Officially Licensed USMC VMFA(AW)-121 Green Knights Leather Patches — First to Fly the F-35 in Combat
The Green Knights didn't just transition to the F-35. They took it to war and proved what fifth-generation means in combat.
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 (VMFA-121) — the 'Green Knights' — is one of the most historic and significant squadrons in the United States Marine Corps, and holds the distinction of being the first operational F-35B Lightning II squadron in the world. The Green Knights' lineage traces back to World War II, and the squadron flew in Korea and Vietnam before becoming the Marine Corps' first operational unit to receive the F-35B STOVL variant of the Lightning II. VMFA-121 achieved Initial Operational Capability with the F-35B in 2015 and has since deployed to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, as part of the forward-deployed forces in the Indo-Pacific. The Green Knights have operated the F-35B from the flight decks of amphibious assault ships, proving the concept of fifth-generation stealth fighters operating from LHD and LHA class vessels — a capability that gives every Marine Expeditionary Unit a stealth fighter squadron. The F-35B combines stealth, advanced sensor fusion, electronic warfare capabilities, and short takeoff/vertical landing capability in a single platform, and the Green Knights have been at the forefront of developing the tactics and operational concepts that will define Marine fighter aviation for decades. These leather patches carry the Green Knights' pioneering legacy.
Perfect For: VMFA-121 Green Knights Marines past and present, F-35B Lightning II pilots and maintainers, MCAS Iwakuni and Indo-Pacific forward-deployed personnel, and anyone who has served with the first operational F-35 squadron.
