Officially Licensed USMC VMFA-122 Flying Leathernecks Squadron Patch — Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 Embroidered Patch
The Flying Leathernecks soar into the fifth-generation era—VMFA-122, one of the Marine Corps' first F-35B Lightning II squadrons, writing the next chapter of Marine fighter aviation from MCAS Yuma.
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 (VMFA-122), the "Flying Leathernecks," is assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, based at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona. The squadron operates the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II—the short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the Joint Strike Fighter that brings fifth-generation stealth, advanced sensor fusion, and supersonic performance to Marine Corps fighter aviation. VMFA-122 was one of the early operational F-35B squadrons, leading the Marine Corps' transition into the stealth fighter era.
The Flying Leathernecks trace their lineage to 1 March 1942, when the squadron was commissioned as Marine Fighting Squadron 122 (VMF-122). The squadron served with distinction during World War II, flying the F4U Corsair in the Pacific Theater. The "Flying Leathernecks" name—evoking the classic Marine Corps nickname derived from the leather stock worn by early Marines—has been carried through multiple aircraft transitions including the F-8 Crusader, F-4 Phantom II, and F/A-18C Hornet before the squadron transitioned to the F-35B.
The F-35B Lightning II represents a revolutionary leap in combat capability. Its low-observable stealth design, advanced AN/APG-81 AESA radar, Distributed Aperture System (DAS), and helmet-mounted display system provide pilots with unprecedented situational awareness—the ability to see and process the entire battlespace before the enemy knows they're there. The F-35B's STOVL capability allows it to operate from amphibious assault ships, austere airfields, and expeditionary bases, perfectly matching the Marine Corps' expeditionary warfighting concept.
Perfect For: VMFA-122 Flying Leathernecks members and veterans, F-35B Lightning II community members, MAG-13 and 3rd MAW personnel, MCAS Yuma Marines, Marine Corps fighter pilot enthusiasts, and military patch collectors.
The Flying Leathernecks of VMFA-122—from Corsairs over the Pacific to Lightning IIs over the desert, carrying the Marine fighter tradition into the stealth era.
