Originally posted by Bronk
According to AHT
VMF-124 is declared operational Dec 28 '42.
Bronk
Arrived Guadalcanal 12 Feb, 1943. I have not read of any combat missions flown before this date, but that is, or course, a possibility. Heck, I disagree with some of the people I SERVED with on the particulars of operations conducted only 23 years ago, so who knows what happened in 1943.
The difference is only 46 days; enough wiggle room for the purposes of this list I'd think.