Editing VMFA-212 (section)

==History==

===World War II===

[[File:VMF-212 WWII logo.jpg|thumb|left|150px|VMF-212 logo during World War II]]
[[File:Talley sign painted by the 37th Seabees for the 212nd.jpg|thumb|Talley board painted by the 37th Seabees for the 212th]]
[[File:37th Seabees unloading new F4Us for the 212nd.jpg|thumb|37th Seabees unloading new F4Us for the 212th at Torokino airfield on Bougainville]]
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 212 was activated as Marine Fighting Squadron 212 (VMF-212), the "Hell Hounds", at [[Marine Corps Air Station Ewa]], [[Hawaii]] on 1 March 1942. Deploying in May to the [[Pacific Ocean|South Pacific]] in their [[Grumman F4F Wildcat]]s, the squadron was stationed at [[La Tontouta International Airport|Tontouta]] on the island of [[New Caledonia]], and later moved up to the [[Quoin Hill Airfield]] on the island of [[Efate]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Brand|first=Max|title=Fighter Squadron at Guadalcanal|year=1996|publisher=Naval Institute Press |isbn=1557500886}}</ref>  As preparations for the invasion of [[Guadalcanal]] increased, the squadron operated a detachment at [[Turtle Bay Airfield]] on [[Espiritu Santo]] until the arrival of [[VMO-251]] ensured that the island was provided with adequate aerial defense.  During the early part of the [[Battle of Guadalcanal|Guadalcanal campaign]], VMF-212 sent detachments to operate with [[Cactus Air Force]] squadrons deployed to [[Honiara International Airport|Henderson Field]] until the entire squadron was committed to the battle in mid-October.

On June 27, 1942, a Wildcat of the squadron attacked a [[Royal Australian Air Force]] [[Consolidated PBY Catalina|Catalina]] flying boat of [[No. 11 Squadron RAAF|No. 11 Squadron]], having mistaken it for a Japanese aircraft.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PahbHutdCNkC&q=wildcat+catalina+guadalcanal+hell&pg=PA100 |title=Hell's Islands:The Untold Story of Guadalcanal |last=Coleman Jersey |first=Stanley |date= 6 December 2007|via=[[Google Books]] |publisher=Texas A&M University Press |access-date=June 23, 2018 |isbn=9781585446162 }}</ref> This led to the RAAF removing the red dot from the center of its [[roundel]] for the duration of the war in the Pacific in order to prevent confusion with the all-red [[Flag of Japan|''hinomaru'']] used as a roundel by Japanese aircraft.<ref name=roundel>{{cite web |url=https://www.airforce.gov.au/about-us/your-air-force/roundel |title=Air Force Roundel |work=About the RAAF |date=3 November 2017 |publisher=Royal Australian Air Force |access-date=23 June 2018}}</ref>

The squadron acquired an enviable record by destroying 64½ enemy planes including that of [[Toshio Ohta]], a Japanese ace. Of this number, [[Harold W. Bauer|LtCol Harold "Indian Joe" Bauer]], the squadron's first Commanding Officer, was credited with 11 kills and posthumously awarded the [[Medal of Honor]] for his valor.

