Aviation

Osprey squadron celebrates anniversary with new insignia

By Hope Hodge Seck on June 5, 2014 Aviation, History and heritage

A Marine Corps V-22 Osprey squadron is getting a makeover, just in time for its 62nd birthday. VMM-363, out of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., created a new insignia to mark the anniversary, according to a Marine Corps news release. The squadron, known as the Lucky Red Lions, had an old insignia featuring a brick-red lion on a kelly-green shamrock background. The new insignia, which was awesomely commemorated in a birthday cake for the celebration, keeps the main elements of the design, but depicts the lion with a more modern stencil theme, with red ribbon banners at the top…

Colonel takes over Marine Corps air operations in Afghanistan

By James Sanborn on December 9, 2013 Afghanistan, Aviation, Battle Rattle, Camp Leatherneck

A new commander is taking charge of Marine air operations in Afghanistan. Col. Scott Jensen took command of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (FWD) from Brig. Gen Gary Thomas, Dec. 9 during a ceremony aboard Camp Leatherneck in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Jensen, who was the unit’s assistant wing commander, will run operations through February when 3rd MAW will take over in preparation for the final withdrawal of U.S. forces next year. As operations are curtailed and Afghan forces assume more responsibility for local security, Marine units like 3rd MAW are adapting their command structures. “Over the past several months, significant gains…

Marines save two downed pilots during humanitarian mission in the Philippines

By Gina Harkins on December 3, 2013 Aviation, Battle Rattle

Seven Marines aboard a KC-130J Hercules rescued two pilots after their helicopter lost power and crashed into Manila Bay while they were assisting with relief efforts following last month’s typhoon in the Philippines. Maj. Jason Kauffman, a pilot with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, said the Marines were conducting aerial logistics support on Nov. 24, between Tacloban, Manila and former Clark Air Base, the three hubs the Corps set up during Operation Damayan. They were also transporting three members of Congress who traveled to the Philippines to observe the relief efforts: Reps. Trent Franks, R-Ariz.; Chris Smith, R-N.J.; and…

Vietnam War-era Huey completes final Marine Corps deployment

By James Sanborn on November 10, 2013 26th MEU, Aviation, Battle Rattle, Deployments

The last UH-1N Huey ever to deploy with Marines recently conducted its final flight Nov. 5, ending a storied era of Marine aviation. The two-bladed version of the Huey recently deployed with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 (Reinforced) out of Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., in support of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The 26th MEU recently returned from a float in the 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operation. The two bladed UH-1N variant has now been replaced by the heavier-hitting four-bladed UH-1Y. The specific UH-1N that was the last to deploy was also among the oldest…

The fascinating story of 2 missing Marines and their 70-year journey home from the South Pacific

By Andrew deGrandpre on October 17, 2013 Aviation, History and heritage

The remains of two Marines missing since World War II will be laid to rest Friday at Arlington National Cemetery, according to this Defense Department news release. Capt. Henry White and Staff Sgt. Thomas Meek were in a SBD-4 Dauntless dive-bomber that crashed July 21, 1943, on Mavea Island. (The Americans stationed there during the war referred to it as Mafia Island, according to report on the crash compiled in 2012.) If you’ve never of heard of the place, join the club. Mavea Island is a lonely sliver of earth in the South Pacific, not terribly far from Australia —…

Flying Nightmares, Shadow Warriors deactivate due to force restructuring

By Hope Hodge Seck on July 25, 2013 Aviation, Battle Rattle, Camp Lejeune, Drawdown, Force Structure Review

As the drumbeat of force restructuring beats on in the Marine Corps, more units are folding up their colors. Back in 2011, the Marine Corps laid out a plan for deactivating and realigning units to bring the Corps down from 202,000 to a “middleweight” force of 182,000, and much of that restructuring is going on right now. Out at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Marine Attack Squadron 513 became the first Av-8B Harrier Squadron to deactivate on July 12. “The Flying Nightmares” embarked on their last deployment last December, joining with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit for a float aboard…

Commandant: Reconnaissance Marines deployed with crisis-response force

By Dan Lamothe on June 28, 2013 Aviation, Ospreys, Reconnaissance

Commandant Gen. Jim Amos touched on many topics during a breakfast with media in Washington on Wednesday, yielding headlines that include an update on the state of affairs in Afghanistan and an acknowledgment that the service will likely draw down to 174,000 Marines if drastic federally mandated budget cuts stay in place. Not to be overlooked, however, is the commandant’s characterization of his new unit, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response. The 550-strong force deployed in April, providing Gen. David Rodriguez, commander of U.S. Africa Command, a designated unit equipped to response to emergencies that erupt in volatile…

Marine Attack Squadron 513 set for deactivation after 69 years of service

By James Sanborn on June 4, 2013 Africa, Aviation, Battle Rattle, Iraq, Korea, Marines, MEU operations, World War II

The storied “Nightmares” are set to deactivate this summer after 69 years of service during which the unit’s Marines saw combat in the Pacific, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. Formally designated Marine Attack Squadron 513, the unit which flies AV-8B Harriers out of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., will be deactivated July 12, 2013 after their most recent deployment to Asia which concluded with their participation in Exercise Foal Eagle. The annual exercise is among the largest in the world and aims to strengthen interoperability between South Korean and U.S. forces in the region. The unit deployed to Asia…

Hagel confirms: second V-22 squadron headed to Japan

By Hope Hodge Seck on April 30, 2013 Aviation, Battle Rattle, Japan, Marines, Pacific issues, Pentagon, Safety, The Pacific

In a joint press conference with Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera at the Pentagon Monday afternoon, Defense Secretary confirmed that the Marines would land a second squadron of MV-22 Ospreys in the country this summer. The move, Hagel said, would increase U.S. capabilities in the region at a time in which the U.S. was intentionally pivoting its military focus to the Asia-Pacific region. Onodera added more details about the move. “Secretary Hagel and I confirmed that government’s plans to land U.S. 12 MV-22s of the second squadron of MV-22 through MCAS Iwakuni this summer and then move them to MCAS…

Marine gives wedding best man speech — from cockpit over Afghanistan

By Dan Lamothe on April 11, 2013 Afghanistan, Aviation

We’re playing catch up on this a little bit, but the odds are there that you’ll want to see this video. It shows a Marine fighter pilot delivering the best man speech for his brother’s wedding — while in the cockpit of a Harrier flying over Afghanistan. [HTML1] The Marine is Capt Matthew Krivohlavy with Marine Attack Squadron 231, according to the British Daily Mail newspaper. The pilot’s brother, Brandon, married Mandy Takacs of Austin, Texas, the newspaper added.

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