About the Origin of Jane's F/A 18 and the Virtual Grey Ghosts...
From the pages of history into, the virtual world...
A Marine, call sign, Spike with 13th MEU founded the virtual VMFA-531 in 1999 flying Jane's F/A 18. Coyote took the roll as the Executive Officer. We took the name of the Grey Ghosts of (V) VMFA-531 do to it being deactivated. As we all know, real life enters in and Spike was called away to serve overseas leaving Coyote in command and Raptor as the Executive Officer. At the time, Gator, our current Commanding Officer was but a young, wet behind the ears second lieutenant. After a short period in the virtual world of the 0311 (Ghost Recon) and the waning amount of virtual Marine Aviators the (V) VMFA-531 stood down with Raptor in command and Batman as the Executive Officer. Two months passed as Gator was on leave, he returned to find that the squadron was in a stand down mode of operation. Coyote was contacted by Gator and asked if like the Phoenix, the Virtual VMFA-531 could be raised from the ashes and fly once more. Coyote's reply, Hell yes! And with that, on November 10th 2000 the Virtual VMFA-531 began to fly once more.
Here we are, entering our fifth year as a virtual Marine squadron, one of the only online flying Jane's F/A 18. The success of our online squadron doesn't go to any one person in it, but to the group acting as one, a team, so to speak. That group, throughout the years has grown to be one of the finest flying squadrons there is. Our numbers seem to average around fifteen to twenty active pilots at any given time. Aviators come and some go but the core element of the Virtual 531 has remained with Gator and Raptor still around Gator as the Commanding Officer and now Ghost as the Executive Officer. There are others too that make up our chain of command, Raptor INTEL O, Fish OPS O, and the many others that make up our ranks.
We'd like to hope that our virtual existence flying as the Grey Ghosts of VMFA-531 we honor those that came before us in the real world.
Semper Fi
Ghost
VMFA-531 Flight Line 1978-82 the real VMFA-531
Semper Fly!