The squadron returned to the United States in November 1942 and remained on the [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]] until June 1943 when they sailed for [[Midway Atoll]].  The squadron remained on Midway for two months and then returned to Espiritu Santo.  By August 1943, VMF-212 was back in the [[Solomon Islands]] where they participated in the campaigns to retake [[Vella Lavella]] and [[Battle of Bougainville|Bougainville]].  From 20 October through 27 November 1943 the squadron was based out of [[Barakoma Airfield]] and supported operations in the [[Treasury Islands]], [[Choiseul Island|Choiseul]] and Bougainville.  By December 1943 they moved to [[Torokina Airfield]] and remained there until they moved again on 20 January 1944 this time to [[Piva Airfield]].  Another move came on 20 March when they transited to [[Green Island, Papua New Guinea|Green Island]] and later back to Vella Lavella.  VMF-212 remained in the vicinity of the Solomons and [[Bismarck Islands]] for the remainder of 1944 running fighter sweeps against the Japanese garrison on [[Rabaul]] and providing [[close air support]] for ground forces on Bougainville.  On 8 January 1945, VMF-212 landed on [[Samar]] and provided close air support for [[United States Army]] troops during the campaign to retake the Philippines.  During this time they flew over [[Mindoro]], [[Luzon]], [[Visayas]] and [[Mindanao]].  It was also during this time that the squadron was a part of one of the worst aviation accidents of the war.  At 09:40 on 24 January 1945, while taking off, 1Lt Karl Oerth of [[VMF-222]] hit a lump in the runway, blew a tire and his Corsair careened wildly into his own squadron's revetment area, which was shared with VMF-212. It completely wiped out the tents housing the intelligence, oxygen, parachutes and materiel departments. Many men attempted to rescue the pilot but while they were making this brave effort the plane exploded and set off all its .50 cal ammunition.  14 men were killed and over 50 wounded during this incident.<ref name="Walsh">{{cite web|url=http://geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Lab/5428/galle212.html |title=JOHN GALLE'S 212 HISTORY PAGE |access-date=16 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091020033306/http://geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Lab/5428/galle212.html |archive-date=20 October 2009 |url-status=unfit }}</ref>  In June 1945 the squadron arrived at [[Battle of Okinawa|Okinawa]] on the {{USS|Hillsborough County|LST-827}} and conducted operations from there until the end of the war.<ref>Sherrod ''History'', pp. 460–461.</ref>  During the duration of World War II, VMF-212 was credited with shooting down 132½ enemy aircraft<ref>Sherrod ''History'', p. 430.</ref>  A Corsair which came to grief on Approach to Quoin Hill Airfield on Efate, Vanuatu is now a great dive attraction.

===Korean War===
[[File:Vought F4U-4 Corsairs of VMF-212 on deck of USS Rendova (CVE-114), in 1951.jpg|thumb|266x266px|VMF-212 F4U-4s on {{USS|Rendova}} in 1951]]
[[File:VMF-212 Korea Logo.jpg|left|thumb|140px|Squadron logo during the Korean War]]

VMF-212, with no nickname since its reactivation in 1946, was one of the first squadrons sent to Far East at the outbreak of the war. They remained in [[Japan]] until Marines were able to capture [[Kimpo Airfield]] after the [[Battle of Inchon]]. The squadron finally touched down in [[Korea]] on 18 September 1950 and were flying their first Corsair F4U-5 strikes by 20 September. The squadron was later moved to Wonson, North Korea late October 1951 than onto [[Yonpo Airfield]] in [[North Korea]] as the [[United Nations]]' forces continued their advance in the early winter of 1950. The squadron adopted the name "Devil Cats" and a new patch was designed by Roy Irwin, depicting a Devil Cat clutching a Two-Step serpent in its mouth on a red shield. After the Chinese counterattack in late November 1950, VMF-212 aircraft flew almost continuous [[close air support]] missions supporting the [[1st Marine Division (United States)|1st Marine Division]] as they fought their way out of encirclement during the [[Battle of Chosin Reservoir]] while being stationed afloat aboard the {{USS|Bataan|CVL-29}}.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Simmons|first=Edwin H.|title=Frozen Chosin US Marines at the Changjin Reservoir|url=https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/Frozen%20Chosin%20US%20Marines%20at%20the%20Changjin%20Reservoir%20%20PCN%2019000410000.pdf|publisher=Marine Corps University}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Condon|first=John P.|title=U.S. Marines in the Korean War|url=https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publications/U.S.%20Marines%20in%20the%20Korean%20War%20%20PCN%2010600000100_27.pdf|website=US Marine Corps}}</ref> The squadron operated from the USS ''Bataan'' until 5 March 1951.

