[2][3] The squadron moved to Marine Corps Air Station Parris Island, South Carolina on 18 April 1943.

[5] On 31 August 1943, the squadron departed the east coast arriving at Marine Corps Air Depot Miramar, California on 8 September 1943.

[6] VMF-311 participated in what was one of the earliest American catapult operations involving the Corsair when 21 F4Us launched from USS Nassau on 6 October 1943 inbound to United States Naval Station Tutuila.

During its time in American Samoa, the squadron was responsible for flying combat air patrols and other missions as required but did not engage any enemy aircraft.

[4][7] Early in the morning on 12 February 1944, Japanese bombers hit Roi-Namur and destroying most of the squadron's equipment and all of its tents and personal gear.

Beginning on 23 March 1944, the squadron began flying strafing missions against Wotje, Maloelap, Mille, Jaluit, and Taroa.

On 7 April, squadron aircraft landed at Yontan Airfield joining the Tactical Air Force, Tenth Army during the Battle of Okinawa.

[17] On 17 September 1945, the squadron landed at the Yokosuka Naval District to begin occupation duty in mainland Japan.

[15] Occupational duty in Japan lasted till May 1946, when MAG-31 was notified to prepare for the termination of its Japanese assignment; VMF-311 was going home.

[19] The squadron quickly transitioned to the F9F Panther in October 1949 and found itself once again preparing for war by November 1950, arriving once again at Yokusuka airfield in Japan.

Legendary pilots during this era included later astronaut and Senator John Glenn and baseball star Ted Williams.

[23] In early 1971 the squadron provided support for Operation Lam Son 719 the South Vietnamese offensive into Laos and was credited with destroying eight People's Army of Vietnam tanks.

[25] On 16 May 1972 VMA-311 once again deployed to South Vietnam with MAG-12 Forward and VMA-211 to Bien Hoa Air Base in response to the North Vietnamese Easter Offensive.

[25] Their final sortie in-country would occur on 29 January 1973, a day before they would drop the last ordnance from a Marine A-4 Skyhawk during the war.

While there, they spent over two months aboard USS Essex with the 31st MEU while participating in the multilateral exercises Cobra Gold 2010 and Balikatan 2010.

VMA-311 deployed to Camp Bastion, Helmand Province, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from April to September 2013.