The "Checkerboards" of VMFA-312 fly the F/A-18C Hornet out of MCAS Beaufort, SC. They had a long history with the F-4 Phantom, but transitioned to the F/A-18A in the early '80s, but traded them in for the F/A-18C night-attack Hornets in 1991. They reached their operational strength with 12 aircraft in late '91.

The "Checkerboards" of VMFA-312 fly the F/A-18A+ Hornet out of MCAS Beaufort, SC, transitioning to them from the F-4 Phantom in August 1981. They traded them in for the F/A-18C night-attack Hornets in 1991, reaching their operational strength of 12 aircraft in late '91.