VMAT-203

VMAT-203

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  VMAT-203  

Patch

1947 - Hawk

Sources

David Weber

Graphics files created by and courtesy of Fred Lewis

Harry Gann

Charlie Robinson

John Gabbard

Handle

1947 - Hawks

Heritage

July 1, 1947: Marine Training Squadron 1 (VMT-1), Fleet Marine Forces, Atlantic was established at Cherry Point, North Carolina.

November 30, 1951: Marine Training Squadron 1, Fleet Marine Forces, Atlantic was disestablished at Cherry Point, North Carolina.

July 1, 1967: Marine Training Squadron 1 (VMT-1), was re-established and assigned to the Second Marine Air Wing at Cherry Point, North Carolina.

December of 1967: VMT-1 was disestablished and re-established as Marine Training Squadron 203, (VMT-203).

May 1, 1972: Marine Training Squadron 203, (VMT-203) was re-designated Marine Attack Training Squadron 203 (VMAT-203 as the squadrons mission was changed to light attack jet training.

Home Ports

July 1, 1947 - - - - - MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina.

Air Wings

KD

Aircraft

Date Type First Received - - - - - - Type of Aircraft:

1947 - - - - - - - - - - - North American SNJ

1947 - - - - - - - - - - - Vought F4U Corsair

1967 - - - - - - - - - - - Grumman F9F-6 Cougar

1967 - - - - - - - - - - - Lockheed TV-2 Shooting Star

3 July 1967- - - - - - - - Douglas TA-4F Skyhawk

7 September 1973 - - - - - Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk

17 August 1972 - - - - - - Douglas A-4M Skyhawk

1974 - - - - - - - - - - - AV-8A & TAV-8A Harrier.

1984 - - - - - - - - - - - AV8-B Harrier II

* November 30, 1962

The A4D-1 designation changed to A-4A

For A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to this unit see lower in this page:

Deployments

No info yet

Commanding Officers

VMT-1

01 JUL 1947 to 31 JUL 1947 - Lt.Col. E.H. Vaughan

01 AUG 1947 to 10 AUG 1947 - Capt. E.P. Gray (Acting)

AUG 1947 to 10 MAR 1948- - - Capt. J.G. MCallister

MAR 1948 to 27 AUG 1949- - - Maj. W.A. Houston

28 AUG 1949 to 25 JUL 1950 - Maj. S.H. Whitten

26 JUL 1950 to 14 AUG 1950 - Col. C.T. Mattison

15 AUG 1950 to 28 JUL 1951 - Maj. C.H. Woodely

26 JUL 1951 to 01 FEB 1952 - Col. M.G. Haines

02 FEB 1952 to 28 SEP 1952 - Lt.Col. (Col.) R.M. Baker

15 DEC 1953 to 14 JUL 1954 - Col. M.A. Sevenson

15 JUL 1954 to 09 OCT 1954 - Lt.Col. R. Seibert

10 OCT 1954 to 15 SEP 1955 - Col. F.G. Dailey

16 SEP 1955 to 01 NOV 1955 - Col. L.S. Moore

02 NOV 1955 to 03 JAN 1956 - Col. (Brig.Gen.) E.A. Montgomery

04 JAN 1956 to 30 JUN 1958 - Col. S.S. Moore

01 JUL 1958 to 12 JUL 1959 - Lt.Col. P.C. Dehong

13 JUL 1959 to 24 MAR 1960 - Lt.Col. R.W. Kesey

25 MAR 1960 to 31 OCT 1960 - Maj. M.W. Seaman

01 NOV 1960 to 06 JAN 1962 - Lt.Col. T.B. Wood

07 JAN 1962 to 04 JAN 1963 - Lt.Col. R.A. Ward

05 JAN 1963 to 04 JAN 1964 - Lt.Col. P.J. Dayson

05 JAN 1964 to 09 DEC 1964 - Lt.Col. C.E. Merchant

10 DEC 1964 to 31 AUG 1965 - Lt.Col. T.E. Dawson

01 SEP 1965 to 18 MAY 1966 - Lt.Col. C.D. Jernigan

19 MAY 1966 to 05 JAN 1967 - Maj. J.E. Weber Jr.

06 JAN 1967 to 04 JAn 1968 - Lt.Col. F.R. Smoke

 

