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Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 332 was deactivated on 30 March in a ceremony at MCAS Beaufort, S.C. The Moonlighters' storied history includes taking the fight to the enemy flying SBD Dauntless dive bombers in WWII, F4U Corsairs in Korea, A-6A Intruders during the Vietnam War, and F/A-180 Hornets in the Balkans and Iraq.
The Moonlighters' origins can be traced to 1 June 1943 when Marine Scout Bomber Squadron (VMSB) 332 was activated as a member of Marine Aircraft Group 33, 3d MAW at MCAS Cherry Point, N.C. After eight months of concentrated training in Dauntless dive bombers, squadron members deployed to Midway Island to provide air escort for incoming and outgoing ships and submarines and patrol throughout the Pacific Theater. In July 1944 VMSB-332 relocated to Ewa, Hawaii, where it remained until after the war. The squadron earned the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Streamer and the WWII Victory Streamer for its efforts in the war. In conjunction with its transition to the TBM Avenger, the squadron was redesignated Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron (VMTB) 332 on 1 March 1945, but was deactivated in November 1945 in San Diego, Calif.
Reactivated on 23 April 1952 as Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 332, the squadron flew the F6F Hellcat as part of the Marine Corps' expansion for the Korean War. In May 1953 VMA-332 transitioned to the F4U Corsair, and joined the combat efforts in the Korean War with its deployment to Itami, Japan. VMA-332 distinguished itself as one of the few Marine squadrons to operate from an aircraft carrier, as it flew missions from Bairoko (CVE 115) until the armistice was signed on 27 July 1953. In August the squadron began operating from Point Cruz (CVE 119) off Korea where it remained until returning to Itami in November.
From 1953 to 1957 the squadron rotated annually between MCAS Opa Locka and Asia while flying the AD-5...