VMFAT-101 “Sharpshooter” Sundown

Legacy. What does that word mean to you? For me, it means a line of traditions, dedication and above all preserving the past and giving the past knowledge to future and present generations to interpret and make it their own. There are many establishments that embody the term “Legacy” but none more so than the United States Marine Corps, specifically the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101, or more more commonly known as VMFAT-101, or simply, the SharpSHooters. The Mission of VMFAT-101 was simple; make United States Navy, and United States Marine Corps F/A-18 “Hornet” pilots. To do this, they embodied a legacy that lasted 54 to train some of the finest pilots that have ever flown. The SharpShooter were deactivated on September 29th, 2023 at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, in San Diego, California. I received an invitation to be apart of the deactivation, and photograph and document this historic sundown of the USMC’s final F/A-18 training unit...

It all started in the early morning hours for me, having to be up at 3:30AM Mountain time to catch a a 5:45AM flight to Seattle. Once on the flight up to Seattle, I reviewed my emails, and saw that at 9:30AM local time there would be a fly-the-barn where 18 F/A-18s would take off at once, and then fly over Miraimar. Unfortunately, I was going to miss this. Upon landing in Seattle, there was a short wait before hoping on the next flight down to San Diego. I was looking forward to seeing the Golden Coast, but it was cloudy all the way down. After landing in San Diego I hopped into the rental and made my way up Miramar. Once I made the turn off the freeway, I started seeing jets flying around, and that’s when I knew I was close to the former home of Top Gun and the historic base known to many as “Fighter Town USA”. Driving up to the gate was like any other military base with a large event, and I went to the visitor center where I met up with my escort over to the Squadron. Once parked we went over to the historic hanger where VMFAT-101 was based out of. Walking through the hanger bay and then I was on the ramp. I took a second and just looked around and took it the fact that I was standing on one of the most important air fields in the country. Former Naval Air Station Miramar, home of Top Gun, and where a certain movie in the mid 80’s was filmed.

After a while of getting some photos of the aircraft on the line and talking with some media personal out there, we were able to take a tour of the squadron itself. The building was different than any other squadron I’ve been it. The squadron itself was above the hanger, so we had to go up a few stories. Once upstairs, it was like being back in time. Not a lot has changed since the building was built. If you seen the movie “Top Gun” then you know what it looks like - as the movie was filmed in that exact same building and looks the same. Walking through those halls, you can fell the historic nature and the legacy of everyone that has come through these halls, either in the Navy or the Marines. Our guide showed some briefing rooms, offices and different rooms. Then we got to see the bar. The bar is one of the most historic places in a squadron, where memorabilia from flights and deployments is often displayed, as well as gifts from other squadrons, people, and even former cold war advisaries resides. This is really where you could see that legacy. From every corner to the name tags on the wall there was a story. It felt like a museum, but we couldn’t stay for much longer as the festivities were about to kick off. We walked out of the hanger, and saw the crew chiefs prepping two F/A-18s and the T-34 Turbo Mentor. The people who would be flying the final sortie of VMFAT-101 would be the Squadron Commander Lt. Col. Ryan Franzen, 3rd MAW Assistant Commander Brig. Gen. Robert Brodie, and the base commander of MCAS Miramar Col. Thomas Bedell. You could tell there was some exactment and sadness in the air, and there was a more melancholy mood as the pilots walked out to their jets. Once they strapped in and started up, it dawn on us: This was the last every sortie of this historic squadron, and squadron that provided me with my first every fighter jet shots back in 2010 and was a weekend staple up in Boise for so many years.

But, all good things must come to an end. The jets fired up, and the crew chief sent them on their way. Once they took off it was quiet, with the occasional KC-130J taking off, and at one point was interrupted by some VTOL F-35B action. After a while, the band started to show up, as well as other invitees and former members of VMFAT-101. Then, without much notice, the three-ship formation appeared and broke south over the field, and we ran to where we could get a photo of everyone taxing in and jumping out of the jets. Once they landed, everyone stood up and wanted to catch a glimpse of the final taxi-back of the “Shutr” callsign. There was a row of the 50 State flags that divided the flight line to the ramp space where the deactivation ceremony was going to be held. We were all set up to capture these moments, and once the jets taxied in, shut down it was silent. There was a mixed feeling of emotions in the air. Then canopies opened, the commanders got out, and there was a round of applause from the onlooking crowd. We all rushed back to our spots and got ready for the inspection of the ranks, as well as to get out of everyone’s way. The band started playing, and the opening ceremonies began. I moved around the stands to get a better shot of the inspection, trying carefully to be quiet while the commanding officers made their inspections of the ranks. The officiant of the deactivation then asked that all former commanding officers of VMFAT-101 please come forward, and join the current commander as the ranks marched passed. All of the Commanders. Once the inspection was made Brig. Gen. Robert Brodie, 3rd Marine Air Wing assistant commander, and Lt. Col. Ryan Franzen made their speeches. During the middle of one of the speeches, four construction trucks drove right through the ceremony. One of the funniest, and most random things I’ve ever witnessed while doing and event like this. There was a special surprise for all the former F-4 and F/A-18 pilots that VMFAT-101 produced, was a specially pinnate tail of a F-4, commemorating the 54 year legacy. The tail is in the Officers Club at MCAS Miramar. At the end of Lt. Col Franzen’s speech he turned around to his platoons, and one last time shouted “Fighter Attack” and the men and women shouted back “Starts Here” one last time.

It was then time to cover the colors. The colors are an essential part of any squadron, as the flag of the United States of America, and the flag of the United States Marine Corps have the battle decorations adorned on them, and show the history of the squadron. Once the colors are covered, then squadron is deactivated. Lt. Col. Franzen with his second went to the colors, and covered up the Marine Corps banner first, then followed by the US Flag. The covered colors then were carried away, and the 3 platoons of men and women were officially dismissed. The band began playing the Marine Corps Hymn, and as a civilian who has never been on a marine base for a ceremony like this, was incredible to bear witness to. Once the official ceremony was over, I took a second to walk around and take some photos, and asked If I could be escorted out to the flight line for a quick photo to get the crowd, hanger and aircraft in a photo. I also took a second to take some photos of the last remaining 101 birds, as it may have been my last chance to do so. We walked back, and was talking with my 101 contact about going over to the O-Club for the after party, unforuanly I had a flight to catch in the afternoon, and couldn’t stay. As quick as it started, it was over and I was already on my way back to the airport. I wish I could’ve stayed longer to hear those stories and to be in one of the most famous officers clubs in the world, but I had to get back home to Boise.

This was one of the greatest 24 hours in my aviation photography career thus far, even know it took 10 years in the making. I want to say thank you to 3 MAW Public Affairs for accommodating us with such professionalism, as well as VMFAT-101 for the invitation and hospitality, and thank you to the person who made it all possible. You know who you are. The legacy of the SharpSHooters will forever be enshrined in not only the O-Club, but in the men and women that got their start in 101, either a crew chief, pilot or wso - the legacy of 101 will be passed down with future Marine Aviation still yet to come.

Gallery Link: https://www.boispotter.com/gallery-1/vmfat101-sharpshooters-sundown-deactivation