#1602 VMFA-242 F-35B Lightning II print
Description
Squadron Prints Lithograph No. 1602 - 169623 '01', F-35B Lightning II, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242, Marine Aircraft Group 12, MCAS Iwakuni, Japan.
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242 was commissioned as Marine Torpedo Squadron 242 on 1 July 1943 at El Centro, California flying the TBF-1 and TBM-1 Avenger. VMTB-242 deployed to Espiritu Santo in the Southwest Pacific aboard the USS Kitkun Bay in February 1944. Starting in the Northern Solomons, then shifting to Saipan, Tinian, and finally Iwo Jima, the squadron flew anti-submarine patrols until the end of World War II. VMTB-242 was subsequently deactivated on 24 November 1945. On 1 October 1960 at Cherry Point, North Carolina the squadron was reactivated as Marine Attack Squadron 242 flying the A-4D Skyhawk. During the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, VMA-242 deployed to Key West, Florida until the Soviet withdrawal of offensive weapons from Cuba. In September 1963, VMA-242 embarked for duty with 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. The squadron operated from Iwakuni, Japan until its return to Cherry Point in September 1964. On 1 October 1964, the squadron was designated Marine All Weather Attack Squadron 242, becoming the first Marine Corps squadron equipped with the A-6A Intruder. In late 1966, the VMA(AW)-242 ‘Batmen’ deployed to Da Nang, Vietnam to participate in combat operations against the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army including ‘Rolling Thunder’ deep strike missions. In September 1970, the squadron departed, having logged 16,783 combat sorties and delivering 85,990 tons of ordnance, and relocated to El Toro, California, where the Bats became the first A-6A squadron in Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing. While part of MAG-11, VMA(AW)-242 conducted six deployments to the West Pacific; were the first Marine squadron to deploy to Berbera, Somalia as part of Operation Eastern Wind in August 1983; and in August 1990, provided seven aircraft to MAG-70 in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The squadron was designated Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242 on 14 December 1990 and began conversion to the F/A-18D Hornet. On 15 September 1992, VMFA(AW)-242 deployed to Iwakuni, Japan for the first of seven UDP deployments during the next decade. In March 1996, the Bats relocated to Miramar, California. From 4 August 2004 to 18 March 2005 VMFA(AW)-242 deployed to Al Asad Air Base, Iraq and conducted combat sorties in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In November 2004 the Bats participated in Operation Phantom Fury, delivering over 300,000 pounds of ordnance during the Battle of Fallujah. The Bats again flew out of Al Asad, Iraq from 5 August 2006 to 10 March 2007 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, logging over 3,000 sorties, 8,000 combat flight hours, and successfully employing over 400,000 pounds of ordnance. During March 2008, as part of the Marine Aviation Transition Plan, VMFA(AW)-242 relocated from Miramar, California to Iwakuni, Japan within Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. The squadron was designated Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242 on 16 October 2020 and transitioned to the F-35B Lightning II.
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