Thunderbolts strike during OIF

[thedrifter]

Thunderbolts strike during OIF
Submitted by: MCAS Beaufort
Story Identification Number: 200381895324
Story by Lance Cpl. Micah B. Snead



MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, S.C.(July 18, 2003) -- (Editors note: This article is the first of a four-part series that will look at the squadrons and Marines who recently returned from Operation Iraqi Freedom to understand what mission they are focusing on now.)

The streets and skies of Beaufort are a little more crowded these days, since the Air Station squadrons that participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom have returned home after successfully accomplishing their missions abroad.

Three squadrons and more than 900 Marines in total were deployed to the U.S. Central
Command's Area of Operations to join the fight against Saddam Hussein's regime in
Iraq.

The Thunderbolts of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251 played a pivotal role in the
operation as one of two Fightertown-based squadrons that operated from an on-shore air
base in Kuwait.

Prior to the deployment, the T-Bolts underwent a grueling 24-hour work up. The
maintenance Marines began working 12-hour shifts in December to have the aircraft in
top shape for a possible deployment in February.

"It was a heavy, hectic work load," said Chief Warrant Officer 2 David L. Baker,
maintenance and materials control officer, VMFA-251. "But our Marines responded. It
meant very little time off for everyone but it had to be done to accomplish the mission."

All of the squadron's aircraft, and the majority of the Marines, departed the Air Station on Feb. 12, headed towards the looming conflict with Iraq.

The T-Bolts were based in Kuwait alongside Air Station squadron Marine All-Weather
Fighter Attack Squadron 224 and Marine Aircraft Group 11, Marine Corps Air Station
Miramar.

While the setting was very unfamiliar for the squadron, some friendly faces could be
found as augments from Marine Wing Support Squadron 273 and Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31 were in the same area.

"It was different being away from our parent group, and of course we missed the
outstanding support from MALS-31," Baker said. "But out there you make do with what
you can. It is all a part of the environment."

In total, '251 flew over 600 combat missions with nearly 850,000 pounds of ordnance
dropped. After combat operations came to a close, the T-Bolts were recognized by the
MAG and Marine Aircraft Wing commanding officers for an excellent job during OIF.

"Our east coast squadrons were a valuable asset because of the success they had," said
Commanding General, Maj. Gen. James F. Amos, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. "We were
very glad to have the Hawks and T-Bolts under our wing, and we look forward to
working with them again in the future."

When the squadron returned to Beaufort, May 13, a crowd of over 200 family members,
friends and loved ones welcomed them. The T-Bolts were soon basking in the glory of a
job well done.

"It felt so great when we first came home, because everyone looks at us like we are
heroes," said Lance Cpl. Scott Adkins, embarkation and combat service support
specialist, VMFA-251. "But we recognize that the true heroes are the Marines who never came back. We are glad to be home, but we will never forget the sacrifices made during OIF."

After some well-deserved time off, the T-Bolts have already increased their pace, getting themselves ready for their next deployment, whenever or wherever it might be.

"We are always planning for the future," said Capt. Chad VandenBerg, pilot and flight
schedules officer, VMFA-251. "Whether it is new pilots joining the squadron, or pilots
going out for more training, we will always work to better ourselves. Our part of OIF is finished, but our next mission is right around the corner."


http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/20038199127/$file/200381895324-lo.jpg

One of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251s F/A-18 Hornets takes off for another Operation Iraqi Freedom mission from a base in Kuwait in April.
Photo by: Lance Cpl. Micah B. Snead


Sempers,

Roger
:marine:

[thedrifter]

Hawks tend Air Station nest after successful OIF Sweep
Submitted by: MCAS Beaufort
Story Identification Number: 200381895858
Story by Lance Cpl. Micah B. Snead



MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, S.C.(July 25, 2003) -- (Editors note: This article is the second of a four-part series that will look at the squadrons and Marines who recently returned from Operation Iraqi Freedom to understand what mission they are focusing on now.)

The role of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in Operation Iraqi Freedom could be seen on television screens across the world on March 19 when air strikes began in Baghdad. Leading from the front of the air assault were three Fightertown F/A-18 squadrons along with more than 900 aviation support Marines on the ground.

The Hawks of Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533 were on the ground in
Kuwait alongside the Thunderbolts of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251 and operated under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 11 and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, in support of 1 Marine Expeditionary Force. The squadron left the Air Station for Kuwait on Feb. 10, and participated in Operation Southern Watch before joining OIF.

The deployment work-up and workload in Kuwait taxed combined with anxiety over the
impending conflict with Iraq was a heavy burden on many of the Marines.

