[2] Upon arriving, the squadron became part of the Cactus Air Force and for the next two months slugged it out with Japanese pilots, based out of Rabaul, for control of the skies over Guadalcanal.

VMF-223 departed the island on 13 October 1942 having accounted for 83 enemy aircraft shot down including that of Japanese ace Junichi Sasai.

[3] The two leading aces in the squadron were the commanding officer, Major John L. Smith, with nineteen confirmed shoot downs and Marion E. Carl who was credited with sixteen.

[citation needed] In December 1965, the "Bulldogs" once again were called upon for combat duty in the Far East, this time at Chu Lai, South Vietnam.

In February 1970, after nearly 5½ years in the Far East, the "Bulldogs" were reassigned to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and returned to MCAS El Toro.

During August 1977, VMA-223 returned from Japan and joined the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, stationed at Cherry Point, North Carolina.

[citation needed] VMA-223 Harriers carry the distinctive 'rising sun' rudder pattern as an homage to the squadron's history in World War II.

[citation needed] March 1990 marked the second Sixth Fleet Deployment for the "Bulldogs" aboard USS Saipan in support of the 22 MEU.

In January 2003, the squadron deployed on board USS Kearsarge as part of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (2nd MEB).

After arriving in the Northern Persian Gulf it cross-decked to USS Bataan and began flying combat missions in support of the 2003 invasion of Iraq.