On this day in 1983, the F/A-18 became an operational fighter with the first squadron being U.S. Marine Corps’ VMFA-314 at MCAS El Toro.
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VMFA-314, also known as the “Black Knights,” was first activated in 1943 and has a long history of service. It has participated in numerous deployments and operations, including World War II, the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm, and the War in Afghanistan.
VMFA-314 is also the first Marine Corps squadron to transition to the F-35C receiving its first aircraft on January 21, 2020.