MEDITERRANEAN SEA – Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 (VMFA-211), deployed aboard the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth (R 08), began air operations in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), June 18th, 2021.

VMFA-211 and the United Kingdom’s 617 Squadron both flew F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft during the counter-ISIS and protective overwatch missions.

“U.S. Marine Corps aircraft supporting OIR from a Royal Navy aircraft carrier demonstrates how effectively interoperable our combined naval forces are,” said Col Simon Doran, U.S. Senior National Representative to the UK CSG.

The flights also marked the first time the UK has integrated aircraft carrier operations via the U.S. Air Force’s Combined Air Operations Center.

"We are proud to fly these missions alongside our UK allies,” said LtCol Andrew D’Ambrogi, the commanding officer of VMFA-211. “The Marines and Sailors of VMFA-211 remain ready to complete any mission while deployed aboard Queen Elizabeth.”

The U.S. Navy also supports the Queen Elizabeth CSG with the guided-missile destroyer, USS The Sullivans (DDG 68).

VMFA-211 is based out of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma and assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. Their mission is to destroy surface targets and enemy aircraft, day or night under all weather conditions during expeditionary, joint, or combined operations.

VMFA-211 is also supported with U.S. Navy Sailors assigned to aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74).

For photos or video of flight deck operations in support of OIR, see https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/HMSQueenElizabeth.

For media inquiries on U.S. support to the Queen Elizabeth CSG, contact First Lieutenant Zachary Bodner at zach.bodner@qnlz.usmc.mil.