VMF-212 moved to being land based at K3 Pohang, South Korea. A [[Grumman F9F Panther]] BuNo 123520 belonging to VMF-212 was destroyed by fire from other aircraft at K-3 in Korea July 30, 1951.<ref>{{Cite web|title=US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos--Third Series (120342 to 126256)|url=http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/thirdseries13.html|access-date=2020-09-29|website=joebaugher.com}}</ref> The squadron left Korea in the spring or summer of 1951 and returned to Cherry Point NC. Those personnel who had extended enlistments transferred to VMF 214 at another Korean base. VMA-212's F4U Corsairs were replaced by upgraded AU-1 Corsairs in 1952. The AU-1 Corsair had armor plate around the cockpit and the oil coolers that were moved up to behind the engine. The squadron dropped more ordnance during the Korean War than any other Marine Corps squadron.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Meid|first1=Pat|last2=Yingling|first2=James|title=U.S. Marine Operations in Korea Vol 5 1950 - 1953|url=https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/U_S_%20Marine%20Operations%20in%20Korea%20Vol%205%201950%20-%201953%20%20PCN%2019000264000.pdf|publisher=Marine Corps University|quote=During 24–30 June (1953) when the Chinese again concentrated their attention on ROK divisions in the UNC line. Peak operational day was 30 June. Marine squadrons alone executed 301 sorties, including 28 percent of the CAS and 24 percent of total FAF interdiction missions. It was also an outstanding day for MAG-12 which 'outdid itself by flying 217 combat sorties against enemy forces. The 30th of this month saw MAG-12 establish a new ordnance record when an all-time high of 340 tons of bombs and napalm were dropped on North Korea. Contributing heavily to this accomplishment was Marine Attack Squadron 121. It unleashed 156 tons of ordnance, a squadron record. It was believed this also established an all-time record for tonnage expended on the enemy by a Marine single-engine propeller squadron.'}}</ref> The AU-1 Corsair had an additional center bomb rack which carried a {{cvt|2,000|lb}} bomb until the rough [[Marston Matting]], which was laid over the old pock-marked Japanese landing strip at K-6, caused the center bomb rack to break off. The AU-1 Corsair could carry a {{cvt|2,000|lb}} bomb on its center rack, two {{cvt|1,000|lb}} bombs on the wing root bomb racks and {{cvt|100|or|260|lb}} bombs on its wing racks. It struggled up to enemy territory at approximately {{convert|140|kn}}. After releasing its bombs, the AU-l again became a fast fighter in close support of the front lines and a fighter capable of up to {{convert|600|kn}} in a dive. Colonel [[Robert Galer]], a Marine Corps Ace from World War II, was the Commanding Officer of MAG-12 in 1952, when he was shot down behind enemy lines and protected by VMF-212 pilots until rescued by a Marine Corps helicopter. VMF-212 lost ten pilots in Korea.{{Citation needed|date=March 2019}} On 9 June 1952, VMF-212 was re-designated VMA-212.

[[File:FJ-4B of VMA-212 on USS Oriskany (CVA-34) 1960.jpg|alt=VMA-212 (WD) FJ-4B on USS Oriskany (CV-34)|thumb|VMA-212 (WD) FJ-4B on [[USS Oriskany (CV-34)]] 1960|left|256x256px]]

=== The 1950s and 1960s ===
After the cease fire in Korea, VMA-212 traded their AU-1 Corsairs for Douglas AD-2 and AD-3 Skyraiders.  They boarded the USS Wasp in 1954, and joined MAG-13 at MCAS Kaneohe Bay, HI.  They began a slow transition to white-and-gray paint schemes for their planes and sported a colorful flightline as the "blue birds" were phased out.  The Devil Cats set a record for flight hours in May 1956, when their complement of fifty pilots kept its Skyraiders aloft for 4,276.2 hours for that month.  The squadron accepted the WD tail code in August and transitioned to the jet age in March, 1958, with the North American FJ-4B Fury.  The Devil Cats responded to the Quemoy-Matsu Crisis by prosecuting Operation Cannonball, in October 1958.  VMA-212 and the Black Sheep of VMA-214 flew their aircraft across the Pacific, from Hawaii to Japan, utilizing their air-to-air refueling capability.  This marked the first time that a single-seat aircraft had ever done so, and it stood in the record books until it was eclipsed by VMF(AW)-451 in 1961, when the Warlords flew their F8U Crusaders from El Toro to Japan.  The Devil Cats traded their Fury jets for the Douglas A4D-2 Skyhawks (redesignated A-4B) in August 1961.  The squadron received the Vought F-8B Crusader in July 1963 and changed their name to Lancers.  Ed Rutty, the Executive Officer, derived that name in keeping with the medieval theme of the Crusader.  David and Mary Lerps designed the Lancer insignia that was used for decades, featuring crossed lances over a cross-emblazened shield.  The squadron was redesignated a Marine Fighter Squadron, VMF-212.  The squadron operated the day-fighter version of the Crusader for exactly one year, when they accepted the F-8D Crusader and were redesignated Marine (All Weather) Fighter Squadron, VMF(AW)-212 on July 1, 1964.