VMT-203

05 JAN 1968 to 09 MAY 1968 - Lt.Col. D.L. Moore

10 MAY 1968 to 08 JAN 1970 - Lt.Col. R.W. Chapin

09 JAN 1970 to 29 APR 1971 - Lt.Col. F.P. Williams

30 APR 1971 to 22 NOV 1971 - Lt.Col. S.M. Williams

 

VMAT-203

23 NOV 1971 to 28 MAR 1973 - Lt.Col. C.D. Robinson

29 MAR 1973 to 10 APR 1974 - Lt.Col. B.W. Summers

11 APR 1974 to 23 MAY 1975 - Lt.Col. G.C. Psaros

24 MAY 1975 to 19 JUL 1976 - Lt.Col. H.H. Clark

20 JUL 1976 to 16 MAY 1977 - Lt.Col. J.E. Lary

17 MAY 1977 to 02 MAY 1978 - Lt.Col. J.E. Iles

03 MAY 1978 to 31 JAN 1980 - Lt.Col. F.E. Ogline

01 FEB 1980 to 18 JAN 1981 - Lt.Col. P.R. Rounseville

19 JAN 1981 to 30 JUN 1983 - Lt.Col. J.C. Lillie

01 JUL 1983 to 28 MAY 1985 - Lt.Col. M.D. Ryan

29 MAY 1958 to 28 MAY 1987 - Lt.Col. J.W. Capito

29 MAY 1987 to 30 JUN 1989 - Lt.Col. G.B. Mayer JR

01 JUL 1989 to 14 JUN 1991 - Lt.Col. R.J. Heib

15 JUN 1991 to 25 JUN 1993 - Lt.Col. D.D. Theissen

26 JUN 1993 to 27 JUN 1995 - Lt.Col. M.W. Thumm

28 JUN 1995 to 27 JUN 1997 - Lt.Col. D.L. Buland

28 JUN 1997 to 21 MAY 1999 - Lt.Col. C.R. Myers

22 MAY 1999 to 24 MAY 2001 - Lt.Col. K.E. Conyers

25 MAY 2001 to 22 MAR 2003 - Lt.Col. C.G. Huges II

23 MAR 2003 to 31 MAR 2005 - Lt.Col. R.W. Regan

01 APR 2005 to xx yyy zzzz - Lt.Col. J.L. Hoing

Awards

No info yet

Awards continued

No info

Events

July 1, 1947: Marine Training Squadron 1, Fleet Marine Forces, Atlantic was established at Cherry Point, North Carolina. The squadron conducted instrument training with it's SNJ's and Vought F4U Corsairs.

November 30, 1951: Marine Training Squadron 1, Fleet Marine Forces, Atlantic was disestablished at Cherry Point, North Carolina.

July 1, 1967: Marine Training Squadron 1, was re-established and assigned to the Second Marine Air Wing at Cherry Point, North Carolina.

July 2, 1967: Marine Training Squadron 1, was assigned the TA-4F Douglas Skyhawk, Grumman F9F-6 Cougar and Lockheed TV-2 Shooting Star.

December of 1967: VMT-1 was disestablished and re-established as Marine Training Squadron 203, (VMT-203).

