Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 (VMFA-232) “Red Devils” is the oldest and most decorated active U.S. Marine Corps fighter squadron and traces its lineage as far back as September 1, 1925 when VF-3M was commissioned. On July 1, 1927 the squadron was redesignated VF-10M. This would be the first in a series of designation changes as the Marine Corps reorganized its aviation assets prior to World War II. The squadron was at Pearl Harbor during the infamous Japanese attack, was the first Marine dive bomber squadron to fly against the Japanese, tangled with North Vietnamese MiGs, was among the first to cross the Iraqi border during Operation Desert Storm and returned to the skies over Iraq during the 2003 invasion. Needless to say, VMFA-232 has a long and historic service record that continues on to this day. The diamond shaped section of fabric offered here measures about 15 x 22 inches and displays a painted red devil that dates to the inter-war period. Aircraft flown by the Red Devils at this time included the Boeing FB-5, Curtiss F6C-5, and Boeing F4B-4. Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection

Fine, with much of the paint remaining. The red devil is well-defined and makes for a striking image on the yellow background. A great piece of aviation memorabilia belonging to one of the Marines most cherished squadrons.