Official VMA-231 Ace of Spades Russian Aggressor Shoulder Patches

Official VMA-231 Ace of Spades Russian Aggressor Shoulder Patches — The Oldest Squadron's Cold War Edge

The Ace of Spades has been on the other side of every threat brief since 1919. This patch channels the adversary.

Marine Attack Squadron 231 (VMA-231) — the 'Ace of Spades' — is the oldest flying squadron in the United States Marine Corps, commissioned on February 8, 1919, with a lineage that stretches from World War I through the transition to fifth-generation fighters. The squadron's iconic insignia is the first official unit insignia in Marine Corps aviation history, designed by 2nd Lieutenant Hayne D. Boyden. Throughout its century-plus history, VMA-231 has faced every adversary the Marine Corps has been called to fight — from Sandinista forces in Nicaragua to Japanese defenders across the Pacific, from Iraqi Republican Guard forces in Desert Storm to Taliban and insurgent fighters in Afghanistan. This Russian Aggressor shoulder patch puts an adversary twist on the Ace of Spades — channeling the kind of threat replication and Red Air mentality that keeps Marine aviators sharp against peer and near-peer threats. Based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, under MAG-14 and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, VMA-231 flew the AV-8B Harrier II for decades before completing its final Harrier flight in May 2025 and beginning its transition to the F-35B Lightning II as VMFA-231. This aggressor-themed patch captures the edge of a squadron that has always trained to fight the toughest opponents.

Perfect For: VMA-231 Ace of Spades Marines past and present, aggressor and adversary training enthusiasts, AV-8B Harrier and F-35B Lightning II community members, Cherry Point Marines, and Cold War-era aviation collectors.