Official VMFA(AW)-533 Hawks Throwback 75th Anniversary Shoulder Patches

Official VMFA(AW)-533 Hawks Throwback 75th Anniversary Shoulder Patches — Seventy-Five Years of Night Fighting

From hunting Japanese bombers in the dark Pacific skies to all-weather strike in the F/A-18, the Hawks have owned the night for three-quarters of a century.

Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533 (VMFA(AW)-533) — the 'Hawks' — celebrated 75 years of service with this anniversary throwback patch, honoring a lineage that stretches back to the desperate fighting of World War II. Originally activated as VMF(N)-533 on March 1, 1943, the squadron was one of the Marine Corps' first dedicated night fighter units, flying the F6F-5N Hellcat and later the F7F-3N Tigercat with airborne intercept radar to shoot down Japanese aircraft in the black Pacific night. During the Korean War, the Hawks flew the F4U-5N Corsair on night interdiction missions. The squadron's commanding officer during World War II, Colonel Marion M. 'Black Mac' Magruder, became legendary for his aggressive tactics and leadership — earning the 'Black Mac' nickname that has been associated with VMF(N)-533 ever since. Over the decades, the Hawks transitioned through the F-4 Phantom, the A-6 Intruder, and finally the F/A-18D Hornet in the all-weather attack role. This 75th anniversary throwback celebrates the full arc of that history — from the earliest days of Marine night fighting to the modern era.

Perfect For: VMFA(AW)-533 Hawks Marines past and present, Marine night fighter history enthusiasts, Black Mac's Killers legacy members, and anyone who appreciates 75 years of Marine all-weather fighter attack aviation.