February 3, 1969: TA-4F BuNo 153493 (damaged 03 February 1969 and SOC 18 February 1969), TA-4F BuNo 153519 (SOC 3 February 1969), TA-4F BuNo 153531 (Class B or C damage 3 February 1969) and TA-4F BuNo 154626 (Class B or C damage 3 February 1969) were SOC/damaged on the ground at MCAS Cherry Point when a USMC F-4B Phantom II piloted by 1st Lt. Peter J. Barber lost power shortly after take-off and hit the flight line paralleling the runway destroying six Phantoms, one Skyhawk and damaging a hangar and 18 automobiles. The Milwaukee Journal, Wednesday, February 5, 1969. Lt. Peter J. Barber, 23, MCAS Cherry Point was still in critical condition Tuesday after suffering extensive chest and internal injuries Monday when his F-4B Phantom crashed on takeoff. The other crew member Capt. William S. Simone, 29, suffered minor injuries. After crashing, the plane slid into other aircraft on the flight line causing damages estimated in the millions. Burlington Daily Times, Wednesday, February 5, 1969. Lt. Peter J. Barber, 23, who was critically injured when he ejected from his aircraft shortly after takeoff Monday, was transferred Tuesday to the naval hospital at Camp Lejeune. The other crew member Capt. William S. Simone, 29, suffered minor injuries. Barber's F-4B Phantom crashed into a group of jets on the Cherry Point flight line demolishing five other Phantoms and extensively damaging other aircraft. The damage was estimated in the millions. Danville Register, Wednesday, February 5, 1969.

November 20, 1969: Capt. Elliot Dix ejected as his TA-4F (BuNo 152846) began to overturn while he was attempting to take off from Bogue Field, Cherry Point, NC, on a routine training flight. Statesville Record and Landmark, Thursday, November 20, 1969.

May 1, 1972: Marine Training Squadron 203, (VMT-203) was redesignated Marine Attack Training Squadron 203 (VMAT-203) as the squadrons mission changed to light attack jet training.

November 16, 1972: Capt. E.R. Moore ejected safely Thursday after his A-4M (BuNo 158154) flamed out and caught fire about 10 miles SE of Cherry Point Marine Air Station near Havelock on the North Carolina coast. The Danville Register, Friday, Nov. 17, 1972.

July 11, 1974: 1st Lt. Gary Williams of VMAT-203 ejected safely from his TA-4 (BuNo 154615) today, moments before it crashed in Pamlico Sound, off the North Carolina coast. Lt. Williams was rescued by a SAR helicopter. Harrisonburg Daily News Record, Friday, July 12, 1974.

September 29, 1974: VMAT-203 pioneered VSTOL flight training, receiving it's first AV-8A "Harrier."

October 9, 1974: VMAT-203 logged it's first "Harrier" flight.

January 1984: VMAT-203 became the first squadron to receive the new AV8-B "Harrier II".

April 1986: VMAT-203 retired the last TAV-8A "Harrier."

Unit Photos

152865: TA-4F 152865 of VMT-203 undergoing full scale airframe fatigue test at Naval Air Development Center, Warminster, PA. NADC photo from Ron Picciani.

Circa 1972: VMAT-203 Hawks A-4M Skyhawk BuNo 158192, KD-20, parked on the ramp with a centerline tank. Gary Verver Collection.

October 1972: BuNo 158192, KD-20, parked on the ramp with under-wing fuel tanks. Gary Verver Collection.

October 1972: Right side view of VMAT-203 Hawks TA-4J Skyhawk BuNo. 153486, KD-4, on the ramp next to VMAT-203 A-4M BuNo 158193, KD-21, October 1972. Gary Verver Collection.

OCT73-MAY76: BuNo 154318, KD-14, TA-4J parked on the ramp with a centerline tank. Gary Verver Collection.

1976: BuNo 153530, KD-00, parked on the line. Gary Verver Collection.

Left front view of VMAT-203 Hawks TA-4J Skyhawk BuNo 154319, KD-2, parked on the ramp with a pair of drop tanks next to VMAT-203 TA-4J BuNo 154312, Sep. '73 - May '76. Gary Verver Collection.

1969-73: BuNo 154321, KD-9, parked on the ramp. Gary Verver Collection.

BuNo 154342, KD-12, parked on the flight-line Gary Verver Collection.

FEB 1972: VMAT-203 KD-07, BuNo 153525, at MCAS Cherry Point NC. Photos from Charlie Robinson
Pic 1
Pic 2

OCT: VMAT-203 BuNo 154615 on the ramp.


Off-Duty Photos

No info yet.

