VMFA-115 (Silver Eagles): A United States Marine Corps fighter attack squadron established on 1 July 1943 at Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara, California, as Marine Fighting Squadron 115 (VMF-115). Nicknamed the “Silver Eagles,” with earlier monikers including “Joe’s Jokers” and “Able Eagles,” it initially flew the F4U Corsair before transitioning to jets like the F9F Panther (first Marine squadron with a full complement in 1949), F4D Skyray, F-4 Phantom II, and F/A-18 Hornet. The squadron saw extensive combat in World War II (Pacific theater), the Korean War (including carrier operations and major battles), Vietnam War (over 34,000 sorties), and Operation Iraqi Freedom, earning three Presidential Unit Citations and multiple Hanson Awards as Marine Fighter Squadron of the Year. Based at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina, VMFA-115 was deactivated on 9 November 2023 as part of Force Design 2030, with plans to reactivate as an F-35C squadron at MCAS Cherry Point under MAG-14 in the coming years.
