Official VMFA-312 Checkerboards F-18C Hornet Leather Shoulder Patch — Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 Checkerboards Leather Patch
The Checkerboards — VMFA-312 in premium leather, commemorating the squadron's F/A-18C Hornet era before transitioning to the F-35B Lightning II at MCAS Beaufort.
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 (VMFA-312), the "Checkerboards," is a USMC fighter attack squadron currently assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 31 (MAG-31) at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina, under the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (2nd MAW). This leather shoulder patch commemorates the squadron's era operating the F/A-18C Hornet — the single-seat legacy Hornet that served as the backbone of Marine fighter attack aviation for decades before the squadron's transition to the F-35B Lightning II.
The F/A-18C Hornet was a true multi-role fighter that gave VMFA-312 the ability to conduct both air-to-air combat and air-to-ground attack missions with a single aircraft. The Hornet's AN/APG-73 radar, AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-9 Sidewinder, and full suite of precision-guided munitions made it a lethal and versatile platform that the Checkerboards employed in exercises and operations around the world. The squadron's distinctive checkerboard markings on their aircraft tails made them one of the most visually recognizable squadrons on any flight line.
This leather patch represents a premium collectible format, crafted from genuine leather with debossed or printed details that give it a distinctive texture and appearance different from standard embroidered or PVC patches. The F/A-18C depicted on the patch marks a specific chapter in the Checkerboards' evolution from Hornet to Lightning II.
Perfect For: VMFA-312 Checkerboards members and veterans, F/A-18C Hornet pilots and maintainers, MAG-31 and 2nd MAW personnel, MCAS Beaufort Marines, and leather military patch collectors.
VMFA-312 Checkerboards — from the Hornet to the Lightning — this leather patch marks the legacy era of one of the Marine Corps' finest fighter attack squadrons.
