Marines Archives - Page 8 of 237

Sunset ceremony for VMFAT-101

Posted on October 1, 2023 by alert5

A historic era in naval aviation came to an end as Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101 (VMFAT-101), affectionately known as the “SharpShooters,” was officially deactivated during a solemn “sundowner ceremony” on Friday. The decommissioning of VMFAT-101 marks the conclusion of over 50 years of dedicated service in training pilots to fly F-4 Phantoms and, later, F/A-18 Hornets.

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Arkansas aviation drama: Marines save downed aircraft pilots

Posted on September 30, 2023 by alert5

Amidst the endless expanse of the Arkansas sky, two U.S. Marine Corps pilots, Lt. Col. Christopher Baker and Maj. Robert Lundgren, were en route from a memorial event in Beaufort, South Carolina. Little did they know that fate had a different mission in store for them that day.

Lt.Col. Christopher Baker and Maj. Robert Lundgren, with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112(VMFA-112) successfully located a downed aircraft that led emergency response personnel to provide medical assistance to the injured.

Photo: MARFORRES COMMSTRAT
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F-35B from VMFAT-501 crashes north of North Charleston

Posted on September 18, 2023 by alert5

An F-35B fighter assigned to U.S. Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 (VMFAT-501) has crashed north of North Charleston. The pilot of the aircraft ejected safely but the

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Zachary Ybarra, F-35B Lightning II pilot, Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron (VMFAT) 501, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 31, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), performs aerial maneuvers during an airshow demonstration practice at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina, Aug. 21, 2023. VMFAT-501 and VMFAT-502, MAG 11, 3rd MAW, are the two components that make up the USMC F-35B Lightning II Demo Team, that perform across the country to demonstrate the capabilities of the fifth generation fighter and interact with the public. Ybarra is a Rancho Cucamonga, California native. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Kyle Baskin)

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Disabled AV-8B temporarily disrupts flights at Coastal Carolina Airport

Posted on September 14, 2023 by alert5

A routine landing at Coastal Carolina Airport in Craven County took an unexpected turn when a U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier jet experienced a blown tire on the runway, causing temporary disruptions to air traffic.

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U.S. Marine Corps set to strengthen Air Defense with additional purchase of Iron Dome system

Posted on August 27, 2023 by alert5

The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is poised to bolster its defense capabilities with the acquisition of the Iron Dome air defense system, a move outlined in an official notice of intent recently published on the System for Award Management site. This strategic procurement involves the acquisition of 1,840 Tamir interceptor missiles, 44 launchers, and 11 US-made command centers, signaling a significant enhancement to the Marine Corps’ air defense capabilities.

A BQM-177 is launched from the Marine Corps’ Medium Range Intercept Capability system during Live Fire 2 as part of a quad-launch event at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, in September 2022. A project of Program Executive Officer Land Systems, MRIC provides the warfighter with a state-of-the-art missile system that detects, tracks, identifies, and defeats enemy cruise missiles and other manned and unmanned aerial threats.

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