VMF 312 was formed on June 1, 1943 at Page Field, Paris Island, SC. This squadron has been on continuous active duty  as a Fighter Squadron longer than any other  Fighter Squadron. It's home base is Beaufort, SC with it's deployment carriers Teddy Roosevelt and Enterprise.

More info... data... missions... aces... etc...

F4U-1D WWII F4U-4, Korea

	VMF312 over Espirtu Santo, New Hebrides - Oct '44. Pilots from bottom to top: 1/Lt M.O. Chance, 1/Lt Al Kreuzberger, 1/Lt. D.N. Smith. Photographer: SSgt. Robert Linebaugh M.O. Chance photo
	5 VMF312 F4U's in formation over Espirtu Santo- Oct/Nov '44. Possibly CO's (Maj R.M. Day) men from his division. Photographer: SSgt. Robert Linebaugh M.O. Chance photo
	F4U being loaded with a bomb at Okinawa Kedina Field, April/May '45. VMF312 often carried three 500# bombs along with the 8 85# Five inch rockets. Another loadout was 2 1000# bombs with the 5" rockets.  this field was a 2800' (65' wide) coral airstrip with day and night ops. M.O. Chance photo
	This group of pilots attacked 24 Japanese bombers and fighters... they shot down 9 planes and damaged 5 others. Left to Right: Lt. Dick Revenes, Capt. Dan Johnson (Division Leader), Lt. Jack "Zonnie" Webb and 1/Lt. Jack Holden. Okinawa, 12 April '45 M.O. Chance photo
	1/Lt. Bob Klingman telling the other pilots and enlisted men about his adventure- (left to right) Lt. Ken Reusser, ?, ?, Bob Klingman, Lt's Bob Guthrie and Seymoure Kurtz, ?, Lt's Tom Hardy, ?, Bronson and Anderson M.O. Chance photo
	1/Lt bob Klingman, looking at his damaged prop blade. A Japanese "Nike" had been flying photo missions over Oki for several days at a very high altitude. On may 10, 1945 Lt. Klingman and his division leader finally had climbed to 38,000/40,000- but Reusser was out of ammo try to keep firing and Klingmans had frozen. Lt Klingman made three passes and cut the tail off the Japanese plane, then made a dead stick landing out of gas... he was awarded the Navy Cross for this. flight. M.O. Chance photo
	F4U-4 landing on a carrier in Korea (USS Bataan). During WWII, VMF312 was NOT a land based unit. M.O. Chance photo
	F8U, flown by VMF312. Date unknown M.O. Chance photo
	three FA/18's currently flown by the squadron M.O. Chance photo
	Acting Sgt. Major Jim Rice Photo courtesy of Chris Carroll

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    Data for this page was found and used from the following publications-

• History USMC Aviation in WWII by Robert Sherrod
• Stars and Bars by Frank Olynyk
• History of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 by US Marine Corp

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