Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 311 (VMFA-311) is a United States Marine Corps fighter attack squadron consisting of F-35C Lightning II. Known as the "Tomcats", the squadron 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 (3rd MAW).
History
World War II
Commissioning & early training
Marine Fighting Squadron 311 (VMF-311) was commissioned on December 1, 1942 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. The squadron was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 31 of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and was commanded by Major Ralph K. Rottet . The squadron moved to Marine Corps Air Station Parris Island, South Carolina on April 18, 1943. While at Parris Island, the squadron transitioned from flying SNJ Texan trainers to flying the newly fielded Vought F4U Corsair. By the end of June, VMF-311 had 15 Corsairs on the flightline and had totally divested all of its SNJs. On August 31, 1943, the squadron departed the east coast arriving at Marine Corps Air Depot Miramar, California on September 8, 1943. On September 23, 1943, VMF-311 along with the other MAG-31 squadrons embarked aboard the headed for the Pacific Theater.
American Samoa & the Marshall Islands
VMF-311 participated in what was one of the earliest American catapult operations involving the Corsair when 21 F4Us launched from on October 6, 1943 inbound to United States Naval Station Tutuila. The squadron, along with the rest of MAG-31, was now part of the 4th Marine Base Defense Aircraft Wing. On October 8, VMF-311 aircraft flew to a newly constructed airfield on Wallis Island where they remained until January 1944. During its time in American Samoa, the squadron was responsible for flying combat air patrols and other missions as required but did not engage any enemy aircraft.
On January 26, 1944 VMF-311 personnel embarked on the and arriving at Roi-Namur on February 6, 1944. Early in the morning on February 12, 1944, Japanese bombers hit Roi-Namur and destroying most of the squadron's equipment and all of its tents and personal gear. 14 officers and 99 enlisted Marines were casualties during this raid. On February 24, the squadron was moved again, this time to Kwajalein Atoll. Beginning on March 23, 1944, the squadron began flying strafing missions against Wotje, Maloelap, Mille, Jaluit, and Taroa. The strikes continued while the squadron moved back to Roi-Namur by April 4. On May 14, VMF-311 conducted its first bombing mission utilizing the F4U Corsair. During the squadron's time on Roi-Namur, Charles Lindbergh, at the time a consultant with United Aircraft, flew combat missions with the squadron. VMF-311 continued in its roll of engaging bypassed Japanese Garrisons until March 1945.
Okinawa and the end of the war
On March 8, 1945, the squadron embarked on the and the with its newly arrived F4U-1Cs with 4 x 20mm cannons and four pairs of pylons for rockets. On April 7, squadron aircraft landed at Yontan Airfield joining the Tactical Air Force, Tenth Army during the Battle of Okinawa. That same day the squadron scored its first enemy aircraft when multiple squadron aircraft flying combat air patrol engaged and destroyed a kamikaze Kawasaki Ki-48 headed for the Sitkoh Bay. During the month of April the squadron was credited with shooting down 22 enemy aircraft and in May another 37.
On July 1 the squadron departed Yontan to begin operations from Chimu Airfield, also on Okinawa. The next day, four squadron aircraft took part in the unit's first fighter sweeps against Kyushu. Two more were conducted during the rest of July. At the close of combat operations on Okinawa, VMF-311 was credited with shooting down 71 Japanese aircraft in a four-month period. This was the second highest total of Japanese aircraft in the Tactical Air Force. During its five months on Okinawa, the squadron lost 16 aircraft with 3 pilots killed. On September 9, 1945, the squadron departed Chimu Airfield for Yokosuka Naval Airfield.