USMC Helicopter Squadrons
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VMF-122 Crusaders Patch
Marine Fighter Squadron 122 (VMF-122) — "Crusaders" — Heritage Design
VMF-122 holds a remarkable place in Marine Corps aviation history as a squadron of "firsts." In January 1954, VMF-122 became the first Marine squadron equipped with the FJ-2 Fury and the first Navy or Marine squadron to carrier qualify in the Fury aboard USS Coral Sea. The Candystripers, as they were then known, relocated to MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina in September 1957, where in December they became the fastest squadron in the Marine Corps when they received the first F8U-1 Crusader fighters from Chance Vought — adopting the iconic "Crusaders" nickname in honor of their revolutionary new aircraft.
In September 1959, VMF-122 became the first Marine F-8 squadron to carrier qualify, aboard USS Independence. During the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962, the Crusaders deployed to Key West, Florida for strip alert and combat air patrols. Transitioning to the F-4B Phantom and redesignated VMFA-122, the squadron deployed to Vietnam in August 1967, flying 2,540 sorties and delivering 4,800 tons of ordnance in their first five months from Da Nang Air Base. During the Siege of Khe Sanh in February 1968, the Crusaders flew 629 combat sorties and dropped 1,300 tons of ordnance in a single month. In 1974, VMFA-122 was placed in cadre status in anticipation of becoming the Marine Corps' first F-14A Tomcat squadron — but when the Tomcat program was cancelled, the squadron was refitted with F-4Js and later transitioned to the F/A-18 Hornet in 1986. The squadron has since been redesignated "Flying Leathernecks" and now flies the F-35B Lightning II from MCAS Yuma under MAG-13, 3rd MAW.
Perfect For: VMF-122 and VMFA-122 veterans from any era and designation, Crusaders alumni, F-8 Crusader and F-4 Phantom aviation enthusiasts, MCAS Beaufort and MCAS Yuma personnel, and Marine fighter aviation historians.
This heritage patch honors the Crusaders legacy — a squadron of firsts that has flown every generation of Marine fighter aircraft from prop-driven Corsairs to fifth-generation stealth fighters.
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.
