{"product_id":"vmfa-231-ace-of-spades-first-and-finest-f-35-shoulder-patch","title":"VMFA-231 Ace of Spades First and Finest F-35 Shoulder Patch","description":"\u003cp\u003eVMFA-231 Ace of Spades First and Finest F-35 Shoulder Patch - Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 231 (VMFA-231), the oldest squadron in the Marine Corps, F-35B Lightning II transition era embroidered shoulder patch.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFirst card in the deck, first squadron in the Corps, and now carrying the Ace of Spades into the fifth-generation fight with the F-35B Lightning II.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Ace of Spades insignia has been the mark of Marine squadron 231 since its founding on 8 February 1919, making it the first official unit insignia in Marine Corps aviation history. The motto First and Finest is not a boast but a statement of record — the squadron flew at Midway, fought above Guadalcanal, became the first Marine unit to take the AV-8B Harrier II into combat during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, and went on to serve in Allied Force, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and beyond. After completing its final AV-8B Harrier II flight at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in May 2025, the unit deactivated and reactivated as VMFA-231, conducting its first F-35B Lightning II flight at Cherry Point in June 2026 under Marine Aircraft Group 14 and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. This shoulder patch marks that transition moment — a century of Ace of Spades heritage stepping into the short takeoff and vertical landing fifth-generation era. The embroidered format gives the design the weight and texture that a lineage this long deserves, making it a natural centerpiece for any serious Marine aviation collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePerfect For: VMFA-231 and VMA-231 veterans, F-35B Lightning II aircrew and maintainers, Marine Corps aviation historians, MAG-14 and 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing collectors, Harrier-to-F-35 transition commemorators, shadow box builders, deployment keepsake displays, challenge coin and patch boards, reunion gifts, and anyone who wants a single embroidered piece that connects the oldest squadron in the Corps to its newest aircraft and mission.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOver a century of Ace of Spades history, stitched into the patch that marks where the Corps' oldest squadron flies next.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Military, Law Enforcement and Custom Patches by USMCinsignia.com","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45757729603693,"sku":null,"price":12.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0742\/9831\/files\/3Patch_15_5a995396-d135-4c2f-8383-539d42af2543.png?v=1788281878","url":"https:\/\/marinepatches.com\/products\/vmfa-231-ace-of-spades-first-and-finest-f-35-shoulder-patch","provider":"MarinePatches.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}