US Marine Corps ‘Red Devils’ squadron arrives in Japan with F/A-18 Hornets

The US Marine Corps has deployed Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 (VMFA-232) “Red Devils” from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, under the Unit Deployment Program (UDP).  

The deployment began on September 8, 2025, and places the squadron under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, to support flight operations across the Indo-Pacific. 

VMFA-232 will integrate as the new UDP squadron at Iwakuni, eventually replacing VMFA-214, which currently operates Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II jets and is completing its rotation. 

Continuous presence in the Indo-Pacific 

The Unit Deployment Program, established in 1977, ensures that US-based units gain operational experience in the Indo-Pacific through continuous, overlapping deployments. The program provides forward-deployed aviation support from both naval and expeditionary environments, allowing the Marine Corps to maintain readiness in line with obligations under the US-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security. 

A squadron with a legacy 

Known as the oldest and most decorated squadron in Marine Corps aviation, the “Red Devils” were first commissioned in 1925. The unit has seen combat in the Pacific during World War Two, in Vietnam, and in multiple operations in the Middle East. 

Over the past century, VMFA-232 has flown aircraft ranging from the F4U Corsair and F-8 Crusader to the F-4 Phantom II until today’s F/A-18 Hornet. The squadron will begin transitioning to the F-35C Lightning II in the fiscal year of 2029. The post US Marine Corps ‘Red Devils’ squadron arrives in Japan with F/A-18 Hornets appeared first on AeroTime.

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