Official VMA-231 AV-8 Harrier Tail Flash PVC Patch

VMA-231 AV-8 Harrier Tail Flash PVC Patch

Marine Attack Squadron 231 (VMA-231), 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing

Marine Attack Squadron 231 (VMA-231), the legendary "Ace of Spades," holds the extraordinary distinction of being the oldest flying squadron in the United States Marine Corps, tracing its origins to 8 February 1919 when it was activated as the 1st Division, Squadron 1 in Miami, Florida—a unit that emerged from the Northern Bombing Group of Northern France in World War I. The squadron's iconic Ace of Spades insignia—designed by 2nd Lieutenant Hayne D. Boyden, with the "A" representing "Air" and the "S" representing "Squadron"—became the first official insignia in Marine Corps aviation history.

Reactivated on 15 May 1973, VMA-231 became the Marine Corps' newest squadron flying the Corps' newest aircraft, the Hawker Siddeley AV-8A Harrier—the first Vertical/Short Take-Off and Landing (V/STOL) aircraft adopted by the USMC. In 1977, VMA-231 became the first recipient of the V/STOL Squadron of the Year Award. On 2 August 1985, the squadron converted to the AV-8B Harrier II, and in June 1990 deployed to the Western Pacific as a full squadron for the first time since World War II. When Operation Desert Shield began, the Ace of Spades flew an unprecedented 18,000 nautical miles around the world in 14 days to join MAG-13, setting a fleet Harrier record of 904 flight hours in December 1990.

This tail flash patch represents the distinctive tail marking of VMA-231's AV-8B Harrier II aircraft, bearing the squadron's iconic Ace of Spades design as displayed on the vertical stabilizer. During Desert Storm, VMA-231 flew 987 combat sorties and 1,195.8 hours, delivering 1,692,000 pounds of ammunition against enemy positions. The squadron subsequently deployed to Afghanistan in 2009, and supported Operations Allied Force, Odyssey Dawn, Inherent Resolve, and Prosperity Guardian. On 29 May 2025, VMA-231 conducted its final AV-8B Harrier II flight at MCAS Cherry Point, marking the end of an era as the squadron transitions to the F-35B Lightning II as VMFA-231.

Perfect For: VMA-231 Ace of Spades members and veterans, AV-8B Harrier II tail flash collectors, MAG-14 and 2nd MAW personnel, V/STOL aviation enthusiasts, and collectors of historic Marine Corps aviation memorabilia.

The Ace of Spades tail flash—the mark of the Marine Corps' oldest and first flying squadron, from the first insignia to the last Harrier flight, now entering the F-35 era.