Official VMFA-312 Checkerboards Historic Aircraft Shoulder Patch — Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 Embroidered Patch
From Furies to Lightning — the Checkerboards have flown them all.
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 (VMFA-312), the "Checkerboards," is one of the United States Marine Corps' most historically significant fighter squadrons. Assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 31 (MAG-31) under the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the Checkerboards have operated an extraordinary succession of fighter aircraft throughout their distinguished career — from the FJ Fury of the Korean War era through the legendary F-8U Crusader, the F-4 Phantom II of the Vietnam era, and into the modern age with the F/A-18 Hornet. Today, VMFA-312 is transitioning to the F-35B Lightning II, the Marine Corps' fifth-generation stealth strike fighter.
This historic aircraft variant shoulder patch celebrates the full breadth of VMFA-312's aviation legacy, honoring every airframe the Checkerboards have flown across more than seven decades of service. The squadron's distinctive checkerboard tail markings have adorned some of the most iconic fighter aircraft in Marine Corps history, and their combat record includes engagements from the Korean War through operations in the Middle East. The Checkerboards' transition to the F-35B Lightning II ensures that this storied squadron will continue to be at the cutting edge of Marine tactical aviation for decades to come.
Perfect For: VMFA-312 veterans across all eras, F-35B Lightning II enthusiasts, F-4 Phantom and Crusader historians, 2nd MAW alumni, and military patch collectors who appreciate heritage aircraft designs.
Checkerboard legacy — from Furies to Lightning, always in the fight.
