USMC Helicopter Squadrons
$15.00
Only 17 items left in stock
Bulk Patch Pricing
PVC / TPU / IR
Minimum order: 50
50-99: $6.00 each
100-199: $5.00 each
200+: $4.00 each
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Official VMA-231 Ace of Spades Blackout/Glow PVC Patches — The Oldest Squadron in Marine Aviation, Now Glowing in the Dark
The Ace of Spades has been on Marine flight suits since before there was a Marine Aircraft Wing. Now it glows.
Marine Attack Squadron 231 (VMA-231) — the legendary 'Ace of Spades' — holds the distinction of being the oldest flying squadron in the United States Marine Corps, tracing its lineage all the way back to February 8, 1919, when it was commissioned as the 1st Division, Squadron 1 in Miami, Florida, emerging from the Northern Bombing Group that had served in France during World War I. The squadron's iconic insignia — the Ace of Spades bearing the letters 'A' and 'S' — was designed by 2nd Lieutenant Hayne D. Boyden, with the ace representing 'First' and the letters standing for 'Air Squadron,' making it the first official unit insignia in Marine Corps aviation history. Based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, under Marine Aircraft Group 14 and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, VMA-231 pioneered dive-bombing tactics in Nicaragua in the late 1920s, fought across the Pacific in World War II, and was reactivated in 1973 to fly the revolutionary AV-8A Harrier — becoming the Marine Corps' first V/STOL attack squadron and winning the inaugural V/STOL Squadron of the Year award in 1977. When Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, VMA-231 flew an unprecedented 18,000 nautical miles around the world in just 14 days to join the fight, then flew 987 combat sorties and delivered over 1.6 million pounds of ordnance during Desert Storm. The Ace of Spades went on to support operations in Kosovo, Libya, Afghanistan, and most recently Operation Prosperity Guardian. This blackout and glow PVC patch brings a tactical edge to the oldest insignia in Marine Corps aviation — built for low-light wear, night operations culture, and anyone who carries the Ace of Spades after dark.
Perfect For: VMA-231 Ace of Spades veterans and active-duty Marines, AV-8B Harrier pilots and maintainers, MAG-14 and 2nd MAW personnel, Cherry Point Marines, and anyone who proudly carries the oldest insignia in Marine Corps aviation.
If you want to swap patches on/off gear, choose hook & loop (velcro). If you’re attaching permanently to uniforms or fabric, choose sew-on. If you want quick application on compatible fabric, choose iron-on / heat seal (when offered). Backing options are shown on the page and update based on the variant you select.
Size is shown on the product page and updates with the variant you select (example: 3"). If you’re mounting on a hat or small panel, choose smaller sizes; for plate carriers and display boards, larger sizes fit better.
If the product is officially licensed, it will say “Officially Licensed” in the title and/or in the product details. If it doesn’t, it’s still a legitimate product—just not part of a licensed program.
Yes. If you see a note like “bulk reruns available,” that means we can support group orders or reruns. If you don’t see it, contact us with the unit/squadron and quantity and we’ll confirm options.
Yes—custom solutions are available (patches, name tags, lanyards, apparel). Use the custom request page and include artwork, size, backing preference, and quantity.
