Officially Licensed USMC VMO-1 Patch — The Eyes of the Marine Corps From the Earliest Days of Aviation VMO-1 was seeing the battlefield from the air before most Marines even knew what an airplane could do. Marine Observation Squadron 1 (VMO-1) was one of the United States Marine Corps' earliest aviation units, tasked with the aerial observation and reconnaissance mission that has been a cornerstone of Marine aviation since its inception. VMO squadrons provided the MAGTF commander with the ability to see the battlefield from the air — directing artillery fire, spotting enemy positions, conducting route reconnaissance, and providing the aerial observation that ground commanders needed to make tactical decisions. VMO-1 was based at MCAS New River, North Carolina, and flew a variety of aircraft throughout its history, from fixed-wing observation aircraft to helicopters, as the observation mission evolved with technology. The squadron's legacy lives on in today's Marine unmanned aerial vehicle squadrons, light attack helicopter squadrons, and reconnaissance units that continue the observation mission with modern platforms. VMO-1 represents the origins of Marine Corps aerial observation — the foundation on which today's ISR enterprise was built. This patch honors VMO-1 and the Marines who flew the observation mission. Perfect For: VMO-1 Marines past and present, Marine observation aviation veterans, MCAS New River personnel, and anyone who served in the Marine Corps observation squadron community.
