This is a list of all of the active squadrons that exist in the United States Marine Corps, sorted by type. Most squadrons have changed names and designations many times over the years, so they are listed by their current designation.

To see Marine Aviation units sorted by command hierarchy, see aviation combat element.

Squadron designations The basic tactical and administrative unit of United States Marine Corps aviation is the squadron. Marine Corps aircraft squadrons use the same designation lettering as the US Navy. Fixed-wing aircraft squadrons (heavier than air) and tiltrotor squadrons are denoted by the letter "V", while Rotary wing (helicopter) squadrons use "H." All Marine squadrons use “M” as a second letter to distinguish them from a Navy squadron, with a third or fourth letter used to identify the squadron’s purpose/mission. For example, while VFA-123 would be Navy Fighter/Attack Squadron 123 VMFA-123 would be Marine Fighter/Attack Squadron. During the early days of naval aviation, squadron numbering was not linear as some were numbered in ascending order and others took numbers from the wing or the ship to which they were assigned. From 1920 to 1941, Marine flying squadrons were identified by one digit numbers. This changed on 1 July 1941, when all existing squadrons were redesignated to a three-digit system. The first two numbers were supposed to identify the squadrons parent group but with the rapid expansion during World War II and frequent transfer of squadrons this system fell apart.

Rotary-wing aircraft

Marine Helicopter Squadron

The squadron is responsible for the helicopter transportation of the president of the United States, vice president, Cabinet members and VIPs. In addition to its VIP transport role, it is also tasked with operational test and evaluation (OT&E) of new flight systems for Marine Corps helicopters. The squadron flies the VH-3D Sea King the VH-60N Whitehawk, and the MV-22 Osprey. These were due to be replaced by the VH-71 Kestrel, however that program was cancelled in April 2009. HMX-1 is now preparing for the arrival of the VH-92A Patriot, which will replace the VH-3D that serves as Marine One. Lastly, HMX-1 provides support to training at The Basic School, providing aerial insertion for various training events, as well as MAGTF Air component orientation to the student officers.

Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Date Commissioned Senior Command StationHMX-1 Marine One1 December 1947Headquarters Marine CorpsMCAF Quantico, VA

Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadrons

Heavy helicopter squadrons were first formed in 1966 when the Marine Corps began flying the heavy lift CH-53 Sea Stallion during the Vietnam War. Each squadron is equipped with sixteen CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters. In 2022 the replacement of the CH-53E with the CH-53K King Stallion began. Their primary role is moving cargo and equipment with the secondary role of transferring troops ashore in an amphibious assault. The CH-53Es are the most powerful helicopter in the U.S. military inventory today. As part of the current reorganization of the Corps, HMH-462 will be decommissioned by 2030. Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Aircraft Date Commissioned Senior Command StationHMH-361 Flying Tigers CH-53E25 February 1952MAG-16, 3rd MAWMCAS Miramar, CAHMH-461Iron HorseCH-53K15 March 1944MAG-29, 2nd MAWMCAS New River, NCHMH-462Heavy HaulersCH-53E15 April 1944MAG-16, 3rd MAWMCAS Miramar, CAHMH-464 CondorsCH-53E5 April 1944MAG-29, 2nd MAWMCAS New River, NC HMH-465 WarhorseCH-53E1 December 1981MAG-16, 3rd MAWMCAS Miramar, CAHMH-466 WolfpackCH-53E30 November 1984MAG-16, 3rd MAWMCAS Miramar, CAHMH-772 HustlerCH-53E15 April 1958MAG-49, 4th MAWMcGuire Air Force Base, NJ

Marine Heavy Helicopter Training Squadron The squadron trains newly designated (i.e., winged) Naval Aviators, conversion pilots, refresher pilots, and enlisted aircrew on the CH-53E Super Stallion.

Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Date Commissioned Senior Command StationHMHT-302 Phoenix1 November 1966MAG-29, 2nd MAWMCAS New River, NC

Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadrons

The Marine Corps’ light attack squadrons are composite squadrons made up of 18 AH-1Z Vipers and 9 UH-1Y Venoms. The primary missions of the Viper is close air support, forward air control, reconnaissance and armed escort, while the Huey provides airborne command and control, utility support, supporting arms coordination and medical evacuation. The H-1 upgrade program will see both the AH-1 and UH-1 get greater power, improved avionics and an 85% commonality of parts. The transition to the UH-1Y was completed in August 2014 when HMLA-773 flew the UH-1N for the last time. Due to the need for more light attack squadrons, the Marine Corps began adding new squadrons in 2008. HMLA-469 was the newest squadron. However, as part of the re-organization of the corps, HMLA-469 was de-activated in 2022 and HMLA-367 will be de-activated by 2030. Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Date Commissioned Senior Command StationHMLA-167 Warriors1 April 1968MAG-29, 2nd MAWMCAS New River, NC HMLA-169 Vipers30 September 1971MAG-39, 3rd MAWMCAS Camp Pendleton, CA HMLA-267Stingers 15 February 1944MAG-39, 3rd MAWMCAS Camp Pendleton, CA HMLA-269The Gunrunners22 February 1977MAG-29, 2nd MAWMCAS New River, NC HMLA-367Scarface1 December 1943MAG-39, 3rd MAWMCAS Camp Pendleton, CA HMLA-369 Gunfighters1 April 1972MAG-39, 3rd MAWMCAS Camp Pendleton, CA HMLA-773Red Dog June 1968MAG-49, 4th MAWJoint Base McGuire–Dix–Lakehurst, NJHMLA-775Coyote 1 October 2016MAG-41, 4th MAWMCAS Camp Pendleton, CA

Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron The squadron trains newly designated (i.e., winged) Naval Aviators, conversion pilots, refresher pilots, and enlisted aircrew on the UH-1Y Venom, and the AH-1Z Viper.

Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Date Commissioned Senior Command StationHMLAT-303Atlas 30 April 1982 MAG-39, 3rd MAWMCAS Camp Pendleton, CA

Tiltrotor Aircraft

Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadrons

Marine tiltrotor squadrons are new units operating the MV-22 Osprey with their main mission being assault support. The Osprey offers twice the speed, five times the range, and can fly more than twice as high as the helicopters they are replacing. As the Marine Corps’ number one aviation acquisition priority, the Osprey replaced the aging fleet of CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters and is a cornerstone of the capstone concept of Expeditionary maneuver warfare. As of October 2018, the Marine Corps had 17 Fully Operationally Capable (FOC) MV-22 squadrons. VMM-268, VMM-364, and VMM-164 reached FOC in FY16 and VMM-362 in 2018. The newest Osprey squadron, VMM-264, will stand up in FY27, completing the Marine Corps' transition to 18 active component MV-22 squadrons. Each squadron operates 12 aircraft. Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Date Commissioned Senior Command Station NoteVMM-161 GreyhawksJanuary 15, 1951MAG-16, 3rd MAWMCAS Miramar, CAVMM-162 Golden EaglesJune 30, 1952MAG-26, 2nd MAWMCAS New River, NCVMM-163Evil EyesDecember 1, 1951MAG-16, 3rd MAWMCAS Miramar, CA VMM-164 KnightridersJuly 1, 1962MAG-39, 3rd MAWMCAS Camp Pendleton, CA VMM-165White KnightsJuly 1, 1965MAG-16, 3rd MAWMCAS Miramar, CA VMM-261Raging BullsApril 5, 1951MAG-26, 2nd MAWMCAS New River, NC VMM-262 Flying TigersSeptember 1, 1951MAG-36, 1st MAWMCAS Futenma, Japan VMM-263 Thunder ChickensJune 16, 1952MAG-26, 2nd MAWMCAS New River, NC VMM-265Dragons October 1, 1962MAG-36, 1st MAWMCAS Futenma, Japan VMM-266Fighting GriffinsApril 26, 1983MAG-26, 2nd MAWMCAS New River, NC VMM-268Red DragonsApril 26, 1983MAG-24, 1st MAWMCB Hawaii, HI VMM-362Ugly AngelsApril 30, 1952MAG-16, 3rd MAWMCAS Miramar, CA VMM-363Red LionsJune 2, 1952MAG-24, 1st MAWMCB Hawaii, HI VMM-364 Purple FoxesSeptember 1, 1961MAG-39, 3rd MAWMCAS Camp Pendleton, CA VMM-365Blue KnightsJuly 1, 1963MAG-26, 2nd MAWMCAS New River, NC VMM-764MoonlightApril 15, 1958MAG-41, 4th MAWMCAS Miramar, CA VMM-774Wild Goose September 5, 1958MAG-49, 4th MAWMCAS New River, NC

Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron The squadron provides new and conversion training to Marine Corps and Air Force pilots and units in the use and maintenance of the Osprey tiltrotor aircraft.

Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Date Commissioned Senior Command Station NotesVMMT-204 RaptorsMay 1, 19722nd MAWMCAS New River, NC

Fixed-Wing Aircraft

Marine Fighter Attack Squadrons

The Marine Corps' VMFA squadrons fly the F/A-18 Hornet and F-35 Lightning II. Their primary mission is to attack and destroy surface targets, during both day and nighttime operations, under all weather conditions; conduct multi-sensor imagery reconnaissance; provide supporting arms coordination; and intercept and destroy enemy aircraft in all weather conditions. The current F/A-18s saw first deployments during Operation Desert Storm, after having replaced the A-6 Intruder. Each Hornet squadron operates 12 aircraft and each F-35 squadron operates 10 to 12 aircraft. Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Aircraft Date Commissioned Senior Command StationVMFA-112 CowboysF/A-18C1 March 1942MAG-41, 4th MAWNASJRB Fort Worth, TX VMFA-115Silver EaglesF-35C1 July 1943MAG-14, 2nd MAWMCAS Cherry Point, NCVMFA-121 Green KnightsF-35B24 June 1941MAG-12, 1st MAWMCAS Iwakuni, Japan VMFA-122WerewolvesF-35B1 March 1942MAG-13, 3rd MAWMCAS Yuma, AZ VMFA-211 Wake Island AvengersF-35B1 January 1937MAG-13, 3rd MAWMCAS Yuma, AZ VMFA-214 Black SheepF-35B1 July 1942MAG-13, 3rd MAWMCAS Yuma, AZVMFA-224 Fighting BengalsF-35B1 May 1942MAG-31, 2nd MAWMCAS Beaufort, SC VMFA-225VikingsF-35B1 January 1943MAG-13, 3rd MAWMCAS Yuma, AZ VMFA-231Ace of SpadesF-35B 8 February 1919MAG-14, 2nd MAWMCAS Cherry Point, NCVMFA-232 Red DevilsF/A-18C1 September 1925MAG-11, 3rd MAWMCAS Miramar, CA VMFA-242BatsF-35B1 July 1943MAG-12, 1st MAWMCAS Iwakuni, Japan VMFA-251ThunderboltsF-35C1 December 1941MAG-14, 2nd MAWMCAS Cherry Point, NCVMFA-311TomcatsF-35C1 December 1942MAG-11, 3rd MAWMCAS Miramar, CA VMFA-312CheckerboardF/A-18C1 June 1943MAG-31, 2nd MAWMCAS Beaufort, SC VMFA-314Black KnightsF-35C1 October 1943MAG-11, 3rd MAWMCAS Miramar, CA VMFA-323Death RattlersF/A-18C1 August 1943MAG-11, 3rd MAWMCAS Miramar, CA VMFA-533HawksF-35B1 October 1943MAG-31, 2nd MAWMCAS Beaufort, SC VMFA-542TigersF-35B6 March 1944MAG-14, 2nd MAWMCAS Cherry Point, NC F-35B/C Lightning II (VMFA) Plan

VMA-223 will transition to F-35B in 2027. VMFA-312 will transition to F-35B in 2028 at MCAS Cherry Point, NC. VMFA-232 will transition to F-35C in 2029. VMFA-323 will transition to F-35C in 2029. VMFA-112 will transition as a reserve F-35C squadron in 2030 at MCAS Beaufort, SC. VMFA-134 will reactivate as a reserve F-35C squadron in 2030 at MCAS Miramar, CA.

Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadrons VMFAT squadrons train newly designated Naval Aviators to fly Marine Corps Aircraft.

Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Aircraft Date Commissioned Senior Command StationVMFAT-501 WarlordsF-35B15 February 1944MAG-31, 2nd MAWMCAS Beaufort, SCVMFAT-502Flying NightmaresF-35B15 February 1944MAG-11, 3rd MAWMCAS Miramar, CA

Marine Fighter Training Squadron VMFT-401 and VMFT-402 are the only aggressor squadrons in the Marine Corps. They fly the F-5N Tiger II and provide instruction to active and reserve squadrons through dissimilar adversary combat tactics. The squadrons are based at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, AZ, and Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, SC, respectively, and are assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Forces Reserve.

Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Aircraft Date Commissioned Senior Command StationVMFT-401 Snipers F-5N18 March 1986MAG-41, 4th MAWMCAS Yuma, AZVMFT-402 Grim ReapersF-5N September 2024MAG-41, 4th MAWMCAS Beaufort, SC

Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadrons