The commanding officer of VMFA-225 has been fired for making a low-level flypast during the unit’s sundown ceremony of the F/A-18D on Jan. 23.
Marines and families of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 225, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, watch as the F/A-18 Hornet and F-35 Lightning II fly overhead during a Sundown Ceremony on Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Jan. 25, 2019. VMFA-225 held the Sundown Ceremony to retire the Hornet from their ranks and introduce the F-35B Lightning II as their new aircraft. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Levi J. Guerra)
An anonymous source told Marine Corps Times that the flight was lower and faster than was approved in the flight plan.
U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Ralph L. Featherstone (left), commanding officer of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 225, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, poses with past members of VMFA-225 during a Sundown Ceremony on Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Jan. 25, 2019. VMFA-225 held the Sundown Ceremony to retire the F/A-18 Hornet from their ranks and introduce the F-35B Lightning II as their new aircraft. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Levi J. Guerra)Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 225, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, retire the colors during a Sundown Ceremony on Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Jan. 25, 2019. VMFA-225 held the Sundown Ceremony to retire the F/A-18 Hornet from their ranks and introduce the F-35B Lightning II as their new aircraft. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Levi J. Guerra)A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 225, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, sits behind the unit’s mascot, a Viking, after a fly over during a Sundown Ceremony on Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Jan. 25, 2019. VMFA-225 held the Sundown Ceremony to retire the Hornet from their ranks and introduce the F-35B Lightning II as their new aircraft. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Levi J. Guerra)A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 225, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, is sprayed with water, a Marine Corps’ tradition that signifies an aircraft’s or individual’s last flight, during a Sundown Ceremony on Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Jan. 25, 2019. VMFA-225 held the Sundown Ceremony to retire the Hornet from their ranks and introduce the F-35B Lightning II as their new aircraft. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Levi J. Guerra)
