USMC Helicopter Squadrons
$12.00
Only 55 items left in stock
Bulk Patch Pricing
Embroidered
Minimum order: 25
25-49: $6.00 each
50-99: $5.00 each
100-199: $4.00 each
200-299: $3.00 each
300+: $2.50 each
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Officially Licensed USMC VMA-542 Tigers Squadron Patch - Marine Attack Squadron 542 (VMA-542) Tigers officially licensed embroidered patch, representing one of the most decorated V/STOL attack squadrons in Marine Corps aviation history.
Eight decades of Tiger aggression, from Pacific night skies and Vietnam close air support to Harrier strikes over Kuwait and beyond.
VMA-542 was commissioned on 6 March 1944 at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina, flying F6F Hellcats in Pacific night-fighter operations including the Battle of Okinawa. After Korea and Vietnam combat tours, the squadron was reactivated in January 1972 as Marine Attack Squadron 542 and became only the second Marine unit equipped with the AV-8A Harrier. The Tigers relocated to MCAS Cherry Point in 1974 and transitioned to the AV-8B Harrier II in 1986, sharpening a close air support and armed reconnaissance mission that would define the squadron for the next four decades. During Operation Desert Storm in 1991, the Tigers flew more than 1,000 combat sorties and delivered more ordnance than any other V/STOL squadron in theater. Subsequent deployments took the Tigers to Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya, with Harrier detachments operating from amphibious assault ships in support of Marine Expeditionary Units across multiple theaters. In 2022, VMA-542 transitioned to the F-35B Lightning II and was redesignated VMFA-542, closing the Harrier chapter while carrying the Tiger identity forward into fifth-generation strike aviation. This officially licensed embroidered patch captures the squadron's tiger-head insignia and belongs in any serious Marine aviation collection.
Perfect For: VMA-542 and VMFA-542 veterans, AV-8B Harrier pilots and maintainers, Marine attack aviation collectors, MAG-14 and 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing alumni, Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom commemorators, shadow box builders, patch panel displays, reunion gifts, and anyone honoring the long lineage of Marine V/STOL strike aviation at MCAS Cherry Point. It also makes a meaningful keepsake for families and supporters who want a verified, officially licensed piece tied to one of the most operationally active attack squadrons in Marine Corps history.
Tigers heritage, officially licensed, stitched for the pilots, maintainers, and families who kept the Harrier in the fight.
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.
