USMC Helicopter Squadrons
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Official VMFA-224 Bengals F-35B Lightning II shoulder patch.
Bengals on the prowl — Hornet sundown, F-35B sunrise at MCAS Beaufort.
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 224 (VMFA-224), the "Bengals," is a USMC F-35B Lightning II strike fighter squadron based at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina under Marine Aircraft Group 31 (MAG-31) and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. The squadron was originally established as Marine Fighter Squadron 224 (VMF-224) on May 1, 1942 at NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii, arrived at Henderson Field, Guadalcanal on September 3, 1942, and earned its first Presidential Unit Citation flying fighter cover in the Cactus Air Force. Transitioning to the F4U Corsair, the Bengals went on to fight in the Marshall Islands and Okinawa campaigns and earned a second Presidential Unit Citation, with 105 enemy aircraft destroyed. The squadron was redesignated VMA-224 on December 1, 1954 and flew the F2H-3 Banshee, F9F-5 Panther, and A-4 Skyhawk (beginning 1956); was redesignated VMA(AW)-224 on November 1, 1966 with the A-6 Intruder; and became VMFA(AW)-224 on March 6, 1993 when the F/A-18D Hornet replaced the Intruder. After more than 32 years on the F/A-18D, the squadron flew its final Hornet sortie on April 28, 2025 and was redesignated VMFA-224 on June 26, 2025 — joining the Marine Corps' F-35B Lightning II force as the newest STOVL Lightning squadron, with first F-35B receipt in late 2025 and Full Operational Capability targeted for FY2027. This shoulder patch carries the Bengals' tiger lineage from Guadalcanal Wildcats and Corsairs all the way to fifth-generation Lightning II strike fighters.
Perfect For: VMFA-224 Bengals active-duty and veteran personnel, F-35B Lightning II pilots and maintainers, MCAS Beaufort Marines, MAG-31 and 2nd MAW personnel, F/A-18D Hornet and A-6 Intruder heritage enthusiasts, Guadalcanal Cactus Air Force historians, and Marine fighter community patch collectors.
Bengals — Wildcats at Henderson Field to F-35B Lightnings, since 1942.
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.
