VMFA-231 Ace of Spades Squadron Patch
Marine Attack Squadron 231 (VMA-231) "Ace of Spades"
The Marine Corps' oldest flying squadron traces its origins to 8 February 1919, when it was commissioned as the 1st Division, Squadron 1, at Marine Flying Field, Miami, Florida — a unit that emerged from the Northern Bombing Group of Northern France during World War I. The squadron's iconic Ace of Spades insignia, designed by 2nd Lieutenant Hayne D. Boyden, is the first official unit insignia to appear in Marine Corps aviation, with the ace symbolizing "First" and the letters "A" and "S" representing "Air" and "Squadron."
The Ace of Spades served in Santo Domingo from 1919 to 1924, pioneered dive-bombing tactics in Nicaragua in 1927, and fought at Midway and Guadalcanal during World War II. Reactivated on 15 May 1973, VMA-231 became the first squadron to operate the AV-8A Harrier and won the inaugural V/STOL Squadron of the Year award in 1977. In June 1990, the squadron deployed to the Western Pacific and was extended to Southwest Asia for Desert Shield, flying an unprecedented 18,000 nautical miles around the world in 14 days. During Desert Storm, VMA-231 flew 987 combat sorties and 1,195.8 combat hours, delivering 1,692,000 pounds of ordnance against enemy targets.
VMA-231 completed its final AV-8B Harrier II flight on 29 May 2025 at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina, and is scheduled for deactivation in September 2025 before reactivating as VMFA-231, transitioning to the F-35B Lightning II in fiscal year 2026.
Perfect For: VMA-231 veterans, Ace of Spades squadron personnel, AV-8B Harrier pilots and maintainers, 2nd MAW Marines, and Marine Corps aviation heritage collectors.
Honoring the Marine Corps' oldest and most historic flying squadron, whose Ace of Spades insignia has graced aircraft from biplanes to stealth fighters across more than a century of service.
