 The squadron finally became VMF-111 on 1 July 1941 during the massive expansion of the Marine Corps that began just prior to World War II.At the time of the Attack on Pearl Harbor, VMF-111 pilots were flying the Grumman F4F Wildcat.On 10 March 1942, the squadron arrived at Tafuna Airfield on Tutuila island, its new base of operations.