The Smart Marty Sky Dispatch
52 Years Later: Why The US Marines Is Reactivating Its Oldest Flying F-35 Squadron
The service's oldest flying unit ushers in the next era of air warfare.
The oldest flying squadron in the US Marine Corps is set to enter a new era of 5th-generation air warfare following its official reactivation on October 9 of this year.
The unit involved is VMFA-231, the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron that traces its lineage to VMA-231 and has a history dating back to its Harrier-era days. The squadron transitioned from the AV-8B Harrier II and was formally deactivated in September of last year before being reactivated.
The reactivation marks VMFA-231’s return to flying 5th-generation capabilities within the USMC aviation fleet, signaling a shift in its operational focus and capabilities after previously winding down its Harrier operations.
Details on the specific location of reactivation or aircraft types involved were not provided in the available material. The report references the reactivation date and historical lineage but does not include additional operational specifics.