"We worked two 12-hour shifts seven days a week so you didn't even have time to be
exhausted," said Staff Sgt. James Hinson, quality assurance representative, VMFA(AW)-533. "The nerves of some of the junior Marines started to bend but they never broke. They just went to work like everyone else."

As one of only four all-weather squadrons under MAG 11, the Hawks carried a large
number of night and poor weather missions beneath their wings. The Hawks made a name for themselves in the group with superior mission success and flight hours.

"When the commanding officer of the group tells you that you led the way in mission
success, that's a great feeling," said Capt. Tate A. Buntz, maintenance and materials control officer, VMFA(AW)-533. "While it's always a team effort, it's good to feel like you're the best of the best."

The Hawks received praise on their approximately 800 missions from up and down their chain of command, including the 3rd MAW commanding general.

"We couldn't have accomplished our mission here without the assets of the squadrons
from Beaufort," said Maj. Gen. James F. Amos, commanding general, 3rd MAW. "We really showed the world the power of Marine aviation during this operation."

When the squadron returned to Fightertown May 16, the commanding general of their
parent command, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, was on hand to welcome them home.

"It is great to see the Marines we trained playing a key role in operations and battlefield planning," said Maj. Gen. John G. Castellaw, commanding general, 2nd MAW. "It shows them that their hard work pays off."

Since returning to Beaufort the Hawks have taken time off to recover from the
deployment and are now set to getting back to speed for the future. With training deployments, such as the Weapons and Tactical Instructors course at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Az., and the possibility of a sea service deployment or participating in the constantly rotating Western Pacific deployment on hand, the Hawks are focusing on returning to 100 percent strength as
soon as possible.

"We are simply back to work getting our training and skills to their highest levels," said Capt. Thomas Smolenski, pilot, VMFA(AW)-533. "We are focused on the future but for the moment we are glad to be home."


http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2003818133130/$file/200381895858-lo.jpg

Lt. Col. Lawrence R. Roberts, commanding officer, Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533 gives a pep talk to the Hawks on the final day of combat operations under Operation Iraqi Freedom, in Kuwait.
Photo by: Lance Cpl. Micah B. Snead

Sempers,


Roger
:marine:

[thedrifter]

Jack of all trades: MALS Marines keep Fightertown rolling during OIF
Submitted by: MCAS Beaufort
Story Identification Number: 200381810450
Story by Lance Cpl. Micah B. Snead



MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, S.C.(August 1, 2003) -- (Editors note: This article is the third of a four-part series that will look at the squadrons and Marines who recently returned from Operation Iraqi Freedom to understand what mission they are focusing on now.)

Three Air Station squadrons turned to the Stingers of Marine Aviation Logistics
Squadron 31 to keep their jets rolling during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The Stingers perform behind-the-scenes maintenance on the F/A-18 Hornets of Marine
Aircraft Group 31.

The mission of MALS Marines is to make intermediate level repairs on aircraft. These repairs are needed when an aircraft problem is too serious to be solved at the squadron level.

The Marines in MALS come from every walk of life of an aircraft maintainer and are divided into sections ranging from supply to ordnance and power plant.

With Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533 and Marine Fighter Attack
Squadron 251 deployed to Kuwait and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 aboard the USS
Harry S. Truman the Stingers were spread across the globe.

In Kuwait, the Stingers joined the Devilfish of Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 11,
and worked on the F/A-18 Hornets and AV-8B Harriers of Marine Aircraft Group 11. The
Devilfish were thankful to have the Stingers on their team.

"With the addition of '533 and '251 to the group, it was very necessary to have the extra augments," said Sgt. Maj. Antonio R. Adversalo, squadron sergeant major, MALS-11. "The Marines all pulled together as a team and performed very well during the operation."

The Marines provided a familiar face for the Fightertown squadrons who were working
with an entirely different group for the first time, according to Chief Warrant Office 2 David L. Baker, maintenance and materials control office, MALS-31. Baker joined VMFA-251 for the OIF deployment.

"There are always some bumps and wrong turns when you're dealing with a new command," Baker said. "While in Kuwait, we missed the outstanding support of MALS-31, but it was good to know some of the Marines out there with us. We always knew that if we needed
anything, the Stingers would do whatever they could to get it to us."

Aboard the Truman, MALS Marines joined the Silver Eagles of VMFA-122. The Stingers also pulled duty aboard aviation logistics support ships. These ships provide rapid
response aviation support for forward-deployed fixed-wing aircraft.

