VMU-4

Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 4 (VMU-4) is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) squadron in the United States Marine Corps that operates the RQ-21 Blackjack. It is the fourth UAV squadron in the Marine Corps and the first in the reserve component. The squadron, nicknamed the "Evil Eyes", entered the force structure on 1 July 2010, when Marine Observation Squadron 4 (VMO-4) was reactivated and redesignated VMU-4. The squadron inherited the history of VMO-4 which was an observation squadron that saw extensive action during World War II. They were last based at Naval Air Station Atlanta near Atlanta, Georgia and were deactivated on 23 May 1993 as part of the post-Cold War drawdown of forces. VMU-4 is a subordinate unit of Marine Aircraft Group 41 and the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing. Provide aerial fire support spotting and intelligence in support of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. The squadron was originally activated as Artillery Spotting Division (Marine Observation Squadron 951) (ASD(VMO-951)) on 20 December 1943 at Marine Corps Air Station Quantico, Virginia. This happened because the Marine Corps' field artillery school was located at Marine Corps Base Quantico. Less than a month later they were redesignated as Marine Observation Squadron 4 (VMO-4) as they trained to fly the OY-1 Grasshopper. The squadron would later move to San Diego, California and the deploy overseas to Marine Corps Air Station Ewa in Hawaii for further training where they would be assigned to support the V Amphibious Corps. In April 1944 they were sent to Maui for duty with the 4th Marine Division and on 29 May 1944 they left Pearl Harbor for their first combat mission. The first two planes from VMO-4 landed on Charan-Kanoa airstrip during the Battle of Saipan on 17 June 1944 and began operating immediately. Six days later all squadron gear and personnel were ashore and the squadron shifted operations to Aslito Field. During the battle they their mission was to conduct tactical reconnaissance for ground troops and direct artillery and naval gunfire strikes.