The squadron was last based at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina and saw its final deployment in support of Operation Desert Storm in 1991.

In November of that year they moved out to San Diego, California and on 1 January 1944, they were redesignated Marine Observation Squadron 1 (VMO-1) and deployed to Espiritu Santo.

The original reason for the flight was to demonstrate the OV-10A trans-Atlantic capability which Marine Corps Headquarters staff planners did not recognize at the time.

In December 1990, the squadron boarded the USS America and USS Theodore Roosevelt headed for Saudi Arabia to support Operation Desert Shield.

When Operation Desert Storm began, the squadron flew over 1000 combat sorties with the loss of 1 aircraft and 1 pilot killed in action.