"It was a lot of work keeping all the jets in top shape," said Staff Sgt. Marcell V.
McGough, supply chief, MALS-31. "It was almost non-stop action but everyone worked
together very well. We believed in the mission and were proud of the aircraft we were supporting."

Unlike the average Fightertown squadron, MALS-31 does not have regular deployments,
however, they regularly send detachments out with other units. This forces the Stingers to stay ready at all times for their next deployment.

"Our Marines see more deployments than anyone else on the Air Station because even if only one squadron is gone, it means they have Stingers right alongside with them," said 1st Lt. Ryan S. Nichols, unit information office, MALS-31. "Our mission is to support the jets whenever and wherever they need us."

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/20038199190/$file/200381810450-lo.jpg


Sempers,

Roger
:marine:

[thedrifter]

Silver Eagles team with Truman group, cruise through OIF
Submitted by: MCAS Beaufort
Story Identification Number: 200381810951
Story by Lance Cpl. Micah B. Snead



MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, S.C.(August 8, 2003) -- (Editors note: This article is the fourth of a four-part series that will look at the squadrons and Marines who recently returned from Operation Iraqi Freedom to understand what mission they are focusing on now.)

In December, the Harry S. Truman Battle Group rolled across the Atlantic Ocean
towards the Mediterranean Sea. By March, the war-fighting force of 12 naval ships and
submarines and eight aircraft squadrons was deeply involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Aboard the USS Harry S. Truman, the Silver Eagles of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron
115 were leading the way for their fellow Marine and Navy squadrons.

The Silver Eagles were the first Fightertown squadron to head towards the gulf. Marine
Fighter Attack Squadron 251 and Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533 soon joined them as they deployed to Kuwait in February.

The cruise on the Truman was the squadron's first carrier deployment in 20 years, and
they spent all of 2002 gearing up for it, according to Capt. Phillip Williams, pilot, VMFA-115.

"Prior to the cruise, the squadron regularly participated in the western pacific unit
deployment program, which was a six-month land-based deployment," Williams said.

During Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Silver Eagles were one of Carrier Air Wing Three's
premier squadrons.

"It was a great team effort," said Sgt. Robert A. Reed, aviation ordnance technician, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31. "But everyone wanted their own team to lead the way for the rest of the squadrons."

The Eagles led the battle group with more than 300 combat sorties and almost 1500
combat flight hours. While '115's brother squadrons were deployed much closer to the action, getting to Iraq was only half the job for the Silver Eagles.

"The jets had to make the trip from the Mediterranean through Turkey to get to Iraq," Williams said. "And the best part is that we finished OIF with a 100 percent sortie completion rate."

The Silver Eagles dropped more than 313,000 pounds of ordnance in support of special
operations forces in northern Iraq. The squadron greatly contributed to the destruction of two Iraqi army units and the Anser al-Islam terrorist organization during the operation.

"It was twenty-four hour flight operations, something that not a lot of us are used to,"
Reed said. "But it was always great to see our jets come back empty."

In late May, 241 Marines and Sailors of VMFA-115 returned to the Air Station at the conclusion of the six-month deployment The squadron spent 150 days at sea during the cruise with 20 port days along the mediterranean coast and everyone was happy to be home safely.

"The greatest accomplish we had during OIF was that every Marine came home safely,"
said Maj. Breton L. Saunders, aircraft maintenance officer, VMFA-115. "With combat
operations you just never know what could happen. We're happy to be back and proud of our Marines and their accomplishments."

Since returning to the Air Station, several of the Silver Eagles have moved on to new
commands or returned to the units they were deployed from.

One Silver Eagles pilot, Capt. David A. Kalinske, is now an F/A-18 Hornet instructor at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz.

"The squadron performed amazingly during OIF," Kalinske said. "The history behind the
squadron is very strong and no one who participated in OIF alongside the Silver Eagles will soon forget it."

The squadron, which recently celebrated its 60th birthday, has participated in nearly
every major conflict that has called upon Marine Corps aviation. For now, the Silver Eagles are looking to refresh their training and prepare their jets for the next call of duty.

"The history of Marine Corps aviation has been highlighted with the outstanding
achievements of VMFA-115," said Lt. Col. Gregg W. Brinegar, commanding officer, VMFA-
115. "It has been a great run for our squadron and we are looking forward to much more of the same in the future."


http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/200381813502/$file/200381810951-lo.jpg

Corporal Bryan P. Wagner, ejection seat cartridge-actuated device assistant non-commisioned officer, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115 runs through the final stages of a launch on the deck of the USS Harry S. Truman.


Photo by: Courtesy of VMFA-115



Sempers,

Roger
:marine: