Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif. -- For decades, the CH-46E Sea Knight has served our country with honor, reliability and time tested dependability.
The Sea Knight, also known as the “Phrog,” is scheduled to perform in the upcoming 2014 Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Air Show, but this will be a bittersweet event. This will be the Phrog’s last appearance at the Miramar air show before the aircraft is retired from service.
The CH-46 has been used in military missions for more than 50 years and now is passing the torch to the MV-22B Osprey.
“The Marine Corps is about to be out of the Phrog business and that seems sad; however, it is also an exciting time as we complete the transition to the more capable MV-22 and prepare to write the next chapter in the great legacy of Marine aviation,” said Lt. Col. John Field, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM) 364 commanding officer.
The air show will likely be an emotional event as the Marines with HMM-364 and the local community say farewell to this great helicopter, added Field.
“I know it is time for the Phrog to retire, but I'm not happy to see it go,” said Capt. Brett Bishop, a Phrog pilot with HMM-364. “It will be an emotional time for a large number of people to see the mighty battle Phrog fly through the skies of Southern California for the last time in this capacity.”
The Phrog is scheduled to perform in the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) demonstration along with various other Marine Corps aircraft during the air show. This will be one of the many demonstrations during the air show.
“It is a good way for the squadron to retire the aircraft by flying one more pass for the American public to see,” added Bishop.
The air show will be the last venues to see the historic aircraft perform in a military capacity for the public.
“I want people to remember that wherever the battle Phrog was needed, she was there and performed in a manner that the American people would expect from an aircraft with ‘MARINES’ written on the side,” added Bishop.
The MAGTF demonstration is scheduled to commence Oct. 3-5 at 12:30 p.m., for a complete schedule go to miramarairshow.com.