Manuel Tapia

VMFAT-501, known as the "Warlords," is a United States Marine Corps Fleet Replacement Squadron activated on April 1, 2010. Originally, the unit traces its lineage to VMF-451, established during World War II and later reactivated in various forms throughout Marine Corps aviation history. As VMFAT-501, the squadron became the first to train Marine pilots on the cutting-edge F-35B Lightning II, reflecting the Corps' transition to fifth-generation fighter technology. Based at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina, VMFAT-501 plays a crucial role in preparing aviators and maintainers for operational F-35B squadrons worldwide.