Officially Licensed USMC VMFA-115 Silver Eagles Leather Patch — Joe Foss' Squadron, From Corsairs to Carrier Hornets The Silver Eagles were founded by the highest-scoring Marine ace of World War II. They've been living up to his legacy for eighty years. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115 (VMFA-115) — the 'Silver Eagles' — was one of the most decorated fighter squadrons in Marine Corps history, with a combat record stretching across four wars and eight decades. VMF-115 was organized on July 1, 1943, at MCAS Santa Barbara, California, as an F4U Corsair squadron under the command of Major Joseph Foss — the highest-scoring Marine Corps ace of World War II with 26 aerial victories, Medal of Honor recipient, and the inspiration for the squadron's original nickname, 'Joe's Jokers.' The squadron joined the Pacific campaign in May 1944, fighting across the Northern Solomons, the Philippines, and Zamboanga. After the war, VMF-115 deployed to North China to protect U.S. interests and supervise the repatriation of 630,000 Japanese troops and civilians. In December 1949, the squadron became the first Marine Corps unit to receive a full complement of F9F-2 Panther jet fighters, and during the Korean War, provided decisive close air support at the Chosin Reservoir, Bunker Hill, the Hook, and the Vegas outpost fights, earning two Presidential Unit Citations. The squadron received the Marine Corps' first F4D Skyrays in 1957, reinforced Taiwan's air defenses during the Formosa Straits Crisis in 1958, then transitioned to the F-4B Phantom II and deployed to Da Nang, Vietnam, in October 1965. During the Vietnam War, VMFA-115 flew more than 34,000 combat sorties, supporting Marines during the Tet Offensive, the Battle of Hue, the Battle of Khe Sanh, and Operation Linebacker missions over North Vietnam. The squadron transitioned to the F/A-18A Hornet in 1985, adopted the 'Silver Eagles' name, won the Hanson Award as Marine Corps Fighter Squadron of the Year in 1987 and 1988 — the first squadron to win it in consecutive years — intercepted Soviet MiG-23s and Tu-95 Bears during Cold War carrier operations aboard USS Forrestal, and deployed with CVW-3 aboard USS Harry S. Truman for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, delivering over 150 tons of ordnance. VMFA-115 was deactivated on November 9, 2023, after 80 years of continuous service, and is planned to reactivate as an F-35C Lightning II squadron at MCAS Cherry Point. This leather patch carries the Silver Eagles legacy forward. Perfect For: VMFA-115 Silver Eagles Marines past and present, F/A-18 Hornet and F-4 Phantom veterans, Korean War and Vietnam War Marine aviation alumni, Joe Foss admirers, MCAS Beaufort and Cherry Point Marines, and anyone who serves a squadron founded by a Medal of Honor recipient.