A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to VMAT-203:

  • Douglas TA-4F Skyhawk
    • 152846 C/N 13492
      • 05 Feb 1969 - VMT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 18 Nov 1969 - Stricken - 1S
    • 152854 C/N 13500
      • 19 Oct 1969 - VMT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 01 May 1972 - VMAT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 17 Aug 1972 - H&MS-32 - MCAS Beaufort, SC
    • 152863 C/N 13509
      • 19 Jun 1969 - VMT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 08 Feb 1971 - VMT-203 - Convert to TA-4J
      • 01 May 1972 - VMAT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 26 Apr 1976 - VC-10 - NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
    • 152865 C/N 13511
      • 07 Mar 1969 - VMT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 12 Jun 1970 - VMT-103 - MCAS Yuma, AZ
      • 28 Jun 1971 - VMT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 01 May 1972 - VMAT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
    • 153486 c/n 13552
      • 24 Jun 1969 - VMT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 29 Feb 1972 - VMT-203 - Convert to TA-4J
      • 01 May 1972 - VMAT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 06 May 1975 - VC-10 - NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
    • 153496 c/n 13562
      • 20 Jun 1969 - VMT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 01 May 1972 - VMAT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 13 Apr 1973 - VMAT-203 - Convert to TA-4J
      • 27 May 1976 - VC-8 - NS Roosevelt Roads, PR
    • 153509 c/n 13575
      • 07 Jul 1967 - VMT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 13 Feb 1970 - VA-43 - NAS Oceana, VA
    • 153515 c/n 13581
      • 05 Dec 1967 - VMT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 19 Jan 1972 - VMT-203 - Convert to TA-4J
      • 01 May 1972 - VMAT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 23 May 1972 - NARF - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
    • 153517 c/n 13583
      • 07 Jul 1967 - VMT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 02 Dec 1971 - VMT-203 - Convert to TA-4J
      • 01 May 1972 - VMAT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 01 Jun 1976 - VA-45 - NAS Cecil Field, FL
    • 153519 c/n 13585
      • 03 Jul 1967 - VMT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 03 Feb 1969 - Stricken - 1S
    • 153522 c/n 13588
      • 11 Jul 1967 - VMT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 13 Feb 1970 - VA-43 - NAS Oceana, VA
    • 153525 c/n 13591
      • 30 Jul 1967 - VMT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 09 Mar 1972 - VMT-203 - Convert to TA-4J
      • 01 May 1972 - VMAT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 26 Apr 1976 - VC-10 - NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
    • 153526 c/n 13592
      • 09 Sep 1967 - VMT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 01 May 1972 - VMAT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 23 Aug 1972 - VMAT-203 - Convert to TA-4J
      • 29 Mar 1975 - VC-10 - NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
    • 153527 c/n 13593
      • 07 Aug 1967 - VMT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 11 Feb 1971 - H&MS-32 - MCAS Beaufort, SC
    • 153528 c/n 13594
      • 09 Aug 1967 - VMT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 01 May 1972 - VMAT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 24 May 1972 - VMAT-203 - Convert to TA-4J
      • 29 May 1975 - VC-10 - NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
    • 153529 c/n 13595
      • 16 Aug 1967 - VMT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 01 May 1972 - VMAT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 22 Aug 1972 - NARF - NAS Pensacola, FL
    • 153530 c/n 13596
      • 16 Aug 1967 - VMT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 01 May 1972 - VMAT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 06 Jun 1972 - VMAT-203 - Convert to TA-4J
      • 01 Jun 1976 - VC-10 - NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
    • 153531 c/n 13597
      • 16 Aug 1967 - VMT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 01 May 1972 - VMAT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 22 Aug 1972 - NARF - NAS Pensacola, FL
    • 154293 c/n 13681
      • 05 Sep 1967 - VMT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 01 May 1972 - VMAT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 26 Jan 1973 - VMAT-203 - Convert to TA-4J
      • 15 May 1976 - VA-45 - NAS Cecil Field, FL
