VMFA(AW)-242 "BATS" Tee

Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242 or VMFA (AW)-242 The squadron, known as the "Bats", is based at Marine Air Station Iwakuni, Japan and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 12 (MAG-12). They Fly F/A-18D Hornets. During World War II they fought in the Battle of Saipan, Tinian, & Iwo Jima. In 1967 the "BATS" were also assigned to the first of many Operation Rolling Thunder missions over North Vietnam. During the squadron’s tour in Vietnam, VMFA(AW)-242 logged 16,783 combat sorties and delivered 85,990 tons of ordnance. From August 4, 2004 to March 18, 2005, the Bats supported Operation Iraqi Freedom.