Squadron Organization

While not an official military formation, VMF-124 is organized much like a typical WWII USMC fighter squadron.

Command Structure

On the ground, VMF-124's chain of command is divided into functional departments:

• Commanding Officer (CO) – Maj. S. "Skipper" Thrift
• S-1 Executive Officer (XO) – Capt. A. "Shepherd" Underwood
• S-2 Intelligence Officer – 2nd Lt. J. "Doc" Halliday
• S-3 Operations Officer – 1st Lt. L. "Joker" Sullivan
• S-4 Logistics Officer – F.O. M. "Chopper" Charlebois, RCAF
• S-6 Communications Officer – VACANT
• Landing Signal Officer (LSO) – F.O. D. "Paddles" Helmer, RCAF
• Maintenance Officer – Flt. Sgt. J. "Stag" Wierzbicki, RAF
• Chaplain – 2nd Lt. J. "Deacon" Dewey

Command duties include:

• S-1 Administration oversees day-to-day squadron activities
• S-2 Intelligence oversees information-gathering and data distribution
• S-3 Operations oversees training activities
• S-4 Logistics oversees mission-building activities
• S-6 Communications oversees Teamspeak functions
• Landing Signal Officer oversees carrier-qualification efforts
• Maintenance Officer oversees skin-building activities
• Chaplain oversees the squadron's spiritual health

Flight Structure

In the air, VMF-124 is divided into five four-ship divisions (or flights). Each division comprises two two-ship sections (or elements). Each section comprises a leader and a wingman:

Red Flight

• Red 1 – Maj. S. "Skipper" Thrift
• Red 3 – CWO R. "Schatten" Palumbo
• Red 2 – MSgt. "Top"
• Red 4 – 2nd Lt. Neddie "Spike" Seagoon

White Flight

• White 1 – Capt. A. "Shepherd" Underwood
• White 3 – 2nd Lt. "Orion"
• White 2 – 2nd Lt. J. "Deacon" Dewey
• White 4 – 2nd Lt. "Merlin"

Blue Flight

• Blue 1 – Flt. Sgt. J. "Stag" Wierzbicki, RAF
• Blue 3 – F.O. G. "Geg" Thomas, RAAF
• Blue 2 –
• Blue 4 – P.O. "Red", RAAF

Gold Flight

• Gold 1 – 1st Lt. J. "Cobra J" Abbott
• Gold 3 – 2nd Lt. B. "Baltar" Sims
• Gold 2 – 2nd Lt. J. "Doc" Halliday
• Gold 4 – 2nd Lt. S. "Knuckles" Sims

Green Flight

• Green 1 – F.O. D. "Paddles" Helmer, RCAF
• Green 3 – 1st Lt. L. "Joker" Sullivan
• Green 2 – F.O. M. "Chopper" Charlebois, RCAF
• Green 4 –

Reserve

• 1st Lt. R. "Buster" Ford
• 1st Lt. S. "MFU" Lamoth
• P.O. P. "Rommel" Cronje, SAAF
• P.O. "Canuck", RCAF
• P.O. P. "Zhukov" Pawlek, RCAF
• 2nd Lt. D. "Donster" Miller
• 2nd Lt. "Stans"
• 2nd Lt. Robert "Dirty-D" Dolezal
• 2nd Lt. "Fork"

Flight duties include:

• Division leaders make sure their four-ship division contributes to squadron objectives
• Section leaders make sure their two-ship section supports their division
• Wingmen guard their section leader's tail

Rank

VMF-124 ranks follow USMC WWII organization. We are also fortunate to host several experienced British Commonwealth aviators on an exchange basis. As a courtesy, these aviators retain their national ranks.

Grades and their Commonwealth equivalents are listed below:

• Major = Squadron Leader
• Captain = Flight Lieutenant
• 1st Lieutenant = Flying Officer
• 2nd Lieutenant = Pilot Officer
• Chief Warrant Officer
• Master Sergeant
• Staff Sergeant = Flight Sergeant