=== The Vietnam War & the 1980s ===
[[File:F-8E VMF-212 CVA-34 1965.jpg|left|thumb|VMF(AW)-212 F-8E in 1965|252x252px]]
[[File:F-4S VMFA-212 at MCAS Kaneohe Bay 1983.JPEG|thumb|right|An F-4 Phantom II from VMFA-212 preparing to take-off at MCAS Kaneohe Bay in 1983.]]

The squadron was informed, in the Fall of 1964, that it would embark aboard the {{USS|Oriskany|CVA-34|6}} for its 1965 WestPac cruise. The squadron immediately began carrier qualifications to sharpen their skills.  Armed conflict in Vietnam was looming as a reality at the time and the squadron upgraded to the ground-attack version of the Crusader, the F-8E.  They arrived at NAS San Diego in January and practiced air-to-ground ordnance delivery with their new Crusaders.  [[Carrier Air Wing 16|Carrier Air Group 16]] (CVW-16) they arrived off the coast of [[Vietnam]] and began operating from [[Yankee Station]].  From 8 May to 6 December 1965 the Lancers flew missions against targets in [[North Vietnam|North]] and [[Republic of Vietnam|South Vietnam]].  The Operations Officer, Major Harry E. Sexton, devised a way to carry 2,000-pound [[Mark 84 bomb|MK-84 bombs]] from an [[Vought F-8 Crusader|F-8 Crusader]] prior to being launched from an aircraft carrier. [[Commander, Air Group]] (CAG) of CVW-16 Commander [[James Stockdale]]'s [[A-4 Skyhawk|A-4E Skyhawk]] was shot down September 9, over North Vietnam<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/project/POW/pow_s.htm
| title = POW S
| publisher = Project Get Out and Walk
| access-date = 2008-06-25}}</ref> making the commanding officer of VMF(AW)-212 the acting CAG until a replacement arrived.<ref>{{Cite news
  | last = White-Hoffman
  | first = Nancy Lee
  | title = VMF(AW)-212 – First Crusader Squadron to Deliver 2,000 Pound Bombs in Combat
  | newspaper = Leatherneck
  | pages = 52–53
  | date = May 2008
  }}</ref> This made 212's Commanding Officer LtCol Chuck Ludden the first Marine Officer to command a carrier airwing since William A. Millington did in World War II.  Captain Harlan P. Chapman was shot down on November 5, over North Vietnam.  He became a POW until he was released in February, 1973.  Of interest, this incident was referred to in the motion picture, Top Gun as the date that the main character, Pete Mitchell's father was shot down.  Later in the movie, Top Gun commander, Viper admits, "I flew with your old man.  VF-51.  The Oriskany."  In December 1965 the squadron returned to Hawaii having flown 3,018 combat hours and 1,588 sorties during their time off the coast of Vietnam.<ref>Ginter, p. 13</ref>  
[[File:McD F-4J 155850 VMFA-212 WD-9 Dallas NAS 19.10.75 edited-2.jpg|thumb|[[McDonnell F-4 Phantom II|McDonnell F-4J Phantom II]] of VMFA-212 in 1975 wearing the units ''Lancers'' symbol on its fin|alt=|left|254x254px]]
The squadron returned to MCAS Kaneohe Bay and resumed training with the F-8D.  The unit reverted to the day-fighter version of the Crusader, the F-8B in early 1968 and lost its (all-weather) designation in March.  VMF-212 received its first four McDonnell F-4J Phantom IIs in May 1968, but without the AWG-10 Pulse Doppler radar.  Production of the radar was behind schedule for the production of the F-4J.  The squadron was redesignated Marine Fixed/Wing Fighter Attack squadron, VMFA on August 10.  The unit finally received radar-equipped birds in November 1969.

