Stories

Maj. Robert Weingart, center, a pilot with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469 and a Franklin, Conn., native stands with Lt. Gen. John Toolan, left, the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force commanding general and Maj. Gen. Steven Busby, right, commanding general of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, at the Marine Corps Aviation Association dinner to honor 3rd MAW award nominees and winners aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., April 18. Weingart won the Alfred A. Cunningham Marine Aviator of the Year award. - Maj. Robert Weingart, center, a pilot with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469 and a Franklin, Conn., native stands with Lt. Gen. John Toolan, left, the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force commanding general and Maj. Gen. Steven Busby, right, commanding general of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, at the Marine Corps Aviation Association dinner to honor 3rd MAW award nominees and winners aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., April 18. Weingart won the Alfred A. Cunningham Marine Aviator of the Year award.

Staff Sgt. Michael Allen, a crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365, watches the propellers turn on an MV-22B Osprey to ensure the aircraft is ready for takeoff aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, May 14. Two Ospreys from the squadron transported Marines from 1st Reconnaissance Battalion as they conducted counternarcotics operations along with Afghan National Security Forces in northern Nimroz province. - Staff Sgt. Michael Allen, a crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365, watches the propellers turn on an MV-22B Osprey to ensure the aircraft is ready for takeoff aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, May 14. Two Ospreys from the squadron transported Marines from 1st Reconnaissance Battalion as they conducted counternarcotics operations along with Afghan National Security Forces in northern Nimroz province.

Marines greet the last Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369 flight section on the flight line aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, May 15. HMLA-469 assumed control of combat operations in a midnight transfer of authority ceremony, marking the end of HMLA-369 "Gunfighter" combat in Afghanistan. - Marines greet the last Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369 flight section on the flight line aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, May 15. HMLA-469 assumed control of combat operations in a midnight transfer of authority ceremony, marking the end of HMLA-369 "Gunfighter" combat in Afghanistan.

Staff Sgt. Philip Michel, a Crew Chief with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466, observes fuel bladders being carried underneath a CH-53E Super Stallion en route to northern Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 26. Two CH-53E Super Stallions from HMH-466 transported approximately 2,000 pounds of fuel to 1st Tank Battalion. - Staff Sgt. Philip Michel, a Crew Chief with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466, observes fuel bladders being carried underneath a CH-53E Super Stallion en route to northern Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 26. Two CH-53E Super Stallions from HMH-466 transported approximately 2,000 pounds of fuel to 1st Tank Battalion.

Cpl. Thomas Dragonetti, a mobile maintenance facility technician with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16 and Discovery Bay, Calif., native, observes the movement of a mobile maintenance facility aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, April 19, 2012. MALS-16 will send almost 150,000 pounds of maintenance equipment back to the United States as part of the Marine Corps' downsizing efforts in Afghanistan. - Cpl. Thomas Dragonetti, a mobile maintenance facility technician with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16 and Discovery Bay, Calif., native, observes the movement of a mobile maintenance facility aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, April 19, 2012. MALS-16 will send almost 150,000 pounds of maintenance equipment back to the United States as part of the Marine Corps' downsizing efforts in Afghanistan.

Maj. Gen. Andrew O'Donnell Jr., Commanding General of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, addresses Marines and Sailors with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369 before a rededication ceremony aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, April 17, 2012. The HMLA-369 "Gunfighters" mounted a memorial plaque and renamed their flight line "Camp Weis," in honor of fallen AH-1W Super Cobra pilot Maj. James "Weasel" Weis, who was killed in action while performing close-air-support for infantry Marines in 2010. - Maj. Gen. Andrew O'Donnell Jr., Commanding General of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, addresses Marines and Sailors with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369 before a rededication ceremony aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, April 17, 2012. The HMLA-369 "Gunfighters" mounted a memorial plaque and renamed their flight line "Camp Weis," in honor of fallen AH-1W Super Cobra pilot Maj. James "Weasel" Weis, who was killed in action while performing close-air-support for infantry Marines in 2010.

Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 373, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), search for a low metallic pressure plate during the final practical application exercise of the Counter IED Class aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan. MWSS-373 Marines receive the training before they can go on convoys with the unit. During the class, Marines learn about the different types of improvised explosive devices, how they are made and what signs to look for when searching for IEDs. - Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 373, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), search for a low metallic pressure plate during the final practical application exercise of the Counter IED Class aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan. MWSS-373 Marines receive the training before they can go on convoys with the unit. During the class, Marines learn about the different types of improvised explosive devices, how they are made and what signs to look for when searching for IEDs.

Lt. Col. Michael Moore, the commanding officer of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), cases the squadron battle colors during a transfer of authority ceremony at the Camp Bastion flightline Nov. 14. During the ceremony HMLA-369 relinquished authority to HMLA-169, 3rd MAW (Fwd). HMLA-369 flew more than 17,643 hours and more than 12,869 sorties with the AH-1W Cobras and UH-1Y Hueys combine during their seven month deployment. - Lt. Col. Michael Moore, the commanding officer of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), cases the squadron battle colors during a transfer of authority ceremony at the Camp Bastion flightline Nov. 14. During the ceremony HMLA-369 relinquished authority to HMLA-169, 3rd MAW (Fwd). HMLA-369 flew more than 17,643 hours and more than 12,869 sorties with the AH-1W Cobras and UH-1Y Hueys combine during their seven month deployment.

Marines of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), pull a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle during one of the events held during the Ugly Games. The Marines raced against the clock to see who could pull the HMMWV 75 meters the fastest. The Marines have worked 65 days without a day off since their arrival in September and the squadron hosted the event to give Marines a break from their day-to-day work routine. - Marines of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), pull a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle during one of the events held during the Ugly Games. The Marines raced against the clock to see who could pull the HMMWV 75 meters the fastest. The Marines have worked 65 days without a day off since their arrival in September and the squadron hosted the event to give Marines a break from their day-to-day work routine.

A CH-53D Sea Stallion from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), waits for its crew to arrive for a routine mission on which the aircraft will reach its 10,000th flight hour. This aircraft has been in service since March 31, 1971. It has been on multiple deployments to include tours in Iraq, Afghanistan and aboard the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. - A CH-53D Sea Stallion from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), waits for its crew to arrive for a routine mission on which the aircraft will reach its 10,000th flight hour. This aircraft has been in service since March 31, 1971. It has been on multiple deployments to include tours in Iraq, Afghanistan and aboard the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.