Marine Fighter Squadron 222 was commissioned 1 March 1942 flying the F2A, SNJ-3, and the F4U Corsair. It was nicknamed the "Flying Deuces" and the "SeaBee Air Force."

After flying from Midway Island, the squadron arrived at its new base at Guiuan in the Philippines; they found the 83rd and 61st Navy Construction Battalions building the airstrip, but there were no hangars, housing, mess facilities, water, or transportation.

A close friendship developed between the Marines and the Seabees, and VMF-222 became known as the 'SeaBee Air Force'. When the squadron's Corsairs came in for maintenance checks, their cowlings were delivered to the 61st CB who painted the CB emblem, and returned the cowlings to the squadron. The squadron patch was designed in 1942 by Gunner George Schaeffer.

The first patches were embroidered on wool in Australia in 1943. The squadron was deactivated 31 December 1949.