USMC Helicopter Squadrons
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Official VMFA-542 "Black Death" tab patch.
Black Death — Tigers' battle cry, F-35Bs at Cherry Point.
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 542 (VMFA-542), the "Tigers," is a USMC F-35B Lightning II strike fighter squadron based at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina under Marine Aircraft Group 14 (MAG-14) and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing — and the first operational F-35B fleet squadron based on the East Coast. The Tigers redesignated from VMA-542 (Marine Attack Squadron) to VMFA-542 on December 1, 2022 in the AV-8B Harrier II to F-35B transition. The squadron's lineage runs deep: established as Marine Night Fighter Squadron 542 (VMF(N)-542) on March 6, 1944 at MCAS Cherry Point, the Tigers flew F6F Hellcats in the Pacific (including the Battle of Okinawa in 1945), F7F Tigercats in Korea, F3D-2 Skyknights, F4D-1 Skyrays, and F-4B Phantom IIs in Vietnam from 1965 to 1970. The squadron was deactivated June 30, 1970 and reactivated January 12, 1972 as a Harrier squadron, transitioned to the AV-8B Harrier II in May 1986, and flew the Harrier through Desert Shield/Storm, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and the Libya operations before transitioning to the F-35B Lightning II. "Black Death" is the Tigers' aggressive call sign — the tab worn by pilots and aircrew when they want everyone to know exactly what's coming off the Cherry Point ramp. This patch is the Black Death tab.
Perfect For: VMFA-542 Tigers active-duty and veteran personnel, F-35B Lightning II pilots and maintainers, MCAS Cherry Point Marines, MAG-14 and 2nd MAW personnel, AV-8B Harrier II heritage enthusiasts, F-4 Phantom and F6F Hellcat lineage historians, and tab/morale-patch collectors.
VMFA-542 Black Death — Tigers, F-35Bs, Cherry Point.
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.
