2013-06-03 In a recent interview with Brigadier General James S. O’Meara (currently serves as commander, U.S. Marine Forces Europe, and deputy commander, U.S. Marine Forces Africa), the core role, which the Osprey provides in enabling something unique like the Special MAGTF, was highlighted.
We have written extensively on the Osprey’s first five years of operations; with the next five the Marines are expanding their overall operational envelope with the plane as a centerpiece. The same will happen when they add the F-35B.
In these photos, various shots show the Osprey operations.
The first three focus on the operations of MV-22s assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 265. The Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group is deployed in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility and taking part in Cobra Gold, a Thai-U.S. co-sponsored multinational joint exercise designed to advance regional security by exercising a robust multinational force from nations sharing common goals and security commitments in the Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Michael Achterling/Released).
In the fourth photo, Marines belonging to Marine Test and Evaluation Squadron 22 carefully land aboard the USS George H.W. Bush during a Military Utility Assessment to gauge the MV-22B Osprey’s impact on normal naval aircraft carrier deck operations, Jan. 29, 2012.
In the fifth photo, MV-22 Ospreys get ready to take flight from the flight deck of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4).
At the time, Boxer is under way off the coast of California. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ryan Valverde).
In the final photos, various shots of Osprey operations in Bold Alligator 2012 are provided, including the first landing on a T-AKE supply ship.
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