The VMA-225 Vagabonds & Vikings

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Drawn by Bud Southworth
Drawn by Bud Southworth
Drawn by Bud Southworth

Patch
  • 1943 to 1968 - The Vagabonds used the two top patches (above).
  • October 1968 - The Viking patch (above) was created by VMA(AW)-225

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Handle
Heritage
  • January 1, 1943
    Marine Fighting Squadron 225 (VMF-225) established at Marine Corps Air Station Mojave, California.
  • September 1, 1947
    Redesignated Marine Fighter Squadron 225 (VMF-225) at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point North Carolina.
  • June 1, 1952
    Redesignated Marine Attack Squadron 225 (VMA-225) at Naval Auxiliary Air Station Edenton, North Carolina.
  • April 5, 1966
    Redesignated Marine All Weather Attack Squadron 225 (VMA-225aw) at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina.

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Home Ports
    Date - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Location:
  • January 1, 1943 - - - Marine Corps Air Station Mojave, California.
  • May 1945- - - - - - - Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina
  • June 17, 1952 - - - - Naval Auxiliary Air Station Edenton, North Carolina.
  • 1963- - - - - - - - - Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina.

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Air Wings
    Date - - - - - - - - - - - - Tail code - - - - - - - Air Wing
  • 1945-1960 - - - - - WI - - - - - - - - MAW-2
  • 1960- - - - - - - - CE - - - - - - - - MAW-1

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Deployments
    Departure & Return - - - - - - - - Air Wing - Carrier -Aircraft - - Area of Operations:
  • Sep 1964 to Jun 1965: - - CE - - - A-4C - MCAS Chu Lai
  • 1965 to 1966: - - - - - - CE - - - A-4C - MCAS Chu Lai

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Aircraft
Commanding Officers
    Date Assumed Command - - - - - - - Commanding Officer
  • January 1, 1943- - - - - - Captain Jack R. Amends
  • August 26, 1943- - - - - - Lieutenant Colonel James A. Embry, Jr.
  • September 3, 1944- - - - - Major Jack R. Amende
  • December 12, 1944- - - - - Major John C. Musselman, Jr.
  • April 15, 1945 - - - - - - Major Joseph H. Reinburg
  • July 1, 1945 - - - - - - - Major John R. Stack
  • March 20, 1946 - - - - - - Major David E. Marshall
  • May 13, 1947 - - - - - - - Major Charles E. Kunz
  • May 20, 1949 - - - - - - - Major Walter R. Bartosh
  • May 5, 1950- - - - - - - - Major Thomas J. O'Conner
  • May 29, 1951 - - - - - - - Major Robert E. Smith
  • November 17, 1951- - - - - Lieutenant Colonel Thaddeus P. Wojcik
  • September 24, 1952 - - - - Major Robert K. Thomas
  • April 28, 1953 - - - - - - Lieutenant Colonel Robert D. Bachtel
  • June 4, 1953 - - - - - - - Lieutenant Colonel Joseph F. Quilty, Jr.
  • July 1, 1954 - - - - - - - Lieutenant Colonel John R. Stack
  • June 2, 1955 - - - - - - - Major Floyd W. Earnest
  • July 11, 1955- - - - - - - Lieutenant Colonel Jay E. McDonald
  • June 2, 1956 - - - - - - - Major Neely D. Butler, Jr.
  • July 24, 1957- - - - - - - Lieutenant Colonel Richard W. Batdorff
  • April 1 1958 - - - - - - - Lieutenant Colonel Arthur R. Boag
  • April 8, 1960- - - - - - - Lieutenant Colonel Donald E. Wegley
  • June 30, 1961- - - - - - - Lieutenant Colonel Richard C. Browning
  • June 1, 1962 - - - - - - - Lieutenant Colonel Edwin A. Harper
  • June 8, 1963 - - - - - - - Major William D. Smart
  • October 11, 1963 - - - - - Lieutenant Colonel Alexander J. Gillis
  • March 4, 1964- - - - - - - Lieutenant Colonel Robert W. Baker
  • October 12, 1965 - - - - - Lieutenant Colonel Paul G. McMahon
  • February 14, 1966- - - - - Major William E. Smilanich, Jr.
  • July 28, 1966- - - - - - - Major Hobart M. Wallace, Jr.
  • October 5, 1966- - - - - - Lieutenant Colonel Edward M. Guell
  • October 19, 1966 - - - - - Major William E. H. Fitch III
  • June 17, 1967- - - - - - - Lieutenant Colonel Jogn P. Reddy
  • January 19, 1968 - - - - - Lieutenant Colonel Ronald L. Townsend
  • June 22, 1969- - - - - - - Lieutenant Colonel Donald L. Harvey
  • November 30, 1969- - - - - Major Peter M. Busch
  • January 13, 1970 - - - - - Lieutenant Colonel John J. Metzko, USMC
  • June 7, 1970 - - - - - - - Major Patrick J. McCarthy
  • August 1, 1970 - - - - - - Major Marcus T. Fountain, Jr.
  • October 16, 1970 - - - - - Lieutenant Colonel John A. Manzione, Jr.
  • July 8, 1971 - - - - - - - Major Richard C. Tinsley
  • July 1, 1991 - - - - - - - Lieutenant Colonel John A. Gallinetti

