Early years Marine Fighting Squadron 2 (
VF-2M) was commissioned on September 1, 1925 at
Marine Corps Base Quantico,
Virginia. The directive authorizing the formation of the squadron stated, "The primary mission of this squadron will be the training and perfecting of pursuit pilots and the testing and development of pursuit aircraft." They were redesignated
VF-9M on July 1, 1927 which was changed again to
VF-5M on July 1, 1928. Because they were located so close to Washington D.C., the squadron became the "show unit" for Marine aviation. The squadron reverted to the previous designation of VF-9M on 1 August 1930. In 1937, after a stint aboard the under the command of then
Captain Bull Halsey, VF-9M was again redesignated, becoming
VMF-1 on July 1, 1937. In 1938, the squadron turned in its Boeing F4B-4s for brand new Grumman F3F-2s. The squadron finally became VMF-111 on July 1, 1941 during the massive expansion of the Marine Corps that began just prior to
World War II.
World War II At the time of the
Attack on Pearl Harbor, VMF-111 pilots were flying the
Grumman F4F Wildcat. On 10 March 1942, the squadron arrived at
Tafuna Airfield on
Tutuila island, its new base of operations. They were the first Marine squadron to operate in
Samoa. and eventually were relocated to
Faleolo Airfield on
Upolu Island after SeeBees completed
Feleolo Airfield in July 1942. They spent the next year as part of the Samoa Defense Garrison Area and finally transitioned to the
Vought F4U Corsair in early 1943. The squadron remained in Samoa until 1944, serving as a replacement pool for other squadrons engaged in the
Solomon Islands Campaign. VMF-111 left Samoa in January 1944 for the
Central Pacific and participated in raids against bypassed Japanese garrisons for the rest of the war. It was during this time that the squadron, under the command of Major William E. Classen, made the first experimental bombing run with F4U Corsairs when eight of their aircraft struck heavy
anti-aircraft positions on
Mili Atoll with thousand pound bombs Following the war the squadron returned to the States where it was deactivated on November 26, 1945. -2 (BuNo 0976) after retrieval in 1990. It was lost at sea while attempting to land on on 29 August 1940 while with VMF-2. It has since been restored and is currently on display at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Fla.
Post war years Reactivated on June 1, 1948 as part of the
Marine Air Reserve, VMF-111 was stationed at
Naval Air Station Dallas. The squadron was recalled to active duty on July 23, 1950 due to the
Korean War but did not participate in any combat operations. The squadron assumed its World War II role of training pilots. The squadron was released from active duty in July 1953 and remained at NAS Dallas until its deactivation on October 22, 1965. Upon deactivation, their personnel and aircraft were turned over to
VMF-112. ==Squadron Aces==