NAM ERA MARINE OBSERVATION SQN 2 VMO-2 OV-10 NAM PATCH

The predecessor of Marine Observation Squadron Two-Artillery Spotting Division, Marine Observation Squadron 251 - was activated at Quantico, Virginia on 1 November 1943. In February 1944, VMO-251 was redesignated VMO-2 and attached to the Second Marine Division, Hawaii. During the Saipan, Tinian, and Okinawa campaigns, VMO-2 pilots flew hundreds of missions in the OY-1 aircraft in support of the Second and Fourth Marine Divisions, and were the first American aircraft to land on both Saipan and Okinawa After the war, VMO-2 was decommissioned. VMO-2 was reactivated in 1951 at Santa Ana, California where training was begun in reconnaissance, artillery and naval gunfire spotting. In 1953, the squadron moved to Japan with fixed and rotary wing aircraft, and remained there until April 1956 when all but a subunit was relocated to Okinawa.
In April 1962, a detachment of two O- 1 "Bird Dogs" from VMO-2 were assigned to HMM-362, the first USMC aviation unit to arrive in Vietnam. As fighting intensified, another four-plane detachment was sent to the Da Nang area. The balance of the squadron deployed to Vietnam in May 1965 as part of the Ninth Marine Expeditionary Brigade and took part in Operation Starlight, the first major confrontation of the war. For its efforts in Vietnam, the Presidential Unit Citation and Navy Unit Commendation with three bronze stars were awarded to the squadron. Mid 1968 found the squadron receiving its first OV-10 Aircraft. VMO-2's last combat flight in Vietnam was 22 March 1971. The squadron was then transferred to MCB, Camp Pendleton in cadre status until September 1971, when it was reorganized as part of Detachment, MAG-16.

Feedback from eBayer igor14: "...This patch was NOT from Vietnam. It was origionally done in late 1973 at Camp Pendleton by 1/LT Jim Hodgson when the squadron tail markings were changed. I was there..."

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