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Events
  • January 1, 1943:
    Marine All Weather Attack Squadron 225 (VMF-225) established at Marine Corps Air Station Mojave, California. The Vagabonds were assigned the Vought F4U Corsair.

  • August 1944 to January 1945:
    The VMF-225 Vought F-4U Corsairs participated in combat operations at Guam and against the Japanese airfield at Pogan.

  • May 1945:
    VMF-225 was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina after returning from the war.

  • 1945 to 1952:
    Participated in five Mediterranean cruises with the United States Sixth Fleet.

  • June 17, 1952:
    VMF-225 was redesignated VMA-225, and based at Naval Auxiliary Air Station, North Carolina.

  • 1954:
    VMA-225 Vagabonds were assigned the Douglas AD-5 Skyraider.

  • 1955 to 1957:
    VMA-225 Vagabonds made two deployments to Naval Air Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico.

  • May 1958:
    VMA-225 Vagabonds were assigned the A4D-1 Skyhawk at Naval Auxiliary Air Station, North Carolina.

  • October 1958:
    VMA-225 moved back to Naval Auxiliary Air Station, North Carolina.

  • August 1959 to February 1960:
    VMA-225 deployed aboard the United States Ship Essex to the Mediterranean.

  • 1962:
    VMA-225 was the first Marine squadron to deploy aboard the United States Ship Enterprise CVAN 65 and was aboard the "Big E" during the 1962 Cuban Crisis.

  • March 1963:
    VMA-225 was the first squadron to operate independently from a SATS field at Marine Corps Air Facility Bogue Field, North Carolina.

  • September 1964:
    VMA-225 deployed to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. The Vagabonds also operated from Naval Air Station Cubi Point, Philippines, Naval Air Station Naha, Japan, Kadina Air Force Base, Kadina, Japan, and Seoul, Korea. In February 1965 the Vagabonds operated from Bankok, Thailand.

  • May 23, 1965:
    VMA-225 deployed at Chu Lai, Vietnam from United States Ship Washoe County LST 1165.

  • June 1, 1965:
    Colonel John D. Noble, MAG-12 Commanding Officer, lead Lieutenant Colonel Robert W. Baker, VMA-225 Commanding Officer, and three other VMA-225 "Vagabond" A-4C Skyhawks (tail code CE) into the new Chu Lai air base (June 1, 1965 - October 1965).

