VMFA-134

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 134
VMFA-134 Insignia
Active1 March 1943 - 30 April 1946
15 April 1958 – 1 April 2007
Country United States
Branch United States Marine Corps
TypeFighter/Attack
RoleClose air support
Air interdiction
Aerial reconnaissance
Part ofInactive
Nickname(s)"Smoke"
Motto(s)"Smoke'em if you got'em"
Tail CodeMF
Engagements
Aircraft flown
AttackDouglas A-4 Skyhawk (1971-1983)
BomberGrumman TBF Avenger (1943-46)
FighterGrumman F9F Cougar (1956 - ?)
McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II (1983-1989)
F/A-18 Hornet (1989-2008)

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 134 (VMFA-134) was a reserve F/A-18 Hornet squadron in the United States Marine Corps. Known as "Smoke", the squadron was based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California and fell under Marine Aircraft Group 46 (MAG-46) and the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing (4th MAW). On 1 April 2007, the squadron was transitioned to cadre status and its gear and personnel were redistributed throughout the remaining F/A-18 Hornet squadrons.[1][2]

Mission

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Conduct air-to-air and air-to-ground operations in support of U.S. Marine Corps ground troops.

History

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World War II

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Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 134 (VMSB-134) was activated on 1 May 1943, at Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara, California, and assigned to Marine Base Defense Aircraft Group 42, Marine Fleet Air, West Coast. Shortly thereafter it was redesignated as Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 134 (VMTB-134) on 1 June 1943. From October to November 1943 the squadron deployed to Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, and detached from the Marine Base Defense Aircraft Wing. In November 1943 the squadron was reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.

During the course of World War II the squadron supported operations on Bougainville, the Bismarck Archipelago and Peleliu. Following these campaigns the squadron went through numerous reassignments to include the following:

Following the war, VMTB-134 was assigned to Qingdao, China during October 1945 to participate in the occupation of Northern China from October 1945 to April 1946. During this time they were again reassigned in November 1945 to Marine Aircraft Group 32, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and to Marine Aircraft Group 12 in April 1946 upon their return from China. The squadron was deactivated on 30 April 1946.

1958-1986

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A VMA-134 A-4F firing an AGM-45 Shrike in 1981.
VMA-134 Skyhawks Patch
A VMFA-134 F/A-18A in 1993.

The squadron was reactivated on 15 April 1958, at Naval Air Station Los Alamitos, California, as Marine Fighter Squadron 134 (VMF-134) in the Marine Air Reserve.

Redesignated again on 1 July 1962, as Marine Attack Squadron 134 (VMA-134), Marine Air Reserve Training Detachment, Marine Air Reserve Training Command, Los Alamitos, California. In February 1965 they were again reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 43, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing. 1971 saw the squadron move to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California, assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 46, flying Douglas A-4F (Skyhawk) aircraft and with squadron designation of, [the] Skyhawks. The last redesignation of the squadron occurred on 1 October 1983, as Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 134 with transition to the F-4 Phantom II, still attached to MAG 46.

1990s & 2000s

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On 21 July 2004, two F/A-18 Hornets of VMFA-134 suffered a mid-air collision over the Columbia River, 120 miles east of Portland, Oregon, shortly after 1430, killing both Marines in F/A-18B, BuNo 162870.[3] The pilot of F/A-18A, BuNo 163097, 'MF-04', ejected[3] and landed nearby on a hillside west of Arlington, Oregon, suffering minor injuries.[4] The fighters were on their way to the Boardman Air Force Range, where the Oregon Air National Guard trains, when they collided. Another spokesman told the Associated Press that the planes were on a low-altitude training exercise.[5]

Future Plans

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VMFA-134 is expected to make a return in 2031, flying the F-35B out of MCAS Miramar according to the current transition plan.[6]

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In the seventh season episode of The West Wing "The Mommy Problem" an F/A-18 with the call sign 'Badger' belonging to VMFA-134 is shown being piloted by Democratic presidential candidate Matt Santos (Jimmy Smits) as part of his USMC Reserve duty.

Awards

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See also

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References

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Notes
Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
  1. ^ Horst, Dane M. (8 April 2007). "Sun sets on an era: Moonlighters transition to cadre status". Marine Corps News. Retrieved 7 April 2007. [dead link]
  2. ^ LtGen John Castellaw (2007). "2007 Marine Aviation Plan" (PDF). Headquarters Marine Corps. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 November 2007. Retrieved 18 November 2007. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ a b Allport, Dave, "Accident Report Updates", Air Forces Monthly, Stamford, Lincs., U.K., November 2005, Issue 212, page 76.
  4. ^ Los Angeles, California, "Marines Killed in Midair Jet Collision Identified", Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2005, page B-5.
  5. ^ Green, Kristen, and Steele, Jeanette, "Reservists on training mission; one injured", 22 July 2004, The San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego, California.
  6. ^ "Marine Corps Aviation". www.aviation.marines.mil. p. 56 (numbered from first page of the document's 222 pages, and titled "TACAIR TRANSITION PLAN"). Retrieved 18 May 2024.
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