Marine Attack Squadron 311
VMA-311 Official Unit Logo
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
Yuma, Arizona

01

VMA-311 Homecoming

The Estrada family pose for a photo as they wait for their Marine to return home on Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., Oct. 27, 2019. Marine...

02

Change of Command Video Message

A change of command video message for Marine Attack Squadron 311, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., June 8, 2020. The official change of command...

03

VMA-311 Homecoming

Marines with Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 311, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), march to meet loved ones on Marine...

04

VMA-311 Homecoming

U.S. Marine 1st Lt. Andrew Bartek, the assistant supply officer for Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 311, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 13, 3rd Marine...

05

VMA-311 Homecoming

A Marine with Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 311, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), holds his loved one’s hand on Marine...

06

VMA-311 Homecoming

U.S. Marines with Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 311, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, reunite with family on Marine Corps Air...

07

VMA-311 Homecoming

A U.S. Marine with Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 311, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, reunites with a loved one on Marine Corps...

08

VMA-311 Homecoming

An AV/8B Harrier with Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 311, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, returns to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma,...

09

VMA-311 Homecoming

A U.S. Marine with Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 311, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, reunites with his family on Marine Corps Air...

10

VMA-311 Homecoming

Family members wait as Marines with Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 311, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, land on Marine Corps Air...

11

VMA-311 Homecoming

A U.S. Marine with Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 311, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, reunites with his family on Marine Corps Air...

VMA-311 Leaders

Lieutenant Colonel Keith Bucklew
Commanding Officer, Marine Attack Squadron 311

Lieutenant Colonel Bucklew graduated from Baldwin-Wallace University in Cleveland, OH in May of 2001

Read Biography

VMA-311
PO BOX 99250
Yuma, AZ 85369-9250

Duty Officer
(928) 269-2334

VMA-311 Squadron Duty Officer
(928) 269-2334

VMA-311 Unit Readiness Coordinator
(928) 269-6137

VMA-311 Voting Assistance Officer
(928) 269-6284

Provide premier assault support to Marine, joint, and coalition forces from advanced bases, expeditionary airfields or aircraft capable ships in order to enable the CG to fight the MAW as a piece of the MEF level MAGTF in support of the Joint Force Commander.  Be prepared to deploy the MAG headquarters and staff support during site command and MEB ACE operations necessary for the effective command and control of subordinate squadrons and attachments in order to ensure success across the full range of military operations.

World War II

Marine Attack Squadron (VMA)-311 was initially commissioned a fighter squadron on Dec. 1, 1942, at Cherry Point, N.C., flying the SNJ Texan trainers. In April 1943, they received the new Vought F4U-1 Corsair and entered the Pacific Theater where they served with distinction until the end of World War II.

On Oct. 6, 1943, the squadron catapulted from the deck of the USS Nassau to Samoa Naval Air Station, in one of the earliest catapult operations of the F4U. Two days later, VMF-311 flew to Wallis Island and remained there until January 1944.

During America's "Island Hopping" campaign across the Pacific, the squadron's mission was to isolate Japanese forces on the bypassed islands, deny their escape and prevent their use of airstrips. The squadron continued strafing and bombing missions until moving to Okinawa in March 1945, and was the first Marine squadron to use fighter aircraft for dive bombing missions. The squadron, now flying the F4U-1C (a modification which include four 20mm cannons and pylons for 5-inch rockets), downed its first aircraft on April 7, 1945. Combat air patrols were the predominant mission until the war ended.

After the war, VMF-311 moved to Yokosuka, Japan, as part of the occupational forces. The nickname "Hell's Belles" was adopted by the squadron during World War II but was seldom used.

In April 1948, '311 received the first jet aircraft to be introduced to Marine aviation, the F-80A Shooting Star, followed in September by the F9F2 Panther. It was during this time that the squadron acquired the letters "WL" as its tail designator, or “William Love” in the phonetic alphabet used at the time. The evidence suggests that it was this nickname which inspired the heart on the squadron insignia.

Korea

With the outbreak of war in Korea, the squadron moved to Pusan, where it flew the first Marine jet combat mission on Dec. 10, 1950, providing close air support for 8th Army units near the Chosin Reservoir. Similar missions were flown despite inclement weather, maintenance problems, and enemy antiaircraft fire. In two and a half years, the squadron amassed 18,851 combat sorties.
Even after the armistice was signed, VMF-311 continued to fly training missions to maintain readiness. It was early in 1957 that VMF-311 began to be referred to as the "Tomcats." This period also brought the new Grumman F9F-8 Cougar, thus upgrading the squadron's capabilities.

On June 1, 1957, the unit was redesignated Marine Attack Squadron-311. This didn't create any organizational problems as the emphasis was simply placed on a mission the squadron had so aptly performed during World War II and Korea. In the summer of 1958, VMA-311 began receiving the Douglas A4D2 Skyhawks, later redesignated the A-4B. The Tomcats began receiving the new A-4Es in mid-1963 and in March 1965 deployed to Japan with 20 A-4Es.

