Marine Attack Squadron 332 (VMA-332) was re-commissioned on April 23, 1952 as part of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Miami, Florida flying the F6F Hellcat and later F4U Corsairs.
During the Korean War,  332 was assigned a combat role operating from the USS Bairoko.
It was at this time the famous polka-dots, hat, and cane originated.
Replacing the VMF-312 "Checkerboards", who had a black and white checkerboard painted around the engine cowlings, VMA-332, somewhat mockingly, adopted the red polka-dots on white background.
The design was reminiscent of Captain Eddie Rickenbacker's 94th Hat in the Ring Squadron of World War I. The addition of the hat and cane was derived from the squadron tail letters of "MR".
Being the abbreviation of mister, and feeling they were gentlemen in every regard, the hat and cane was adopted as accouterments every gentleman has.
It was then that the squadron picked up the nickname VMA-332 "Polka-dots".
The squadrons last cruise of the war would be on board the USS Point Cruz (CVE-119) from April to December 1953.
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Upon return from the war in 1953, VMA-332 transitioned to the AD-1 Skyraider.
From 1953 to 1957, VMA-332 rotated annually between the East Coast and the Far East.
In 1958, the squadron relocated back to MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina, and entered the jet age transitioning to the venerable A4D Skyhawk and the tail letters were changed from "MR" to "EA".
Marine Attack Squadron 332 (VMA-332) was re-commissioned on April 23, 1952 as part of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Miami, Florida flying the F6F Hellcat and later F4U Corsairs. During the Korean War,  332 was assigned a combat role operating from the USS Bairoko. It was at this time the famous polka-dots, hat, and cane originated. Replacing the VMF-312 "Checkerboards", who had a black and white checkerboard painted around the engine cowlings, VMA-332, somewhat mockingly, adopted the red polka-dots on white background. The design was reminiscent of Captain Eddie Rickenbacker's 94th Hat in the Ring Squadron of World War I. The addition of the hat and cane was derived from the squadron tail letters of "MR". Being the abbreviation of mister, and feeling they were gentlemen in every regard, the hat and cane was adopted as accouterments every gentleman has. It was then that the squadron picked up the nickname VMA-332 "Polka-dots". The squadrons last cruise of the war would be on board the USS Point Cruz (CVE-119) from April to December 1953. H
Upon return from the war in 1953, VMA-332 transitioned to the AD-1 Skyraider. From 1953 to 1957, VMA-332 rotated annually between the East Coast and the Far East. In 1958, the squadron relocated back to MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina, and entered the jet age transitioning to the venerable A4D Skyhawk and the tail letters were changed from "MR" to "EA".
VMFA(AW)-332