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The nickname "Death Rattlers" and an appropriately designed squadron patch were adopted by VMF-323 soon after commissioning. Based upon an incident wherein a large rattle snake fell prey to three VMF-323 lieutenants and wound up adorning the unit's ready room. Both nickname and patch continue in use today. |
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The circle is for the solidarity of the Squadron, a compact, well rounded-out unit. The rattle-snake represents the vicious striking power of the aircraft we fly into combat. The most distinctive feature of the patch is the F4U Corsair (its inverted gull wing silhouette) shown in the lower section of the patch. |
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Did You Know!
- Major George C. Axtell, Jr became the youngest Commander of a Marine Fighter Squadron at the age of 22 when he took command of VMF-323 on 1 Aug 1943.
2. On 11 April 1945, Lieutenant Al Wells is credited in the Death Rattler’s first Kill.
3. On 22 April 1945, the Death Rattlers downed a record of 24 enemy aircraft. In less than a half-hour, 3 pilots became Aces.
4. From April to August 1945, the Death Rattlers shot down a total of 124 ½ enemy aircraft and 12 pilots became Aces during the Battle for Okinawa.
5. VMF-323 participated in the filming of the John Wayne classic, “Sands of Iwo Jima” in July 1949.
6. Technical Sergeant Hugh F. “Whiskey” Newell was part of the El Toro Corsair Stunt Flying Team and also participated in the filming of the movies “Sands of Iwo Jima.” And “Halls of Montezuma.”
7. On 14 October, 1999, The Massachusetts State House of Representatives Honored VMF-323 with a Resolution on the Squadron’s 56th Anniversary of its Commissioning.
8. Robert E. Johnson Commanded the squadron twice, as a Major from 7 Mar to 6 Jul 1950 and as a LtCol from 11 Jun 1960 to 1 Jun 1961.
9. The Squadron has been an Active Duty squadron since it was Commissioned in Aug 1943 but was Commanded by 3 Marine Corps Reserve Officers; Major Donald L. Clark, LtCol Richard L. Blume and LtCol Henry S. Miller. All during the Korean War.
10. The Squadron received the Coveted Robert M. Hanson Award as the outstanding Marine Fighter Squadron in 1975, 1976, 1980 and 1986.
11. In 1974, LtCol Michael P. Sullivan received the Alfred A. Cunningham Award in recognition of being named the Marine Aviator of the Year.
12. From 1 Dec 1965 to 30 Mar 1969, the Death Rattlers were in Vietnam.
13. Lt Cliff Judkins had to manually bail out of his flaming F8 Crusader over the Pacific Ocean in Jun 1963 because his ejection seat failed to function. His parachute also failed to deploy and he plunged 15,000 feet to the water and survived.
14. That LtCol Ken Frazier, CO from 1955-56, was a member of the Cactus Air Force flying off Henderson Field on Guadalcanel in 1942.
15. That VMFA-323 was the first squadron, Navy or Marine, to take the FA18 Hornet into combat. The action took place on 15 May 1986 against targets in Lyiba.
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