Vietnam

During April 1965, VMA-311 was alerted to prepare to deploy to the Republic of Vietnam. In Vietnam the tempo of operations was intense. Operating from the air base at Chu Lai, the squadron flew 240 sorties flown from May 5-8, 1968, and by September the Tomcats had logged 25,000 combat sorties and were the undisputed pacesetter in what was believed to be a record number of combat sorties for any fixed wing squadron in a single conflict of war.

The squadron relocated to Da Nang air base in the summer of 1970. For VMA-311 the war ended on Jan. 29, 1973, with a total of 54,625 combat sorties flown and 105,000 tons of ordnance dropped in support of troops throughout Southeast Asia.

The squadron flew the A-4aircraft until its return from Iwakuni, Japan, in June of 1988, and was moved to MCAS Yuma along with other MAG-13 squadrons. Prior to its transition into the new AV-8B aircraft, VMA-311 was the proud recipient of the coveted Lawson H.M. Sanderson Award, qualifying the squadron for the 1988 Marine Attack Squadron of the Year by the Marine Corps Aviation Association.

Southwest Asia (Operation Desert Storm)

On Aug. 11, 1990, the Tomcats were ordered to Saudi Arabia in support of I Marine Expeditionary Force units deployed for Operation Desert Shield. Operating from the King Abdul Aziz naval air base, VMA-311 was the forward-most fixed wing aircraft unit in theater.

On Jan. 17, the Tomcats became the first Marine squadron to employ the AV-8B Harrier in combat, striking Iraqi positions in southern Kuwait in preparation for the coalition ground offensive. During the Persian Gulf War, the squadron flew 1,017 combat sorties and dropped 840 tons of ordnance on enemy targets. The Harrier was recognized by Secretary of Defense Cohen as one of the three most significant weapon systems in Desert Storm.

Returning to Yuma in April 1991, the squadron was awarded the Marine Corps Aviator Association's Attack Squadron of the Year for
1991. On April 9, 1992, the Tomcats received their first Night Attack AV-8B’s and were formally assigned as a night attack squadron. In May of 1996, Marine Attack Squadron 311 became the sole provider of Harrier support to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. The Tomcats continued their proud history and met the challenge by providing six back-to-back detachments, with the last returning in August of 1999. This commitment is unmatched by any Marine Attack Squadron.

Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom)

Continuing the Tomcat's tradition of firsts, on 3 November 2001, VMA-311 Harriers attached to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked aboard the USS Peleliu and became the first Harriers to fly combat missions in Afghanistan during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.

Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom)

In true Tomcat fashion, the Marines of VMA-311 again answered the nation's call as they deployed to the Northern Arabian Gulf in January 2003. Almost 59 years to the day, after VMF-311's first combat sortie in World War II, the Tomcats flew their first combat sortie of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM on 21 March 2003. During the war they dropped 77 tons of precision ordnance destroying or neutralizing 132 Iraqi targets.
VMA-311 deployed three more times in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM in subsequent years, with deployments from November 2004 to May 2005, January to May 2007, and March to October 2008.

Global War on Terror

The Tomcats continue to deploy in support of the Global War on Terror.  As part of Marine Expeditionary Units, VMA-311 is an integral force in the nation’s forward presence around the globe.

Squadron Honors

VMA-311’s honors include: Presidential Unit Citation Streamer with three bronze stars, Presidential Unit Citation (Army) Streamer, Navy Unit Commendation Streamer with two silver and one bronze star, Meritorious Unit Commendation with two bronze stars, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Streamer with three bronze stars, World War II Victory Streamer, Navy Occupation Service Streamer with “Asia”, National Defense Service Streamer with three bronze stars, Korean Service Streamer with one silver and three bronze stars, Vietnam Service Streamer with two silver and four bronze stars, Southwest Asia Service Streamer with three bronze stars, Iraq Campaign Streamer with two bronze stars, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Streamer, Global War on Terrorism Service Streamer, Korean Presidential Unit Citation Streamer, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with palm streamer, Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation Civil Actions Streamer.

Command Policies Coming Soon

Equal Opportunity Representative
Hanger 78 (AMDS), Room 2127
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, MCAS Yuma
Office: (928) 269-0268

PAC Complaints

There are multiple ways to submit a PAC Complaint. Complaints may be received via any of the following methods:

  • Equal Opportunity Rep (EOR)

  • Equal Opportunity Advisor (EOA)

  • Inspector General of the Marine Corps (IGMC) Hotline (866) 243-3887

  • NCIS https://www.ncis.navy.mil/Resources/NCIS-Tips/ ​​​​​​​

  • Chain of Command

  • DEOC Survey

  • Anymouse

  • EO Advice Hotline (844) 818-1674

Communication with an EOR/EOA is considered Protected Communication. It is important to know that your rights as the complainant do vary, depending on the method in which the complaint is received.