Vol. 2 Issue 58
DEATH RATTLERS
THE
By MC3 Phil Ladouceur Photo by MCSA Kelly M. Agee
July 12, 2013
MARINE FIGHTER ATTACK SQUADRON (VMFA) 323 arine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 323 has a long and proud tradition of being part of carrier aviation. Except for a few land-based deployments, they have by and large deployed on aircraft carriers. Part of the 3rd Marine Air Wing (MAW), VMFA-323 technically flew in support of Carrier Air Wing 11 through build-up exercises. But once on deployment they are under the operational command of the air wing, although they remain under the administrative command of 3rd MAW. The squadron was commissioned Aug. 1, 1943 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C. They were trained to fly the new ChanceVought F4U Corsair, the distinctively gullwinged aircraft that is still a part of the squadron’s insignia. Continued on page 3