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US Marine Corps - Marine Attack Training Squadron 203

VMAT-203 'Hawks'
 
vmat-203 hawks insignia crest patch badge marine attack training squadron usmc
 vmat-203 hawks marine attack training squadron usmc corps tav-8b harrier ii
 
STATUS:   established as VMT-1 in 1947
VMT-1 redesignated VMAT-203 in May 1972
ACTIVE UNIT
Homebase: MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina
 AIRCRAFT:   Douglas A-4M Skyhawk
Douglas TA-4F Skyhawk
Hawker Siddeley AV-8A Harrier
Hawker Siddeley TAV-8A Harrier
McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II
McDonnell Douglas TAV-8B Harrier II
 DEPLOYMENTS:   none; training / replacement unit
 

images

vmat-203 hawks tav-8b harrier mcas cherry point north carolina usmc
TAV-8B Harrier II (VMAT-203) at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina - March 2016

marine attack training squadron vmat-203 hawks tav-8b harrier mcas cherry point nc
TAV-8B Harrier II (VMAT-203) at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina - March 2016

vmat-203 hawks av-8b harrier mcas cherry point training replacement
AV-8B Harrier II (VMAT-203) at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina - March 2016

av-8b harrier ii vmat-203 hawks
AV-8B Harrier II (VMAT-203) at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina - March 2016

vmat-203 hawks av-8b harrier mcas yuma arizona training replacement
AV-8B Harrier II (VMAT-203) at MCAS Yuma, Arizona - March 2016

vmat-203 av-8b harrier mcas cherry point 2016
AV-8B Harrier II (VMAT-203) at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina - March 2016

av-8b harrier ii vmat-203 hawks us marine corps
AV-8B Harrier II (VMAT-203) at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina - March 2016

vmat-203 hawks av-8b harrier mcas cherry point march 2016
AV-8B Harrier II (VMAT-203) at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina - March 2016

vmat-203 hawks av-8b harrier night operations
AV-8B Harrier II (VMAT-203) at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina - March 2016

vmat-203 hawks av-8b harrier special color sheme
AV-8B Harrier II (VMAT-203) at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina - March 2016

vmat-203 hawks av-8b harrier special tail markings mcas cherry point
AV-8B Harrier II (VMAT-203) at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina - March 2016

vmat-203 hawks av-8b harrier ii
AV-8B Harrier II (VMAT-203) - March 2016

vmat-203 hawks av-8b harrier uss bataan lhd-5
AV-8B Harrier II (VMAT-203) aboard USS Bataan (LHD 5) - February 2016

marine attack training squadron vmat-203 hawks av-8b harrier 2015
AV-8B Harrier II (VMAT-203) - September 2015

vmat-203 hawks av-8b harrier mcas cherry point march 2015
AV-8B Harrier II (VMAT-203) at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina - March 2015

vmat-203 hawks av-8b harrier us marine corps cherry point
TAV-8B Harrier II (VMAT-203) at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina - March 2015

vmat-203 hawks av-8b harrier cockpit ejection seat
TAV-8B Harrier II (VMAT-203) at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina - March 2015

vmat-203 hawks tav-8b harrier training replacement usmc cherry point
TAV-8B Harrier II (VMAT-203) at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina - January 2015

vmat-203 hawks tav-8b harrier training cherry point 2015
TAV-8B Harrier II (VMAT-203) at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina - January 2015

av-8b harrier vmat-203 hawks 2014
AV-8B Harrier II (VMAT-203) - August 2014

vmat-203 hawks tav-8b harrier ii may 2014
TAV-8B Harrier II (VMAT-203) - May 2014

marine attack training squadron vmat-203 hawks 2014
AV-8B Harrier II (VMAT-203) - May 2014

vmat-203 hawks mc donnell douglas boeing tav-8b harrier
TAV-8B Harrier II (VMAT-203) - May 2014

vmat-203 hawks tav-8b harrier mcas yuma arizona 2014
TAV-8B Harrier II (VMAT-203) at MCAS Yuma, Arizona - February 2014

vmat-203 hawks av-8b harrier marine attack training squadron 2012
AV-8B Harrier II (VMAT-203) - June 2012

vmat-203 hawks av-8b harrier training replacement squadron usmc
AV-8B Harrier II (VMAT-203) - June 2012

