#1071 AV-8B Harrier II
Purchased products will not feature the Squadron Prints watermark
Description
Squadron Prints Lithograph No. 1071 - AV-8B Harrier II, 165578 \'01\', Marine Attack Squadron 211, Marine Air Group 13, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, \"Wake Island Avengers\".
VMA-211 began its illustrious history in 1937 as Fighter Squadron 4M, NAS San Diego, flying the F-3F biplane fighter, and adopted the plunging lion as its squadron insignia. The squadron moved to Ewa, HI January 1941, redesignated as Marine Fighter Squadron VMF-211, and transitioned to the F4F-3 Wildcat. During November 1941, VMF-211 was sent to Wake Island as part of US Pacific Strategies Defense. The Japanese attacked on December 8th, killing or wounding half the defenders and destroying 12 aircraft on the ground. During the next two weeks, using 5 aircraft, 211 pilots repelled numerous attacks and inflicted great losses on the enemy before eventually being overrun by overwhelming Japanese forces. Capt Henry “Hammering Hank” Elrod became the first aviator to be awarded the Medal of Honor during WWII for his actions during the defense. The spirit of the remaining 211 Marines could not be broken; they redesigned the squadron emblem, combining the old plunging lion with the outline of Wake Island in the shape of a “V” for victory, and defiantly adopted the squadron motto, “Wake Island Avengers”. Flying the Chance-Vought F-4U Corsair the remainder of the war, VMF-211 was credited with shooting down over 91 enemy aircraft. Following WWII, the squadron participated in the occupation of China before returning to Edenton, NC in 1949. In 1952, VMF-211 was redesignated Marine Attack Squadron 211, to identify its primary emphasis on Close Air Support. In 1957, VMA-211 received its first A-4 Skyhawk and relocated to El Toro, CA. The squadron relocated to Japan in 1965 and commenced the first of four deployments to the Republic of Vietnam. During June 1990, the squadron accepted its first Night Attack AV-8B, an advanced model Harrier that employs night vision devices and cutting edge technology to allow first pass, on target and on time offensive air operation both day and night. In June of 2000, VMA-211 received its first Radar AV-8B progressing to the most advanced Harrier, once again improving the lethality of this battle proven squadron. Furthermore, the squadron participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq in 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2007.
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