V M FA-112
52 // OCTOBER 2018 #367 http://www.airforcesmonthly.comIwo Jima and Okinawa. Later, VMF-112 also
supported missions over mainland Japan.
By the end of World War Two, VMF-
112 had downed 140 Japanese
aircraft in combat, making it the third
highest-scoring US Marine Corps
squadron. In July 1945, VMF-112’s
war came to an end and it flew to
MCAS El Centro, California, where it
was deactivated two months later.
The unit was reactivated the following
year as a reserve squadron at NAS Dallas,
Texas, flying the F4U-4. During the Korean
War, which began in 1950, the squadron
remained in the US. The ‘Wolfpack’ operated
the Corsair until 1955, when it received its
first jet fighter, the Grumman F9F Panther.
Five years later, it converted onto the North
American FJ-3 Fury, which it flew until the
arrival of the Vought F-8 Crusader in 1965.
Two years later, VMF-112 changed its
nickname to the ‘Cowboys’ in recognition of
the local Dallas National Football League (NFL)
team. By the start of the next decade VMJ-4,a reconnaissance squadron flying the RF-8G,
joined VMF-112 and in that same year VMF-112
received the F-8K followed by the F-8H in 1971.
Early in 1976 the squadron started upgrading
to the McDonnell Douglas F-4N Phantom
II and changed its official name to VFMA-- By 1987 the N-model was replaced
by the S-variant, which flew until phased
out in 1992, making VMFA-112 the last
USMC squadron to operate the F-4.
Hornet transition
The ‘Cowboys’ transitioned to the F/A-18A
Hornet in 1992 and four years later relocated
to NAS JRB Fort Worth, Texas. The Hornets
were upgraded in 2002, receiving improved
radar, navigation and night-vision systems plus
identification friend or foe (IFF) blades on the
fuselage and a GPS module. The fighters were
subsequently designated F/A-18+. Further
updates followed, including dual chaff/flare
‘buckets’, upgraded cockpit displays, Joint
Helmet-Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS)
and the Martin-Baker SJU-17 ejection seat.Leading the
‘Cowboys’
Maj Brian ‘SLAG’ Sullivan
currently serves as the unit’s
active duty officer in charge. He
graduated from university in 2002 and two
years later reported to officer candidate school
and basic school in Quantico, Virginia. In 2005,
he received primary flight tuition with Training
Squadron (VT) 6 at NAS Whiting Field, Florida,
and an advanced flying course with VT-21 from
NAS Kingsville, Texas, where he earned his
wings and designation as an F/A-18 pilot.
After this he joined the US Navy’s Strike Fighter
Squadron (VFA) 125 as a replacement pilot at NAS
Lemoore, California, in 2007. Upon graduation
from flight training in August 2007, Sullivan
was posted to the ‘Bengals’ of VMFA(AW)-224
at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina. During this
tour, he deployed twice to Iwakuni, Japan. While
at VMFA(AW)-224, he served in the operations,
maintenance and safety departments.
In December 2011, he was attached to 2nd
Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, as an air officer and
forward air controller. The year after he arrived at
MAG-11 in Miramar and was assigned to the ‘Black
Knights’ of VMFA-314. During his time with the unit
Maj Sullivan attended the US Marine Corps Division
Tactics Instructor Course, was designated as a
night systems instructor and low-altitude tactics
instructor. He deployed twice with VMFA-314, both
in support Operation Inherent Resolve (the fight
against so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria) in
2014 and to Iwakuni in 2016. While at VMFA-314,
he led logistics, maintenance, and operations.
Maj Sullivan joined VMFA-112 in June 2016.
His personal decorations include the Air Medal
with Strike/Flight Numeral 1, Navy and Marine
Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine
Corps Achievement Medal, Korean Defense
Service Medal, and various unit awards.Right: Active-duty
offi cer-in-charge
Maj Brian J Sullivan
completes his pre-
fl ight checks in an F/A-
18A++. All photos Frank
Visser/Northern Skies
Aviation unless statedMaj Sullivan conducts a walk-
around of ‘his’ F/A-18A++.50-55 VMFA112 AFM Oct2018.indd 52 9/10/2018 9:55:24 AM