In April 1972, the squadron deployed from [[Hawaii]] to [[Da Nang Air Base]], South Vietnam in an effort to blunt the [[Easter Offensive|massive North Vietnamese invasion of South Vietnam]]. LtCol Richard Revie led the Lancers across the Pacific joining [[VMFA-115]] and [[VMFA-232]] at Danang.  The squadron began sorties immediately, attacking ground targets in the south.  Danang Air Base was attacked by rockets two days after 212's arrival and two Lancers were injured on the flight line.  Captain John W. Consolvo and his RIO, CWO3 James J. Castonguay were hit on May 7, after pulling off target near the northern Quang Tri Province.  Consolvo fought to control the flaming Phantom but to no avail.  He told his RIO to eject and Castonguay did.  He did not see whether or not his pilot ejected.  Castonguay hid from enemy patrols for nineteen hours before being rescued by helicopter.  John Consolvo was listed as Missing In Action.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://taskforceomegainc.org/c162.htm |title=CONSOLVO, JOHN WADSWORTH, JR. "JACK" |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=taskforceomegainc.org |publisher=Task Force Omega |access-date=2021-08-01 |quote=}}</ref>  The Lancers lost another Phantom and its crew on June 4, when Captain Benjamin Lee Tebault and 1LT Mike Konow were hit while diving on a target.  The jet flew into the ground.  The Marine Phantom units of Danang were ordered to Nam Phong, Thailand, but VMFA-212 was replaced by VMA(AW)-533 and the Lancers returned to Hawaii.  VMFA-212 flew more than 1000 combat sorties during the two+ months they operated from Danang.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title= Year of Action.....1972|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/histories/naval-aviation/Naval%20Aviation%20News/1970/pdf/feb73.pdf |magazine=Naval Aviation News |location=Washington D.C. |publisher=Naval Historical Center |page= 19 |date=February 1973|access-date=2021-08-01}}</ref>  VMFA-212 earned a [[Meritorious Unit Commendation]] for its effort in Vietnam.

From 1974 until 1987, VMFA-212 deployed numerous times to Japan and the West Coast earning the CNO Aviation Safety Award, the Robert M. Hanson Award, and the Meritorious Unit Commendation. During October 1988, VMFA-212 completed its seventh and final rotation in the UDP as an [[F-4 Phantom]] squadron. With the last F-4 sorties flown in August 1988, over 23,000 accident-free hours had been accumulated since the loss of an aircraft on March 27, 1978 at Midway Island.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/thirdseries20.html|title=US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos--Third Series (156170 to 160006)}}</ref> The [[F/A-18C Hornet]] was received at this time.

=== The Gulf War & the 1990s ===
[[File:USMC FA-18 Hornet.JPEG|thumb|F/A-18 Hornet over the South China Sea]]

In December 1990, the squadron deployed to [[Bahrain]] in support of [[Gulf War#Operation Desert Shield|Operation Desert Shield]].  From there, they flew [[air interdiction]] and [[close air support]] missions in support of coalition forces during [[Operation Desert Storm]] after 17 January 1991.  On 13 August 1996 the Lancers took off for the final time from [[NAS Miramar]] en route to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan. After a successful six-month cycle the Lancers became a permanent resident of MCAS Iwakuni.

===The Global War on Terror===

The Lancers were the second Marine Corps squadron to deploy after the [[September 11 attacks]], following their aerial refueler aircraft from VMGR-152, the "Sumos." The squadron left MCAS Iwakuni on 14 September and after being refueled over Iwo Jima, began flying [[Combat air patrol|Combat Air Patrols]] over [[Guam]] in support of [[Operation Noble Eagle]].

In the spring of 2002 the squadron deployed to Kuwait. For the first time single seat C models and 2-seat Ds from VMFA (AW)-332 "The Moonlighters" were combined into one unit.  The Moon-Lancers flew missions over Iraq in support of Operation Southern Watch and Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.  The OEF missions were, on average, 10 hours in duration and mostly at night.

Due to a re-organization within [[United States Marine Corps Aviation|Marine aviation]], the squadron was decommissioned in 2008 in order to facilitate the Corps' transition to the [[F-35 Lightning II|F-35]].