Warbird Information Exchange

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 (VMF/A-312) known as the "Checkerboards".

World War II

Marine Fighter Squadron 312 (VMF-312) was commissioned on June 1, 1943, at Page Field, Parris Island, South Carolina. Originally it was part of MAG-31, 1st MAW. As first aircraft the squadron received 10 SNJ-4 Texans and one F4U-1A Corsair. As their unit crest the squadron members choose a satan-like bulldog wearing a flying helmet and carrying -at that time- six .50 caliber machine guns (the armament of the Corsair) drawn by Technical Sergeant James R. Wroble. In honor of their commanding officer, Major Richard M. Day, the men nicknamed their squadron "Day's Knights". Also at this time, the Checkerboards emblem began to appear on both the cowling and rudder of the aircraft.

After being transferred in August 1943 to MAG-32, 3rd MAW, the squadron relocated to San Diego, California, and departed Parris Island on January 2, 1944, and headed for Miramar. They departed MCAS Miramar on February 28, 1944 and headed for Marine Corps Air Station Ewa on Hawaii. VMF-312 trained at Ewa for 3 months and then headed out for Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides to become part of MAG-11, 2nd MAW.

Assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11 on June 25, 1944, the squadron was transported to Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, where they received 24 new F4U-1D Corsairs. VMF-312's first combat action came on April 12, 1945 during the Battle of Okinawa as part of Marine Aircraft Group 33 (MAG-33), when four squadron aircraft intercepted 20 Japanese Zeros and achieved eight kills without a loss. VMF-312 continued to operate from Kadena Air Base on Okinawa until the cessation of hostilities. By war's end, the squadron had accounted for 59.5 air combat kills in the Pacific Theater.
Between September 1945 and February 1946 VMF-312 participated in the occupation force stationed on Okinawa.

1946-1950
Returning to the United States in February 1946, the squadron began operations at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro still as part of MAG-33, where the squadron completed a transition to F7F-3 Tigercats, a single seat day fighter variant of the two seat Tigercat night fighter. Although the night fighters continued in service for several years, the day fighter version proved unsuitable, and VMF-312 transitioned back to Corsairs, this time F4U-4s, a higher performance model.

The Korean War, 1950-1955

The squadron transferred to Marine Aircraft Group 12, MCAS El Toro in July 1950 and was alerted for deployment and service in the Korean War. The first VMF-312 aircraft flew in Korea on September 19, 1950. Flying out of Wonson Air Base, the Checkerboards flew missions in support of the 1st Marine Division during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. Redeployed in March 1951 aboard the light carrier USS Bataan (CVL-29), the Checkerboards were assigned escort and blockade missions. Leaving the ship in June 1951, the squadron amassed 4,945 accident-free hours of carrier operations while logging 1,920 carrier landings. After a short period of ground-based close air support operations, the squadron returned to sea, first with Bairoko, then with Bataan, and later with Sicily.

While aboard Bataan, the Checkerboards became the first piston engine squadron to shoot down a jet aircraft, when Captain Jesse Folmar shot down a MiG-15 jet fighter with 20 mm cannon fire. On June 8, 1953, the Checkerboards were relieved by VMF-332, and returned to the United States in anticipation of transitioning to F9F Panthers at Marine Corps Air Station Miami, Florida.

F4U-4s of VMA-312 on the USS Badoeng Strait.

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Zero Surprise!!...

A bit more info on the ship's history. Randy

https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/b/badoeng-strait.html

Great shots. Love Korean war color pics

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Better is the enemy of Good.

Back in the late 70's to early 80's I worked with a gentleman who had flown Corsairs with VMF-312. He was a Sargent when the war ended and he had been on the Pacific island invasions. He was accepted to flight school after the war and said he was one of the last "Mustangers" to go through.
When he was sent to Korea he was ground based for a while before getting assigned to the Bairoko. He said that cruise was pretty rough as there was a shortage of qualified Captains but plenty of carriers. Their Captain came straight from the Pentagon and made some not too good decisions about operating the ship. They had a real bad problem with hung ordnance when returning to the carrier and weapons came loose as the Corsair hit the deck.

When the squadron transitioned to the Panthers the flight surgeon would not approve him going into the jets but had felt he was fine with the Corsair. His first name was Norm and I can't recall his last name at the moment but I can picture him perfectly in my mind as we spent many hours working together.