Marine Fighter Squadron 123 was commissioned in 1942 and deactivated in 1945.  Its pilots flew F4F, J2F, SNJ, F3A and FG-1 aircraft during its short life.

In naval aviation parlance, Dilbert was an accident looking for a place to happen.  VMF-123 had made two tours to combat without seeing any enemy aircraft.  Morale was low and the squadron was beginning to feel that they were a bunch of eight balls.  A couple of pilots with some artistic talent drew an eight ball with Dilbert looking over the top from the rear.

The squadron's third tour was very different from the first two with Zeros and Vals in abundance.  Upon their return to Efate and before going on R&R, the emblem was redrawn with Dilbert in front of the eight ball.  The original patches were made for the squadron while on R&R in Sydney, Australia.

The patch is embroidered in five colors on wool felt.