vmat-203 hawks tav-8b harrier mcas yuma arizona training replacement
TAV-8B Harrier II (VMAT-203) - April 2012

vmat-203 hawks tav-8b harrier 2012
TAV-8B Harrier II (VMAT-203) - April 2012

vmat-203 hawks tav-8b harrier marine corps auxilary landing field bogue north carolina
TAV-8B Harrier II (VMAT-203) atMarine Corps Auxilary Landing Field Bogue, North Carolina - March 2012

marine attack training squadron vmat-203 hawks tav-8b harrier bogue field usmc
TAV-8B Harrier II (VMAT-203) atMarine Corps Auxilary Landing Field Bogue, North Carolina - March 2012

tav-8b harrier ii vmat-203 hawks bogue field 2012
TAV-8B Harrier II (VMAT-203) atMarine Corps Auxilary Landing Field Bogue, North Carolina - March 2012

vmat-203 hawks av-8b harrier mcas yuma flares
AV-8B Harrier II (VMAT-203) over MCAS Yuma, Arizona - July 2010

vmat-203 hawks tav-8b harrier yuma arizona 2009
TAV-8B Harrier II (VMAT-203) at MCAS Yuma, Arizona - May 2009

vmat-203 hawks tav-8b harrier mcas yuma 2009
TAV-8B Harrier II (VMAT-203) at MCAS Yuma, Arizona - May 2009

vmat-203 hawks tav-8b harrier 2009
TAV-8B Harrier II (VMAT-203) - December 1993

vmat-203 hawks ab-8b av-8a harriers
AV-8B Harrier II and AV-8A Harriers (VMAT-203) - 1984

vmat-203 hawks hawker siddeley av-8a harrier mc donnell douglas boeing av-8b harrier ii
AV-8B Harrier II and AV-8A Harriers (VMAT-203) - 1984

vmat-203 hawks tav-8a harrier 1978
TAV-8A Harrier (VMAT-203) - 1978

vmat-203 hawks tav-8a harrier 1976 uss franklin d. roosevelt cv-42
TAV-8A Harrier (VMAT-203) landing aboard USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV 42) - 1976
 
 
The origin of Marine Attack Training Squadron 203 and its predecessors dates back to 1947. At various times in its history It has been VMT-1, VMT-203 and now VMAT-203. VMT-1 began the evolution in 1947 as an independent squadron and shortly thereafter became part of MTG-20. Subsequent evolutions were as a unit of Force Aviation Headquarters Group until 1958, at which time VMT-1 VMT-1 again became a separate squadron of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing, equipped with the TF-9J "Cougar", and the T-33 "Shooting Star", and conducted training in swept wing refresher/ transition, instrument procedures, and instrument ground school.

On 2 July 1967, after exactly nine years of independent training, VMT-1 received its first TA-4F "Skyhawk" and began its transition to the new aircraft. The last F-9 was transferred in December of that year.

In December also, the squadron colors of VMT-1 were retired and VMAT-203 was activated in its place as the nucleus of an new marine Training Group, Marine combat Crew readiness Training Group 20, which was activated on 1 April 1968.

In May of 1972, the squadron was re-designated VMAT-203. With a new mix of aircraft, the A-4M, and TA-4J, the squadron was tasked to train replacement aircrews to Fleet Marine Force duty.

The arrival of V/STOL aviation instituted another era for VMAT-203. The squadron's A-4 "SkyHawks" were retired and VMAT-203 became the AV-8A/C training squadron as part of Marine Aircraft Group 32. In December 1983, the first AV-8B Harrier II was delivered, and until March 1985, VMAT-203 was assigned the dual missions of training both AV-8A/C pilot and AV-8B replacement aircrews. Having trained its last AV-8A/C pilot in March 1985, VMAT-203's exclusive mission then became the training of AV-8B aircrews and maintenance personnel.

During the past three years, VMAT-203 has trained more than 130 AV-8B pilots and 2000 AV-8B maintenance personnel. This includes the total conversion of the AV-8A/C a11 attack force and the conversion of a 11 A 4-M squadron's to the AV-8B. During that time period, the squadron has flown over 12,000 flight hours, participated in four deployments for instructor and student training and received the Commandant's Aviation Efficiency Award for 1986.

source: VMAT-203 website
 
 
 

patches & more

vmat-203 hawks patch crest insignia marine attack training squadron  vmat-203 hawks insignia crest patch marine attack training squadron usmc
 
 
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