The current Warlords patch has an illustrious history which dates back to the 1950s. When VMF-451 adopted the FJ-2 Fury, the decision was made by Commanding Officer LtCol J. D. Howard to change the squadron name from “The Fightin’ Phillies” to “The Warlords” and redesign the squadron insignia. The bottom banner displayed the squadron motto, “VINI-VICI”, interpreted to read, “I came, I conquered”. The black striped silver shield (popularly known at the time as the Carling Beer Label) represents enemy air opposition being broken by the FJ-2 penetrating from the blue background.
As the Warlords upgraded their aircraft over the next several decades, the patch remained unchanged until 1978. The FJ-2 depicted was replaced by the F-4 Phantom. Then in 1987, when the Warlords adopted the F/A-18 Hornet, the patch was again modified. It remained in this form until VMFA-451 was deactivated in 1997.
When the Warlords were reactivated and redesignated to VMFAT-501 in April 2010, the patch was modified to its current form, displaying the F-35B Lighting II.