{"product_id":"official-vmfa-231-ace-of-spades-holiday-patch-collection","title":"Official VMFA-231 Ace of Spades Holiday Patch Collection","description":"\u003cp\u003eOfficial VMFA-231 Ace of Spades Holiday Patch Collection - Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 231 (VMFA-231) Ace of Spades F-35B Lightning II Embroidered Holiday Patch Collection, MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFirst and Finest — the Ace of Spades insignia of the oldest squadron in the Marine Corps, now stitched into a seasonal collection worthy of the legacy it carries.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eVMFA-231 traces its lineage to 8 February 1919, when it stood up as the 1st Division, Squadron D at Marine Flying Field, Miami, Florida, emerging from the Northern Bombing Group of World War I France. After redesignation as the First Air Squadron, the unit adopted the Ace of Spades as its insignia, a symbol chosen because the ace is the first card in a suit, representing the first Marine Corps squadron. Over more than a century the squadron flew through the Banana Wars, the Battle of Midway, Guadalcanal, Desert Storm, and Operation Enduring Freedom, accumulating a combat record that spans nearly every major American conflict. After decades flying the AV-8B Harrier II, the squadron held its final Harrier flight ceremony on 29 May 2025, deactivated in September 2025, and was reactivated on 4 June 2026 as VMFA-231, now flying the F-35B Lightning II at MCAS Cherry Point under Marine Aircraft Group 14 and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. The holiday patch collection captures that full arc of identity — from the oldest designation in Marine aviation to the cutting edge of fifth-generation strike capability — in embroidered form built for display, gifting, and preservation.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePerfect For: VMFA-231 and VMA-231 veterans, Ace of Spades alumni, AV-8B Harrier and F-35B crew members, MAG-14 and 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing collectors, MCAS Cherry Point supporters, Marine aviation historians, holiday gift buyers, shadow box builders, challenge coin and patch panel displays, reunion tables, and anyone looking for a seasonal piece that connects a century of Marine Corps aviation heritage to a meaningful gift or keepsake for the Marines and families who lived it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAce of Spades heritage, stitched for the season and built to last as long as the legacy it honors.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Military, Law Enforcement and Custom Patches by USMCinsignia.com","offers":[{"title":"Halloween","offer_id":67706379731053,"sku":null,"price":12.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Christmas","offer_id":67706379763821,"sku":null,"price":12.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0742\/9831\/files\/1012_2.jpg?v=1791824635","url":"https:\/\/marinepatches.com\/products\/official-vmfa-231-ace-of-spades-holiday-patch-collection","provider":"MarinePatches.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}