    Cake Cutting After The Marines Land Their Skyhawks at Chu Lai - June 1, 1965.
    In a ceremony in front of A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 147779 - side number CE 6, the Commanding Officer of MAG-12, Colonel John Noble eats a piece of cake after landing at Chu Lai. To Colonel Noble's left is the pilot of the second aircraft Lieutenant Colonel Robert W. Baker the Commanding Officer of VMA-225.
    To Lieutenant Colonel Baker's left is the pilot of third aircraft Major Donald E. Gillum the Executive Officer of VMA-225; And to Major Gillum's left is the pilot of fourth aircraft Major David Teichmann the Officer-In-Charge of VMA-225 S1.
    As you can see, the matting is not yet finished and it had rained just before the landing. God only knows where they got the cake as at this time the troops were in fox-holes about a mile south eating C rations.
    The VMA-225 "Fighting Eagle" A-4C Skyhawks (tail code CE) were at Chu Lai air base from June 1, 1965 to October 1965.
    Photograph by John Keane and from Martin Halpin.

  • June 1, 1965:
    Marine Attack Squadrons were assigned 24 Skyhawks of which 16 were operational. Four Skyhawks were always in the Squadron's Hanger for Check and four aircraft were always in overhaul either in Rhode Island or Nippi in Japan.
    • BuNo. 145065 --- CE 11
    • BuNo. 145094 --- CE 2
    • BuNo. 145096 --- CE 19
    • BuNo. 145101 --- CE 4
    • BuNo. 145103 --- CE 5
    • BuNo. 145125 --- CE 23
    • BuNo. 147752 --- CE 12
    • BuNo. 147767 --- CE 3
    • BuNo. 147772 --- CE 20
    • BuNo. 147773 --- CE 10
    • BuNo. 147779 --- CE 6
    • BuNo. 147782 --- CE 7
    • BuNo. 147808 --- CE 8
    • BuNo. 148436 --- CE 14
    • BuNo. 148462 --- CE 9
    • BuNo. 148465 --- CE 22
    • BuNo. 148467 --- CE 18
    • BuNo. 148518 --- CE 1
    • BuNo. 148520 --- CE 13
    • BuNo. 148530 --- CE 15
    • BuNo. 148537 --- CE 16
    • BuNo. 148538 --- CE 17
    • BuNo. 148550 --- CE 24
    • BuNo. 148597 --- CE 20/21 ?
  • June 1, 1965:
    Several hours later on June 1, 1965, Lieutenant Colonel Bernard J. Stender, VMA-311 Commanding Officer, lead three VMA-311 "Tomcat" A-4E Skyhawks (tail code WL) into the new Chu Lai air base. (June 1, 1965 - October 1965; February 1966 - March 1967; June 1967 - February 1970; May 1972 - January 1973).

    Still later on June 1, 1965, Lieutenant Colonel Robert W. Baker, VMA-225 Commanding Officer, lead the first "Vagabond" combat mission from Chu Lai striking the enemy six miles north of the base.

  • June 2, 1965:
    Early in the morning Colonel John D. Noble, MAG-12 Commanding Officer, lead four VMA-225 "Vagabond" aircraft to bomb and strafe Viet Cong forces near the base.

  • October 1965:
    VMA-225 returned to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina.

  • June 1966:
    VMA-225 Vagabonds were assigned the Grumman A-6A Intruder at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. At the same time the Vagabonds were redesignated VMA (aw) -225. Subsequently VMA(aw)-225 continued providing the 2d Marine Division, FMF, Atlantic air support and engaged in several deployments at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona.

  • January 1969:
    VMA(aw)-225 commanded by Lieutenant Colonel John J. Metzko deployed to Da Nang Air Base, Vietnam. There the Vikings provided close and direct air support for allied ground elements of in the I Corps area of South Vietnam by attacking and destroying surface targets, day and night, in all weather conditions.

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Awards

Sources:
  • Bob Freeman
  • Martin Halpin
  • Warren A. Harms
  • John Keane
  • Bob Paul
  • Gary Rodgers
  • Ralph Stewart
  • Dan Yates
  • Rich Lee
  • John Gabbard

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