Officially Licensed USMC VMF-312 Checkerboards WWII Throwback Patch — Marine Fighter Squadron 312 World War II Embroidered Patch
The Checkerboards in their finest hour — WWII throwback from the Pacific air war.
Marine Fighter Squadron 312 (VMF-312), the "Checkerboards," is one of the United States Marine Corps' most historically significant fighter squadrons, and this World War II throwback patch honors the squadron during its earliest and most formative years of combat. VMF-312 was commissioned during WWII and immediately thrown into the brutal air combat of the Pacific Theater, where Marine Corsair squadrons fought Japanese aircraft in desperate aerial battles over the island chains of the Western Pacific.
Flying the iconic F4U Corsair, VMF-312's pilots engaged in air-to-air combat, close air support, and ground attack missions during the final campaigns of the Pacific War. The Corsair's distinctive gull-wing design, powerful engine, and heavy armament made it one of the most effective fighters of the war, and Marine Corsair pilots compiled an extraordinary kill ratio against Japanese aircraft. This WWII throwback patch captures the Checkerboards' insignia as it appeared during that legendary era, connecting today's VMFA-312 F-35B Lightning II pilots with the World War II combat pilots who established the squadron's fighting reputation.
Perfect For: VMFA-312 Checkerboards veterans across all eras, WWII Marine aviation historians, F4U Corsair enthusiasts, heritage and throwback patch collectors, and anyone who wants to honor the Pacific War origins of one of the Marine Corps' most storied fighter squadrons.
From Corsairs to Lightning — the Checkerboards' roots run deep.
