VMF(aw)531

• First Night Fighter Squadron: VMF(N)-531, later VMF(AW)-531, was the United States Marine Corps' first night fighter squadron, commissioned on 16 November 1942 during World War II. • Nickname "Gray Ghosts": The squadron earned the nickname "Gray Ghosts" due to both its night operations and the gray paint scheme of its aircraft. • Early Aircraft: Initially, the squadron flew modified Douglas R-4D Skytrain transports for radar training before transitioning to the F4U-2 Corsair and later the Grumman F6F-5N Hellcat. • Guadalcanal Deployment: In July 1943, VMF(N)-531 deployed to Guadalcanal, becoming the first Marine night fighter squadron to see combat in the South Pacific. • Radar Pioneers: The unit was a pioneer in using airborne radar for night interception, working closely with ground-controlled interception (GCI) units to develop effective tactics. • Redesignation: In 1958, the squadron was reactivated as VMF(AW)-531 ("All-Weather" Fighter Squadron), flying the F4D Skyray and later transitioning to the F-4 Phantom II. • Vietnam Service: As VMFA-531, the squadron deployed to Da Nang Air Base in South Vietnam in 1965, becoming the first Marine squadron to fly the F-4B Phantom II in combat. • Carrier Operations: VMFA-531 made history as the first Marine squadron to deploy as a complete unit aboard a Navy aircraft carrier, the USS Coral Sea, in 1972. • Transition to F/A-18 Hornet: In 1980, the squadron became the first Marine unit to transition to the F/A-18 Hornet, marking a new era in Marine Corps aviation. • Deactivation: After decades of distinguished service, the squadron was deactivated on 27 March 1992 at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California.