Lineage
  01Dec1941  established  VMO-251 (Marine Observation Squadron)
  31Jan1945  redesignated VMF-251 (Marine Fighting Squadron)
  01Jun1945  deactivated
  01Jul1946  reactivated  VMF-251 (Marine Fighting Squadron) as Reserve squadron
  01Dec1946  redesignated VMF-251 (Marine Fighter Squadron)
  01Mar1951  recalled to active duty
  25Apr1951  redesignated VMA-251 (Marine Attack Squadron)
  20Apr1957  redesignated VMF-251 (Marine Fighter Squadron)
  31Oct1964  redesignated VMFA-251 (Marine Fighter Attack Squadron)
  23Apr2020  deactivated
  17Sep2024  received first F-35C Lightning II
  05Dec2024  reactivated  VMFA-251 (Marine Fighter Attack Squadron)

Nickname
  01Dec1941 - 31Jan1945  unknown
  31Jan1945 - 01Jun1945  Lucifer's Messengers
  01Jul1946 - 25Apr1951  unknown
  25Apr1951 - 20Apr1957  The Black Patches
  20Apr1957 - 23Apr2020  Thunderbolts

Aircraft Carrier Deployments
  VMF-251   07Feb1962 - 28Aug1962  F8U-1E     CVA-38  CVG-10  AK-2xx  Med
  VMFA-251  28Aug1995 - 24Feb1996  FA-18C(N)  CV-66   CVW-1   AB-2xx  Med, Persian Gulf
  VMFA-251  03Oct1997 - 03Apr1998  FA-18C(N)  CVN-73  CVW-1   AB-2xx  Med, Persian Gulf
  VMFA-251  02Nov1998 - 17Dec1998  FA-18C(N)  CVN-75  CVW-1   AB-2xx  Puerto Rican Operating Area
  VMFA-251  22Sep1999 - 19Mar2000  FA-18C(N)  CV-67   CVW-1   AB-2xx  Med, Persian Gulf
  VMFA-251  19Sep2001 - 27Mar2002  FA-18C(N)  CVN-71  CVW-1   AB-2xx  Med, North Arabian Sea
  VMFA-251  02May2006 - 18Nov2006  FA-18C(N)  CVN-65  CVW-1   AB-2xx  Med, Mid-East, WestPac
  VMFA-251  07Jul2007 - 19Dec2007  FA-18C(N)  CVN-65  CVW-1   AB-2xx  Med, Mid-East
  VMFA-251  18May2009 - 30May2009  FA-18C(N)  CVN-77  CVW-1   AB-4xx  off the coast of Virginia
  VMFA-251  13Jan2011 - 15Jul2011  FA-18C(N)  CVN-65  CVW-1   AB-4xx  Med, North Arabian Sea
  VMFA-251  11Jan2012 - 10Feb2012  FA-18C(N)  CVN-65  CVW-1   AB-4xx  WestLant
  VMFA-251  11Mar2012 - 04Nov2012  FA-18C(N)  CVN-65  CVW-1   AB-4xx  Med, 5th Fleet AOR
  VMFA-251  11Mar2015 - 23Nov2015  FA-18C(N)  CVN-71  CVW-1   AB-4xx  Norfolk to San Diego : 5th, 6th and 7th Fleet AOR

Shore Based Deployments
  VMA-251   27Jul1953 -   Jan1956  AD-4              korea
  VMA-251     Jan1956 -   Jun1957  AD-4              MCAS Iwakuni, Japan
  VMF-251     Jan1960 -   Jan1961  F8U-1E/1          MAG-11/NAS Atsugi, Japan
  VMFA-251    Jul1977 -   Jul1978  F-4J              MAG-15/MCAS Iwakuni, Japan
  VMFA-251    Jul1988 -   Jan1989  FA-18A            MAG-15/MCAS Iwakuni, Japan
  VMFA-251    Jul1991 -   Jan1992  FA-18A            MAG-12/MCAS Iwakuni, Japan
  VMFA-251    Jan1993 -   Jul1993  FA-18A            MAG-12/MCAS Iwakuni, Japan
  VMFA-251    Jan1994 -   Apr1994  FA-18A            Aviano AB, Italy
  VMFA-251  12Feb2003 - 09May2003  FA-18C(N)         Ahmed Al Jaber AB, Kuwait
  VMFA-251    Jan2004 -   Jul2004  FA-18C(N)         MAG-12/MCAS Iwakuni, Japan
  VMFA-251    Sep2017 -   Mar2018  FA-18C(N)/FA-18D  MAG-12/MCAS Iwakuni, Japan
  VMFA-251  01Jan2020 -      2020  FA-18C(N)/FA-18D  Ahmed Al Jaber AB, Kuwait