thedrifter
08-24-06, 12:41 PM
Posted on Thu, Aug. 24, 2006
Some Beaufort Marines to return as another squadron is slated for Iraq
Associated Press
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, S.C. - Some 165 Beaufort-based Marines were scheduled to return home from Iraq on Thursday as another 450 were preparing to depart on a seven-month deployment to the volatile Al Anbar province of Iraq, officials said.
The returning 130 Marines from the Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533, dubbed the Hawks, and 35 others from Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31, dubbed the Stingers, were based at Camp Al Asad in western Iraq since January, according to a statement released by the Marine Corps.
The Hawks and their squadron's dozen F/A-18D jets provided close air support and aerial reconnaissance for the I Marine Expeditionary Force and other units in the region. They flew more than 2,300 combat missions and returned to the Beaufort air station last week.
The Stingers provided maintenance, supply and ordinance support to the aviation squadrons based at Camp Al Asad, the statement said.
Meanwhile, 150 Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 273, dubbed the Sweat Hogs, are set to depart Friday for the same Iraqi base.
The remaining 400 Marines in the squadron are to deploy in the coming weeks.
The unit will provide "a wide range of aviation ground support" to units at Camp Al Asad, including airfield communications, weather services, aircraft rescue and firefighting, security and law enforcement, and explosive ordnance disposal, the statement said.
Ellie
Some Beaufort Marines to return as another squadron is slated for Iraq
Associated Press
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, S.C. - Some 165 Beaufort-based Marines were scheduled to return home from Iraq on Thursday as another 450 were preparing to depart on a seven-month deployment to the volatile Al Anbar province of Iraq, officials said.
The returning 130 Marines from the Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533, dubbed the Hawks, and 35 others from Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31, dubbed the Stingers, were based at Camp Al Asad in western Iraq since January, according to a statement released by the Marine Corps.
The Hawks and their squadron's dozen F/A-18D jets provided close air support and aerial reconnaissance for the I Marine Expeditionary Force and other units in the region. They flew more than 2,300 combat missions and returned to the Beaufort air station last week.
The Stingers provided maintenance, supply and ordinance support to the aviation squadrons based at Camp Al Asad, the statement said.
Meanwhile, 150 Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 273, dubbed the Sweat Hogs, are set to depart Friday for the same Iraqi base.
The remaining 400 Marines in the squadron are to deploy in the coming weeks.
The unit will provide "a wide range of aviation ground support" to units at Camp Al Asad, including airfield communications, weather services, aircraft rescue and firefighting, security and law enforcement, and explosive ordnance disposal, the statement said.
Ellie