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SQUADRON GALLERIES
VMF-312 "Checkerboards"

Marine Fighter Squadron 312 (VMF-312) was commissioned on June 1, 1943, at Page Field, Parris Island, South Carolina. Originally it was part of MAG-31, 1st MAW. As first aircraft the squadron received 10 SNJ-4 Texans and one F4U-1D Corsair. As their unit crest the squadron members choose a satan-like bulldog wearing a flying helmet and carrying -at that time- six .50 caliber machineguns (the armament of the Corsair) drawn by Technical Sergeant James R. Wroble. In honor of their commanding officer, Major Richard M. Day, the men nicknamed their squadron "Day's Knights". Also at this time, the Checkerboards emblem began to appear on both the cowling and rudder of the aircraft.

An F4U-1D Corsair of VMF 312 'Checkerboards' landing at Kadena Airfield on Okinawa on April 9, 1945 WRG# 0017588
An F4U-1D Corsair of VMF 312 "Checkerboards"
landing at Kadena Airfield, Okinawa on April 9, 1945
[Source: U.S. Navy/National Museum of Naval Aviation]

F4U-4 Corsair/Bu. 81779 of VMF-312 in Korea, 1951 WRG# 0016738
F4U-4 Corsair/Bu. 81779 of VMF-312 in Korea, 1951.
[Source: Jack Cook Collection]

F4U-4 Corsair/Bu. 81886 of VMF-312 crashlanded and went overboard May 1, 1952. WRG# 0026929
F4U-4 Corsair/Bu. 81886 of VMF-312 crashlanded and went overboard May 1, 1952..
[Source: Mark Nankivil Collection]
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