Hobby Master Archive

Formed as VMF(N)-542 “Tigers” on March 6, 1944 the unit under went several re-designations before becoming the VMA-542 on January 12, 1972 when it was reactivated and equipped with the AV-8A Harrier. In 1974 VMA-542 moved to MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina and now also equipped with the AV-8C Harrier. 1986 with the transition to the AV-8B Harrier II Plus VMA-542 saw the end of the AV-8A/C. VMA-542 spent most of 2016 onboard USS Wasp when on September 22, 2016 AV-8B+ Harrier II 165354 crashed on departure with the pilot safely ejecting.