About this Unit
Marine All Weather Attack Squadron 121 (VMA(AW)-121), known as the "Green Knights," was activated during World War II and originally operated as a dive bomber squadron. The unit transitioned to the A-6 Intruder in the 1960s, becoming a premier all-weather attack squadron for the United States Marine Corps. VMA(AW)-121 participated in major conflicts, including the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm, providing close air support and precision strikes. The squadron was later redesignated as VMFA-121, transitioning to the F/A-18 Hornet and eventually the F-35B Lightning II, continuing its legacy of combat aviation excellence.
Historical Facts
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World War II Origins: Marine Attack Squadron 121 (VMA-121) was originally commissioned as Marine Fighter Squadron 121 (VMF-121) on June 24, 1941, at Quantico, Virginia. It quickly became one of the most storied Marine fighter squadrons of World War II.
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Guadalcanal Aces: During the Battle of Guadalcanal, VMF-121 pilots shot down 208 enemy planes, establishing themselves as one of the most successful Marine squadrons in aerial combat during the campaign.
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Medal of Honor Recipient: Captain Joe Foss, flying with VMF-121, became one of the Marine Corps’ greatest aces, shooting down 26 enemy planes and receiving the Medal of Honor for his actions.
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Nickname "Green Knights": The squadron is known as the "Green Knights," a moniker that has accompanied them through several redesignations and aircraft transitions.
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All-Weather Transition: The squadron was redesignated as Marine All-Weather Attack Squadron 121 (VMA(AW)-121) in 1963, reflecting its new all-weather attack capabilities with the A-6 Intruder.
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Vietnam War Service: VMA(AW)-121 deployed to Vietnam, flying combat missions from Da Nang Air Base and earning the Navy Unit Commendation for its performance during the war.
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Aircraft Evolution: The squadron has operated a variety of aircraft, including the F4F Wildcat, F4U Corsair, F9F Panther, A-4 Skyhawk, A-6 Intruder, F/A-18 Hornet, and currently the F-35B Lightning II.
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Historic F-35B Deployment: In 2017, VMFA-121 (the squadron’s current designation) became the first operational Marine Corps F-35B squadron to be permanently based overseas at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan.
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Multiple Redesignations: Over its long history, the squadron has been redesignated several times, reflecting changes in mission and aircraft: VMF-121, VMA-121, VMA(AW)-121, and VMFA-121.
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Storied Legacy: The Green Knights have amassed a distinguished record in combat operations, humanitarian assistance, and alliance-building missions across the Pacific, earning numerous unit citations and commendations.
