Stories

A UK F-35B Lightning II taxis aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort June 6. - A UK F-35B Lightning II taxis aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort June 6. Multiple F-35Bs with the Royal Air Force’s 617 Squadron “Dambusters” departed MCAS Beaufort headed for their new home at Royal Air Force Base Marham, England. The aircraft returning to the UK represents the transition from current to next generation air combat power for 617 Squadron. “617 Squadron has worked tirelessly for the past few weeks and months to prepare the aircraft to bring them to their final home of RAF Marham,” said Ground Capt. Cab Townsend, RAF Marham Station Commander.

An A400 Atlas takes off aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, Jan. 25. . - An A400 Atlas takes off aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, Jan. 25. The Atlas is transporting F-35 equipment back to England in preparation for the remainder of the 617 Squadron “Dambusters” to transition from MCAS Beaufort to Royal Air Force Base Marham later in 2018.

Two pilots taxi down the flightline in F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, Nov. 6. The Airborne Tactical Advantage Company is training with Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 for the next two weeks to support new and transition pilots in their certification for the F-35B. The pilots are with VMFAT-501, Marine Aircraft Group 31. - Two pilots taxi down the flightline in F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, Nov. 6. The Airborne Tactical Advantage Company is training with Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 for the next two weeks to support new and transition pilots in their certification for the F-35B. The pilots are with VMFAT-501, Marine Aircraft Group 31.

A pilot prepares to take off in an F-5N Tiger II aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, Aug. 22. A detachment from Marine Fighter Training Squadron 401 is providing red air for Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 from Aug. 20 to Sept. 1. VMFT-401 will simulate an enemy for the warlords to fight and maneuver against. The pilot is with VMFT-401. - A pilot prepares to take off in an F-5N Tiger II aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, Aug. 22. A detachment from Marine Fighter Training Squadron 401 is providing red air for Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 from Aug. 20 to Sept. 1. VMFT-401 will simulate an enemy for the warlords to fight and maneuver against. The pilot is with VMFT-401.

A MK-58 Hawker Hunter prepares to take off aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort June 27. The aircraft is visiting Fightertown to participate in training operations with tenant squadrons. The Hawker Hunter is with the Airborne Tactical Advantage Company. Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron utilized ATAC to train their pilots in anti-aircraft warfare. ATAC provided the adversary air presentation for VMFAT-501. The Hawker is with ATAC. - A MK-58 Hawker Hunter prepares to take off aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort June 27. The aircraft is visiting Fightertown to participate in training operations with tenant squadrons. The Hawker Hunter is with the Airborne Tactical Advantage Company. Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron utilized ATAC to train their pilots in anti-aircraft warfare. ATAC provided the adversary air presentation for VMFAT-501. The Hawker is with ATAC.

An F-35B Lightning II aircraft piloted by Maj. Jesse Peppers takes off from Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, April 11. Peppers and the other F-35B Lightning II pilot instructors are training with Joint Direct Attack Munitions. After the instructors are proficient with JDAM they will add the ordnance to the syllabus for the F-35B training pilot program. The aircraft is with Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, Marine AircraftGroup 31. - An F-35B Lightning II aircraft piloted by Maj. Jesse Peppers takes off from Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, April 11. Peppers and the other F-35B Lightning II pilot instructors are training with Joint Direct Attack Munitions. After the instructors are proficient with JDAM they will add the ordnance to the syllabus for the F-35B training pilot program. The aircraft is with Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, Marine Aircraft Group 31.

An F-5N Tiger II taxis after landing aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in Dec. 3 to support Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 in air-to-air training from Dec. 2-Dec. 11. Marine Fighter Training Squadron 401 brought five F-5N Tiger II aircraft to support red air for VMFAT-501, an F-35 training squadron. Red air is the adversary forces for air-to-air training simulating threat country tactics. The jet is with VMFT-401. - An F-5N Tiger II taxis after landing aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in Dec. 3 to support Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 in air-to-air training from Dec. 2-Dec. 11. Marine Fighter Training Squadron 401 brought five F-5N Tiger II aircraft to support red air for VMFAT-501, an F-35 training squadron. Red air is the adversary forces for air-to-air training simulating threat country tactics. The jet is with VMFT-401.

A pilot with Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 exits his aircraft after returning from the first operational test of the F-35B Lightning II, May 29. VMFAT-501 spent 11 days onboard the USS Wasp to demonstrate the capability of the F-35B to deploy onboard an amphibious ship. - A pilot with Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 exits his aircraft after returning from the first operational test of the F-35B Lightning II, May 29. VMFAT-501 spent 11 days onboard the USS Wasp to demonstrate the capability of the F-35B to deploy onboard an amphibious ship.

The structure of the new F-35B Lightning II hangar begins to appear aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. The construction started with laying the foundation of the structure last year. Now the frame of the finished product has begun to take shape on the flight line. - The structure of the new F-35B Lightning II hangar begins to appear aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. The construction started with laying the foundation of the structure last year. Now the frame of the finished product has begun to take shape on the flight line.

Air Force Lt. Gen. Christopher C. Bogdan, left, is greeted by Col. Peter D. Buck upon his arrival at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort Aug 19. Bogdan’s tour of the air station included stops at Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 and Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31. Bogdan is the Program Executive Officer for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office in Arlington, Va. Buck is the commanding officer of MCAS Beaufort. - Air Force Lt. Gen. Christopher C. Bogdan, left, is greeted by Col. Peter D. Buck upon his arrival at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort Aug 19. Bogdan’s tour of the air station included stops at Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 and Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31. Bogdan is the Program Executive Officer for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office in Arlington, Va. Buck is the commanding officer of MCAS Beaufort.