bronze Star
2015, 1968 Robert M. Hanson Marine Fighter Attack Squadron of the Year Award
<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.flymcaa.org/past-award-winners|title = PAST AWARD WINNERS &#124; Marine Corps Aviation Association &#124; Quantico, VA}}</ref>
==In popular culture==
USMC Major John Trotti, who flew the F-4 Phantom while a pilot for the squadron during the Vietnam war, recounted his experiences in the memoir ''Phantom Over Vietnam''.
The squadron was portrayed flying [[F/A-18C]]s and fighting against an alien invasion in the 1996 film ''[[Independence Day (1996 film)|Independence Day]]''. The squadron was depicted as based in [[MCAS El Toro]], although they had relocated to [[NAS Miramar]] two years prior.
The [[F/A-18]]s shown in the movie ''[[The Rock (film)|The Rock]]'' are marked with 314 livery, despite having "US Air Force" on the fuselage, and despite the USAF not actually operating that type of aircraft. This is because the movie used the same prop as ''Independence Day''.
==See also==
* [[United States Marine Corps Aviation]]
* [[List of active United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons]]
* [[List of inactive United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons]]
* [[VMM-264]], a U.S. Marine Corps Medium helicopter squadron of the same namesake
* [[VFA-154]], a U.S. Navy Fighter attack squadron of the same namesake
* [[RSAF Black Knights]], a Singaporean Air Force precision aerobatic team of the same namesake
==References==
===Citations===
:{{Marine Corps}}
{{Reflist}}
===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin}}
* Crowder, Michael J. (2000). ''United States Marine Corps Aviation Squadron Lineage, Insignia & History - Volume One - The Fighter Squadrons''. Turner Publishing Company. {{ISBN|1-56311-926-9}}.
*{{cite book
|last=Rottman
|first=Gordon L.
|title=U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle - Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War, 1939 - 1945.
|year=2002
|publisher=Greenwood Press
|isbn=0-313-31906-5
}}
*{{cite book
| last = Sherrod
| first = Robert
| year = 1952
| title = History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II
| url = https://archive.org/details/historyofmarinec00sher
| url-access = registration
| publisher = Combat Forces Press
| location = Washington, D.C.
}}
*{{cite book
| last = Shettle Jr.
| first = M. L.
| title = United States Marine Corps Air Stations of World War II
| publisher = Schaertel Publishing Co.
| year = 2001
| location = Bowersville, Georgia
| isbn =  0-9643388-2-3}}
*{{cite book
| last = Wanamaker & De Haven
| first = Mike & Lee R.
| title = The USMC F-4 Phantom II Squadron History Series, No. 01, VMFA-314 Black Knights, 1962 - 1982
| publisher = Amazon
| year = 2023
| location = Henderson, NV
| isbn =  979-8355849283}}
{{Refend}}
==External links==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{official website|https://www.3rdmaw.marines.mil/Units/MAG-11/VMFA-314/}}
* [http://www.vmfa-314.com VMFA-314, 1967-1970 Chu Lai Deployment Website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061102234220/http://maxair2air.com/AIR/A/blackknights.html Squadron photos from MaxAir2Air]
{{Refend}}
{{US Marine Corps navbox}}
{{3rdMAW}}
[[Category:Fighter attack squadrons of the United States Marine Corps]]