USMC Helicopter Squadrons
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Officially Licensed US Navy VF-781 Pacemakers Squadron Patch — Fighter Squadron 781 F9F Panther / Cougar Korean War Reserve Squadron Heritage Patch
The first reservists to fight the Korean War — VF-781 Pacemakers, F9F Panthers off the deck.
Fighter Squadron 781 (VF-781), the "Pacemakers," was a US Navy Reserve fighter squadron originally established on July 1, 1946 at Naval Air Station Los Alamitos, California — earning a permanent place in naval aviation history as the first organized Naval Reserve squadron to be accepted intact for Korean War combat service when, in 1950, every pilot in the squadron volunteered as a unit and the entire squadron was federalized for active duty. VF-781 went on to make two combat deployments during the Korean War: first aboard USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) from May 10 through December 17, 1951 flying F9F-2B Panthers as part of Air Group 102, and second aboard USS Oriskany (CV-34) from September 15, 1952 through May 18, 1953 flying F9F-5 Panthers, again with Air Group 102. On November 18, 1952 — in one of the most famous engagements of the Cold War-era US Navy — VF-781 pilots Royce Williams, John Middleton, and Rowlans engaged Soviet-piloted MiG-15s with the F9F-5's 20mm cannon, scoring the squadron's first MiG kills in a previously classified action. After the war, VF-781 was redesignated VF-121 on February 4, 1953 and transitioned to the F9F-6 Cougar under Commander Jimmie E. Savage for its 1954 deployment aboard USS Boxer (CV-21). This Pacemakers patch carries the heritage of a reservist squadron that fought a war.
Perfect For: VF-781 / VF-121 Pacemakers Korean War veterans and family members, US Navy Reserve aviation history enthusiasts, NAS Los Alamitos and Southern California naval aviation alumni, F9F Panther and F9F Cougar heritage collectors, Korean War USS Bon Homme Richard and USS Oriskany veterans, and Cold War US Navy fighter community supporters.
Pacemakers — first reserves into the fight, 1950.
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.
