HA3543 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Hornet BuNo.164699, VMFA(AW)-224 "Bengals", 2009

VMF-224 was commissioned on May 1 1942 flying Grumman F4F Wildcats. In 1951 the Bengals received their first jet, the F2H-2 Banshee. In 1952 the F2H-2 was replaced by the F9F-5 Panther and VMF-224 became VMA-224. July 1956 brought the A4D-1 Skyhawk and in 1965 they went to Vietnam. 1966 introduced the A-6A Intruder and the unit became VMA (AW)-224. March 1993 the squadron became VMFA(AW)-224 and received the F/A-18D Hornet. In January 2009 the Bengals were based at Iwakuni and the in July returned to MCAS Beaufort.

1/72 scale