AEROMEDIA
The Italian Aerospace Information Web
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OPERATION ALLIED FORCE
OPERATION DECISIVE EDGE (1996)
VMFA(AW)-332 "The Moonlighters"

The roots of this unit dates back to June 1943, when the Marine Scout Bomber Squadron (VMSB) 332 was commissioned at the newly constructed Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. The squadron flew Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers out of Cherry Point, Bogue Field and MCAS Mojave before departing for the Pacific, first MCAS Ewa, Hawaii and then on to Midway. At Midway Island in March 1945, the squadron was redesignated for torpedo bombing and subsequently flew Grumman TBM Avanger torpedo bombers until the end of the war.
Deactivated in November 1945, VMA-332 was recommissioned on 23 April 1952 as part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Miami and flew Grumman F6F Hellcats and later Change Vought F4U Corsairs. At this time, for reasons unknown, the famous polka dots began to appear on the tails of all 332 aircraft. Also at this time the hat and cane insigna was first seen. The squadron modex, or call sign, at that time was Mike Romeo (MR) and thus the hat and cane signified the hat and cane carried by a gentleman.
During the Korean conflict, Marine Attack Squadron 332 distinguished itself by being one of the few Marine squadrons to operate from an aircraft carrier, the CVE.115 Bairoko. At the close of the hostilities the squadron returned to Miami and transitioned to Douglas AD Skyraiders. From 1953 through 1962, the Moonlighters rotated between the East Coast and Far East duty stations, flying versions of the Skyraider until 1958, when the Douglas A-4D Skyhawk aircraft was introduced.
In August of 1968, with the introduction of the Grumman A-6A Intruder, the squadron was redesignated Marine All Weather Attack Squadron 332, VMA(AW)-332. On 1 March 1975, the squadron received its first A-6E Intruder and in July 1982 the Moonlighters again upgraded to the A-6E TRAM (Target Recognition Attack Multi-sensor) configured aircraft. Each of these changes dramatically increased the Marine Corps' all weather close air support capability. From 1968 to 1993 the Moonlighters flew the A-6 Intruder and during that period made numerous deployments to the Western Pacific and Northern Europe as well as exercises throughout the United States.
June 16 1993 began a new chapter for the Moonlighters, when the squadron was redesignated Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 332, VMFA(AW)-332, and transitioned to the Marine Corps' newest tactical aircraft, the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D "Hornet".
In the following sixteen months VMFA(AW)-332 was deployed to Nellis AFB, Nevada, MCAF Bogue Field, North Carolina, and Twenty-Nine Palms, California, in preparation for the Moonlighters extended deployment to Aviano in Italy. This intense training schedule enabled VMFA(AW)-332 to transition from a new aircraft to a fully combat capable squadron in one of the shortest periods in Marine Corps history.
Then VMFA(AW)-332 left its Beaufort base in South Carolina and, on 5 October 1994, it arrived at Aviano AB to fly missions in support of United Nations forces and Operation Deny Fly in the former Yugoslavia Republic.
Throughout the years VMFA(AW)-332 has distinguished itself as being one of the premier squadrons in the U.S.Marine Corps. Their impressive record is illustrated by the squadron safety record: 60,000 hours of mishap free flying over 16 years, something few squadrons have ever been able to accomplish.

In the picture: two F/A-18D belonging to the VMFA(AW)-332 "The Moonlighters" deployed to Aviano, beginning 1996.
Below: the badges of the unit before and after summer 1998.

(Aeromedia, May 1999)

Operation Decisive Edge
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Operation Allied Force