Hobby Master Archive

VMA-311 “Tomcats” received their new AV-8B Harriers in 1988. On August 11, 1990 the squadron deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. VMA-311 was the first Marine fixed-wing unit to arrive there as well as being the most forward deployed fixed-wing unit. Another first for the Tomcats came mid January 1991 when they became the first squadron to use AV-8Bs in combat when four aircraft destroyed an Iraqi artillery position. The 311 returned to their home base in Yuma, Arizona in April 1991. On April 9, 1992, the Tomcats received their first Night Attack AV-8B and were formally assigned as a night attack squadron. In May 1996 until September 1999 some of the 311 aircraft were stationed at NAF (Naval Air Facility) Kadena in Japan. One of the aircraft that went was BuNo. 164117 c/n 194 but for this assignment wore the tail code ET-55. In May 1999 this aircraft received its shark mouth paint scheme.