The Green Knights Return to the Pacific as Fifth Generation Fighting Force

01/20/2017
2017-01-18 While Prime Minister Abe was traveling this week around the Pacific shaping effective means to enhance defense and security cooperation in the region, the Marines were bringing new capabilities to reinforce U.S. and allied capabilities to execute the mission. The first time the Green Knights came to the Pacific was to…

Green Knights Depart For Relocation to Japan

01/14/2017
2017-01-14  NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN – Marine Corps F-35Bs from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, transit the Pacific from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Jan. 9, 2017, with its final destination of Iwakuni, Japan. VMFA-121 is the first operational F-35B…

Long Range Raid Exercise

12/20/2016
12/20/2016: U.S. Marine Corps VM-22B Osprey assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162, 2nd Marine Air Wing, Marine Air Group 26, conduct a long range raid as a part of an urban exercise, from Twentynine Palms, Calif. to Yuma, Ariz., Nov. 12, 2016. The Marines of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162…

Steel Knight 16: A Step for VMFA 121 on the Way to Japan in 2017

12/16/2016
12/16/2016: We have recently interviewed the CO of VMFA-121 in Yuma in early December 2016 and will shortly publish his interview.  But this story from a year ago discusses a milestone to the process of the squadron preparing for its deployment to Japan in 2017. Marines and Sailors with the 3rd Marine…

Mayor Fukuda Visits MCAS Yuma Prior to Arrival of VMFA-121 to Japan

12/16/2016
12/16/2016: From left to right, U.S. Marine Corps Col. Richard Fuerst, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Japan, Kosei Nomura, director of Status of U.S. Forces Agreement Division Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Lt. Col. J. T. Bardo, commanding officer of Marine Fighter Attack Sqaudron (VMFA) 121,…

VMFA-121 at Red Beach

12/16/2016
12/16/2016: We have recently interviewed the CO of VMFA-121 in Yuma in early December 2016 and will shortly publish his interview.  This story published last December highlights a milestone along the way for the squadron as it prepares for its deployment to Japan in 2017. An F-35B Lightning II from Marine Fighter…

VMFA-121 Brings F-35B to Red Flag 16-3 For First Time

12/16/2016
12/16/2016:  We have recently interviewed the CO of VMFA-121 in Yuma in early December 2016 and will shortly publish his interview.  But this story from July 2016 discusses a milestone to the process of the squadron preparing for its deployment to Japan in 2017. Six F-35B Lightning IIs with Marine Fighter Attack…

P-8 Arrival Ceremony at RAAF Base Edinburgh

12/01/2016
12/01/2016: The Royal Australian Air Force’s first P-8A Poseidon has arrived to its new home at RAAF Base Edinburgh. Number 92 Wing will operate Australia’s newest maritime surveillance aircraft, which will support a full range of tasks, including anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, maritime and overland intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance, electronic…