Stories

A Marine with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, watches a CH-53E “Super Stallion,” land while Marines and sailors from the battalion board the helicopter. The Super Stallion belongs to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force. - A Marine with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, watches a CH-53E “Super Stallion,” land while Marines and sailors from the battalion board the helicopter. The Super Stallion belongs to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force.

Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 received its first MV-22 Osprey here Dec. 12. VMM-161, formerly HMM-161,::r::::n::is the first West Coast-based squadron to convert to the tilt-rotor platform. - Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 received its first MV-22 Osprey here Dec. 12. VMM-161, formerly HMM-161,::r::::n::is the first West Coast-based squadron to convert to the tilt-rotor platform.

An F/A-18 "Hornet" belonging to Marine Attack Training Squadron 101, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, sits on the flight deck of the USS John C. Stennis after being used to conduct carrier qualification training by the fleet replacement pilots, Dec. 10. The pilots trained day and night to complete course requirements. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Christopher O'Quin)(Released) - An F/A-18 "Hornet" belonging to Marine Attack Training Squadron 101, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, sits on the flight deck of the USS John C. Stennis after being used to conduct carrier qualification training by the fleet replacement pilots, Dec. 10. The pilots trained day and night to complete course requirements. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Christopher O'Quin)(Released)

Reconnaissance Marines who jumped from an altitude of 10,000 feet wore altimeters to determine the altitude they could release their parachutes during training aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Dec. 2. The Marines from1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, free fell thousands of feet before releasing their parachutes. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Christopher O'Quin)(Released) - Reconnaissance Marines who jumped from an altitude of 10,000 feet wore altimeters to determine the altitude they could release their parachutes during training aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Dec. 2. The Marines from1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, free fell thousands of feet before releasing their parachutes. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Christopher O'Quin)(Released)

Family members of 1st Lt. Thomas J. Claiborne, an AH-1W "Super Cobra" pilot from Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469, prepare to place a wreath at the site where he and Maj. Samuel C. Leigh died. Family members and friends of Claiborne and Leigh attended a wreath laying ceremony aboard the United States Coast Guard Cutter "Sea Otter" (WPB-87362) near San Clemente Island Nov. 20. - Family members of 1st Lt. Thomas J. Claiborne, an AH-1W "Super Cobra" pilot from Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469, prepare to place a wreath at the site where he and Maj. Samuel C. Leigh died. Family members and friends of Claiborne and Leigh attended a wreath laying ceremony aboard the United States Coast Guard Cutter "Sea Otter" (WPB-87362) near San Clemente Island Nov. 20.

Jim Lowery, a former Marine who served with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165 during the Vietnam War, gets behind a 50 caliber machine gun to see the differences from when he was a gunner. Lt. Colonel Todd J. Oneto, the squadron commanding officer, gave Lowery a tour of the squadron and an introduction to the Marines here Nov. 18. - Jim Lowery, a former Marine who served with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165 during the Vietnam War, gets behind a 50 caliber machine gun to see the differences from when he was a gunner. Lt. Colonel Todd J. Oneto, the squadron commanding officer, gave Lowery a tour of the squadron and an introduction to the Marines here Nov. 18.

Cpl. Matthew J. Armour, a embarkation clerk with Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, takes down a flight helmet on display for a memorial service at the Marine Memorial Chapel, here Nov. 16. The memorial service honored four Marines from MAG-39 who died in a helicopter collision Oct. 26 in Afghanistan. - Cpl. Matthew J. Armour, a embarkation clerk with Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, takes down a flight helmet on display for a memorial service at the Marine Memorial Chapel, here Nov. 16. The memorial service honored four Marines from MAG-39 who died in a helicopter collision Oct. 26 in Afghanistan.

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Sgt. Ike B. Gastelum, a crew chief with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, surveys the landing zone as a CH-46E “Sea Knight” with the squadron assists Marines with the helicopter rope suspension techniques course, here Oct. 28. The course teaches Marines to properly inspect and assist with fast roping, rappelling and SPIE rigging.::r::::n::(Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Christopher O’Quin)(Released)::r::::n:: - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Sgt. Ike B. Gastelum, a crew chief with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, surveys the landing zone as a CH-46E “Sea Knight” with the squadron assists Marines with the helicopter rope suspension techniques course, here Oct. 28. The course teaches Marines to properly inspect and assist with fast roping, rappelling and SPIE rigging.::r::::n::(Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Christopher O’Quin)(Released)::r::::n::

Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, provided a CH-46E “Sea Knight” and pilots to answer questions about the aircraft aboard the USS Makin Island (LHD-8) during its commissioning ceremony, here Oct. 24.::r::::n::Pilots from Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 joined HMM-165 in providing static displays with an UH-1N “Huey” and an AH-1W “Super Cobra” on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship. - Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, provided a CH-46E “Sea Knight” and pilots to answer questions about the aircraft aboard the USS Makin Island (LHD-8) during its commissioning ceremony, here Oct. 24.::r::::n::Pilots from Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 joined HMM-165 in providing static displays with an UH-1N “Huey” and an AH-1W “Super Cobra” on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship.

Marines with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, prepare aircraft for flight during excercise Steel Knight Oct. 25. During the two-week exercise the squadron provided aerial support for various units on the ground and performed numerous flight sorties. - Marines with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, prepare aircraft for flight during excercise Steel Knight Oct. 25. During the two-week exercise the squadron provided aerial support for various units on the ground and performed numerous flight sorties.