Emboldened by the Maritime Defense Force’s early successes with the F-14, it was only a matter of time for the air arm of the Osean Marine Corps to purchase their own Tomcats.The first Marine aviators would be sent to the RAG in mid 1974, while purchase agreements were finalized between the Marines and vendors.
The first squadron of Tomcats that would be stood up by the Marines would be. VMF-24, otherwise known as the “Dragons”. With the first half dozen of pilots arriving back from VF-228 in late 1975, the squadron would not reach IOC until 1977, a full year after their sister squadron on the west coast VMF-78 “Dapper Dressed Killers”. The Dragons would see an early deployment in May of 1978, to Southern Osea, helping to deter Leasath aggression from Osean trade reaching the country's long-time rival of Aurelia.
The Dragons would deploy various times in the 1980s and 1990s, and would participate in the Belkan War, providing air support to landing operations during the conflict.
![Ace Combat - 144th Airlift Squadron "Fire Eaters" Califia Air National Guard C-130H [OUTDATED]](/upload/userfiles/5e7/f0ato9wjfbrawsn7tycs5dufovj1s4vi/Fireeaters.jpg "Ace Combat - 144th Airlift Squadron \"Fire Eaters\" Califia Air National Guard C-130H [OUTDATED]")