Official VMM-166/VMFA-211 ACE Multi-squadron Patch — 13th MEU Aviation Combat Element Embroidered Patch
Two squadrons, one ACE—VMM-166 Sea Elk and VMFA-211 Wake Island Avengers join forces as the Aviation Combat Element of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
This multi-squadron patch represents the Aviation Combat Element (ACE) of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, built around VMM-166 (Reinforced) with VMFA-211 as the fixed-wing strike component. Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 166 (VMM-166), the "Sea Elk," provided the MV-22B Osprey assault support core of the ACE, while Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 (VMFA-211), the legendary "Wake Island Avengers," brought F-35B Lightning II fifth-generation stealth fighter capability to the MEU's aviation arm—a combination that represented the cutting edge of Marine expeditionary airpower.
VMFA-211's heritage is one of the most celebrated in Marine Corps history. The squadron earned its "Wake Island Avengers" name in honor of the Marines of VMF-211 who fought to the last aircraft defending Wake Island against the Japanese invasion in December 1941—one of the most heroic stands in American military history. Major Paul Putnam's Marines flew F4F Wildcats against overwhelming Japanese air and naval forces, sinking the destroyer Kisaragi and damaging numerous enemy ships before the island fell. The squadron was reconstituted and has carried the Wake Island Avengers name through Korea, Vietnam, and the Global War on Terror.
The 13th MEU ACE configuration—combining VMM-166's Ospreys with VMFA-211's F-35Bs, plus detachments from heavy helicopter, light attack helicopter, and unmanned aerial vehicle squadrons including HMH-361, HMLA-469, and VMU-1—creates a self-contained aviation task force capable of projecting power from the sea across the full spectrum of military operations. This multi-squadron patch celebrates the teamwork and integration that makes the MEU ACE greater than the sum of its parts.
Perfect For: VMM-166 Sea Elk and VMFA-211 Wake Island Avengers members and veterans, 13th MEU ACE personnel, HMH-361, HMLA-469, and VMU-1 detachment members, MEU deployment veterans, and multi-squadron patch collectors.
Two legendary squadrons, one unstoppable ACE—VMM-166 and VMFA-211 delivering Marine airpower from the flight decks of the 13th MEU to wherever the fight takes them.