    • 154294 c/n 13682
      • 10 Sep 1967 - VMT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 23 Dec 1970 - H&MS-32 - MCAS Beaufort, SC
  • Douglas TA-4F Skyhawk (Cont.)
    • 154311 c/n 13699
      • 31 Oct 1967 - VMT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 01 May 1972 - VMAT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 08 Mar 1973 - H&MS-31 - MCAS Beaufort, SC
    • 154312 c/n 13700
      • 01 Nov 1967 - VMT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 01 May 1972 - VMAT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 01 Dec 1972 - VMAT-203 - Convert to TA-4J
      • 21 May 1976 - VA-45 - NAS Cecil Field, FL
    • 154319 c/n 13707
      • 17 Oct 1969 - VMT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 09 Sep 1971 - H&MS-14 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
    • 154321 c/n 13709
      • 01 Oct 1969 - VMT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 01 May 1972 - VMAT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 16 Oct 1973 - H&MS-32 - MCAS Beaufort, SC
    • 154342 c/n 13730
      • 17 Oct 1969 - VMT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 24 Sep 1970 - VMT-203 - Convert to TA-4J
      • 01 May 1972 - VMAT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 19 May 1976 - VC-10 - NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
    • 154615 c/n 13733
      • 26 Jun 1969 - VMT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 24 Sep 1970 - VMT-203 - Convert to TA-4J
      • 01 May 1972 - VMAT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 11 Jul 1974 - Stricken - 1SO
    • 154616 c/n 13734
      • 27 Jun 1969 - VMT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 13 Jan 1971 - VMT-203 - Convert to TA-4J
      • 01 May 1972 - VMAT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 10 Oct 1972 - VF-101 Det Key West - NAS Key West, FL
    • 154626 c/n 13744
      • 08 Jun 1968 - VMT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 06 Nov 1970 - VMT-203 - Convert to TA-4J
      • 01 May 1972 - VMAT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 11 Jun 1976 - VC-10 - NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
  • Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk
    • 152854 C/N 13500 - TA-4F
      • 31 May 1973 - H&MS-32 - Convert to TA-4J
      • 07 Sep 1973 - VMAT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 26 Mar 1975 - VC-10 - NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
    • 154318 c/n 13706
      • 22 Jun 1973 - VA-45 - Convert to TA-4J
      • 04 Oct 1973 - VMAT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 17 May 1976 - VA-45 - NAS Cecil Field, FL
    • 154319 c/n 13707
      • 19 Jun 1973 - H&MS-14 - Convert to TA-4J
      • 10 Sep 1973 - VMAT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 26 May 1976 - VA-45 - NAS Cecil Field, FL
  • Douglas A-4M Skyhawk
    • 158154 c/n 14116
      • 28 Sep 1972 - VMAT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 16 Nov 1972 - Stricken - 1S
    • 158156 c/n 14118
      • 11 Sep 1972 - VMAT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 16 May 1974 - VMA-324 - MCAS Beaufort, SC
    • 158165 c/n 14127
      • 11 Sep 1972 - VMAT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 15 Aug 1974 - VMA-324 - MCAS Beaufort, SC
    • 158173 c/n 14135
      • 17 Apr 1973 - VMAT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 18 Jul 1974 - VMAT-102 - MCAS Yuma, AZ
    • 158177 c/n 14139
      • 30 Oct 1972 - VMAT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 23 Aug 1974 - VMAT-102 - MCAS Yuma, AZ
    • 158187 c/n 14149
      • 18 Oct 1972 - VMAT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 18 Jul 1974 - VMAT-102 - MCAS Yuma, AZ
    • 158192 c/n 14154
      • 17 Aug 1972 - VMAT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 18 Jul 1974 - VMAT-102 - MCAS Yuma, AZ
      • 01 Aug 1974 - VMAT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 29 Sep 1974 - VMAT-102 - MCAS Yuma, AZ
    • 158193 c/n 14155
      • 17 Aug 1972 - VMAT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 23 Apr 1975 - VMAT-102 - MCAS Yuma, AZ
    • 158194 c/n 14156
      • 11 Oct 1972 - VMAT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 17 Dec 1974 - VMAT-102 - MCAS Yuma, AZ
    • 158195 c/n 14157
      • 08 Oct 1972 - VMAT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 26 Jul 1974 - VMAT-102 - MCAS Yuma, AZ
    • 158196 c/n 14158
      • 14 Oct 1972 - VMAT-203 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
      • 26 Jul 1974 - VMAT-102 - MCAS Yuma, AZ

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