VMFA-542
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 542 (VMFA-542) is a United States Marine Corps Aviation fighter attack squadron flying the F-35B Lightning II. VMFA-542 is based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 14 (MAG-14) and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (2nd MAW).
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 542
- 6 March 1944 – 30 June 1970
- 12 January 1972 – present
Multirole
SEAD
Strike
Anti-Air Warfare
SCAR
Close Air Support
"Tigers"
LtCol Brian Hansell
Mission[edit]
Locate, attack and destroy surface targets, intercept and destroy enemy aircraft, and provide electronic warfare support.
History[edit]
World War II[edit]
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 542 was initially commissioned as Marine Night Fighter Squadron 542 (VMF(N)-542) on 6 March 1944, at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. Upon commissioning, the squadron was assigned the F6F Hellcat. They were relocated to San Diego, California, in mid-summer, 1944 in preparation for a move to the combat zone. Late in October, the squadron arrived at Ulithi, in the Caroline Islands and immediately began flying combat air patrols.