Article - NASJRB Fort Worth, VMFA-112 "Cowboys – October 2018

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112, NASJRB Fort Worth, TX

Based squadrons

C-130H -181st AS TX ANG

F-16C/D -301st FW

F/A-18A+, F/A-18++, F/A-18B -VMFA-112

C-40A - VR-59

KC-130T, KC-130J (new to the sqn) -VMGR-234

OH-58, UH-60, CH-47 maintenance -B.Company, 90th Aviation Support Battalion

C-12R, C-12V -339th MI Co/USARC

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 'Cowboys' History

The squadron was activated during March 1942 as VMF-112 flying F4F Wildcats out of San Diego. During 1943 VMF-112 switched aircraft to F4U Corsairs and saw service throughout WWII until it was deactivated in September 1945. VMF-112 was credited with downing a 140 enemy aircraft between 1942 to 1945 in the Pacific war zone, the third highest in the USMC during WWII. In July 1946 he squadron was activated again under the Marine Air Reserve Training Command as a Reserve detachment to NAS (Naval Air Station) Dallas. VMF-112 phased out the older piston aircraft and moved to the new jet aircraft, the F-9F Panther and then F-8 Crusader. The squadron moved to all-weather D/E variants of the F-8 and became VMF(AW)-112, the (AW) standing for All-Weather. During the autumn of 1975 all it's aircraft were changed in favour of the F-4 Phantom II and the squadron was redesignated VMFA-112. For 17 years the 'Cowboys' flew the F-4 Phantom II, until 1992 when the type was retired from active service, with only test aircraft still in service for a short time. VMFA-112 received it's first F/A-18A on the 8th October 1992 and eventually moved to NASJRB, Fort Worth Texas in September of 1996. In 2002 The F/A-18A's of the squadron began to receive the upgraded F/A-18A+, which had the Hughes AN/APG-65 radar replaced by the Raytheon (former Hughes) AN/APG-73 which has a more capable radar system, "bird slicer" antennas in front of the cockpit, GPS dome and new UHF blade antennas.Today VMFA-112 fly the F/A-18A++ and F/A-18B two seat variant, a more upgraded version of the A+ version.

Engagements

World War II - Battle of Guadalcanal

Koren War

Operation Iraqi Freedom

Deployments

2005 - Operation Jungle Shield/Exercise Southern Frontier - Guam, Japan, Australia

2005 - Exercise Battle Griffin - Orland AB, Norway

2006 - Hawaii

2013 - Exercise Forager Fury II - Tinian, Guam

2013 - Hawaii

2013 - Japan

2014 - Hawaii

2014 - Japan

2015 - WTI 15/1, MCAS Yuma, AZ

2018 - ITE exercise, MCAS Twenty Nine Palms, CA

VMFA-112 present day

Based on NASJRB Fort Worth, TX, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 112, comes under the command of Marine Air Group (MAG) 41 and the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW). The squadron has around a dozen jets assigned, with them currently flying the F/A-18A++ and F/A-18B Hornets, it is expected that as the front line squadrons transition to newer models through 2019/20, VMFA-112 will receive the C and D variant of the type. The squadron is made up of 25% active duty pilots and 75% reserve pilots, who are former active duty pilots, with reserve pilots flying mostly at weekends, but do also flying during some weekdays. The flying hours for all pilots is equal or sometimes more than active duty pilots over a 12 month period. Once leaving active duty a Reservist being a he or she can sign up for around 20 years and their duty status is subject to constant medical reviews. On the ground with the aircraft technicians, VMFA-112's mechanics and ground personnel is made up of 75% active duty and 25% reserve. Although VMFA-112 is a Reserve Squadron all aircraft are kept to front-line operational safety standards and pilots fully qualified to fly at any time. The squadron is a land based unit and does not normally deploy on Aircraft Carriers, but some of the pilots assigned are still Carrier landing qualified, this means that the squadron normally only deploys to bases around the United States. VMFA-112 has won the prestigious squadron of the year award three times, 1977, 1985 and 2010, something the men and women of the unit are very proud of.

VMFA-112 visit

On a very cold and wet autumns day in October, Aviation Reporting were invited to visit the ramp and hanger of VMFA-112, due to the weather conditions that afternoon nothing was flying on NASJRB Fort Worth, so most of the 'Hornets' were in the hanger with a few outside under sun shelters. Even with the poor lighting conditions outside we made the most of our ramp time, before heavy rain set in, meaning we spent a little time photographing the 'Hornets' inside and speaking with our escort and guide for the tour Major M 'Fades' Reid assigned to VMFA-112.

Major Reid is a full time active duty pilot with the squadron and trained through the standard Marine/Navy pipeline, basic flying in the T-34C at Whiting Field FL, then moved on to the T-45C for 9 months of fast jet training, once fast jet and Carrier qualified moved to flying F/A-18's.Major Reids call sign 'Fades' was assigned upon joining the squadron by his fellow pilots.

This short and informal visit with the "Cowboys" was very enjoyable, factual and produced some great photography for all that attended, considering poor weather hindered any possible movements on the ramps, we were afforded every possible photography vantage point, inside and out. The technicians working on the aircraft we very easy to speak with, talked about their role within the squadron and the many safety procedure's and checks involved in keeping these 'Legacy' F/A-18's flying.

Aviation Reporting would like to acknowledge VMFA-112 and especially Major Reid for hosting us on our visit around the squadron, Marine Corps Command HQ Reserve for approving the tour and the PAO team on NASJRB for being a base guides to/from the unit, special thank's to P Ireland for the interviewing throughout the visit.

Author M Forest

Photography M Forest & N Owen