The Moonlighters arrived at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, on January 11, 2002 and took over Operation Noble Eagle, relieving VMFA-212 and VMFA-232.
During the squadron’s tour in Guam, they flew 262 sorties and amassed 582.7 hours of flight time.

In January 2002, VMFA(AW)-332 joined the VMFA-212 to form two composite squadrons, providing the Lancers the capability of conducting ATARS reconnaissance missions and FAC(A) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Southern Watch (OSW).
The squadrons exchanged four aircraft as well as aircrew and maintainers for this effort.

During this deployment, the squadron deployed to Okinawa, the Philippines, Khorat and MCAS Iwakuni, and surpassed 90,000 mishap-free flight hours.

On September 11, 2003, they again returned to Japan to as part of the Unit Deployment Program.
 During this deployment, the squadron deployed to Dhaka, Bangladesh in support of Operation Sumo Tiger as well as to Thailand, Guam, and Townsville, Australia.

On May 26, 2005, the “Moonlighters” reached the 100,000 mishap-free flight hour mark, recognizing 27 years of professionalism and safety.
LtGen James Amos presented the squadron with the 100,000 award on July 20, 2005.
This achievement represents the longest record of mishap-free flight of any tactical aviation squadron in Marine Corps history.

On July 26, 2005, VMFA(AW)-332 departed MCAS Beaufort for its combat deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).
332 regularly flew a twelve-sortie Air Tasking Order cycle with intermittent surge days and ground alerts.
Typical missions included close air support (CAS), Armed Reconnaissance (AR), Infrastructure Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Advanced Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance System (ATARS) and Convoy Escort.
These missions were conducted on a daily basis, during both day and night, in support of Marine, Army, and various Joint Special Operations units.
The most common tasking from these ground units required use of the LITENING Pod to identify, monitor, and report any activity in the vicinity of historical insurgent mortar and rocket Points of Origin (POO) sites.
Most of these POO sites were in the vicinity of Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) and coalition airfields throughout Al Anbar province.

During just 7 months of combat operations, which included both the Iraqi Constitutional Referendum and National elections, the Moonlighters participated in such named Operations as Rivergate, Iron Fist, Steel Curtain, Blue Devil, Trifecta, Tigers, Skinner, Spider Web and Liberty Express.
During this deployment, the “Moonlighters” flew 2406 sorties for a total of 6031.9 hours.
The squadron departed the Al Anbar province successfully on February 11, 2006 with another combat deployment of zero missed sorties.
The total ordnance expended for the deployment was: 50 GBU-38s, 270 GBU-12s, 23 AGM-65s, 10 5” rockets, 2 GBU-16s, 6 GBU-32s, 16 LUU-19s and 7640 rounds of 20mm for a total of 160,966 lbs of ordnance.
During the deployment they used the combat callsign of “Dealers."

In late 2006 the squadron began downsizing in preparation for the decommissioning of the squadron.
Flight operations focused on preparing aircrew and Marines for follow on units.
The squadron flew its last flight in the F/A-18 Hornet and was deactivated on March 30, 2007.
The Moonlighters were named the 2006 Marine Corps Aviation Association Fighter/Attack Squadron of the Year and held the longest streak of mishap-free flight hours for a tactical jet squadron with a remarkable 109,000 hours.
The Moonlighters arrived at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, on January 11, 2002 and took over Operation Noble Eagle, relieving VMFA-212 and VMFA-232. During the squadron’s tour in Guam, they flew 262 sorties and amassed 582.7 hours of flight time.
In January 2002, VMFA(AW)-332 joined the VMFA-212 to form two composite squadrons, providing the Lancers the capability of conducting ATARS reconnaissance missions and FAC(A) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Southern Watch (OSW). The squadrons exchanged four aircraft as well as aircrew and maintainers for this effort.
During this deployment, the squadron deployed to Okinawa, the Philippines, Khorat and MCAS Iwakuni, and surpassed 90,000 mishap-free flight hours.
On September 11, 2003, they again returned to Japan to as part of the Unit Deployment Program.  During this deployment, the squadron deployed to Dhaka, Bangladesh in support of Operation Sumo Tiger as well as to Thailand, Guam, and Townsville, Australia.
On May 26, 2005, the “Moonlighters” reached the 100,000 mishap-free flight hour mark, recognizing 27 years of professionalism and safety. LtGen James Amos presented the squadron with the 100,000 award on July 20, 2005. This achievement represents the longest record of mishap-free flight of any tactical aviation squadron in Marine Corps history.
On July 26, 2005, VMFA(AW)-332 departed MCAS Beaufort for its combat deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). 332 regularly flew a twelve-sortie Air Tasking Order cycle with intermittent surge days and ground alerts. Typical missions included close air support (CAS), Armed Reconnaissance (AR), Infrastructure Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Advanced Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance System (ATARS) and Convoy Escort. These missions were conducted on a daily basis, during both day and night, in support of Marine, Army, and various Joint Special Operations units. The most common tasking from these ground units required use of the LITENING Pod to identify, monitor, and report any activity in the vicinity of historical insurgent mortar and rocket Points of Origin (POO) sites. Most of these POO sites were in the vicinity of Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) and coalition airfields throughout Al Anbar province.
During just 7 months of combat operations, which included both the Iraqi Constitutional Referendum and National elections, the Moonlighters participated in such named Operations as Rivergate, Iron Fist, Steel Curtain, Blue Devil, Trifecta, Tigers, Skinner, Spider Web and Liberty Express. During this deployment, the “Moonlighters” flew 2406 sorties for a total of 6031.9 hours. The squadron departed the Al Anbar province successfully on February 11, 2006 with another combat deployment of zero missed sorties. The total ordnance expended for the deployment was: 50 GBU-38s, 270 GBU-12s, 23 AGM-65s, 10 5” rockets, 2 GBU-16s, 6 GBU-32s, 16 LUU-19s and 7640 rounds of 20mm for a total of 160,966 lbs of ordnance. During the deployment they used the combat callsign of “Dealers."
In late 2006 the squadron began downsizing in preparation for the decommissioning of the squadron. Flight operations focused on preparing aircrew and Marines for follow on units. The squadron flew its last flight in the F/A-18 Hornet and was deactivated on March 30, 2007. The Moonlighters were named the 2006 Marine Corps Aviation Association Fighter/Attack Squadron of the Year and held the longest streak of mishap-free flight hours for a tactical jet squadron with a remarkable 109,000 hours.
VMFA(AW)-332