Phase Three: The B-17 Celebration

07/03/2013
07/03/2013: After visiting one site which saw B-17 operations, namely the U-boat pens, we then visited the key target for the July 5, 1943 attack, namely the airfield and factory areas in support of German air operations against the United Kingdom. Nantes airport (formerly known as Aéroport Château Bougon)owes its…

Phase Five: The B-17 Celebration

07/03/2013
07/03/2013: The next phase was the service in the local church accompanied by the presentation of the colors from several French veteran units.  There was then a ceremony at the war monuments outside the church to those who fought in World War I and World War II. Next there was…

Osprey Lands on Japanese Ship For the First Time

06/27/2013
06/26/2013: An MV-22B Osprey from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 (VMM-161) lands onboard the JS Hyuga (DDG-181), during Dawn Blitz 2013 for the first time in history off the coast of Naval Base Coronado, June 14. [slidepress gallery='osprey-lands-on-japanese-ship-for-the-first-time'] Credit: 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade:6/14/13 Exercise Dawn Blitz 2013 is a multinational…

The F-35C Arrives at Eglin AFB

06/27/2013
06/26/2013: According to a 33rd Fighter Wing Press release on June 22, 2013: The U.S. Navy’s Strike Fighter Squadron VFA-101 received the Navy’s first F-35C Lightning II carrier variant aircraft from Lockheed Martin today.  U.S. Navy pilots and maintainers from VFA-101 are now training at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.,…

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Trains on San Clemente Island

06/26/2013
06/26/2013: Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Trains on San Clemente Island [slidepress gallery='japan-ground-selfdefense-force-trains-on-san-clemente-island'] Credit:11th Marine Expeditionary Unit:6/20/13 In the first two photos, the Japanese Ship Hyuga observes fires as members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force fire 81mm and 120mm mortars here. The live fire range was conducted as part of…

Marines Air Assault Training Exercise for Dawn Blitz 2013

06/26/2013
06/26/2013: A U.S. Marine MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft from Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing stands by as a U.S. Marine CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter from Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing takes off from an airfield during Dawn Blitz 2013 on Camp Pendleton,…