The Marines are continuing to roll out the new F-35-B Lighting II stealth fighter, with another squadron at Yuma becoming operational late last month.
Support Times of San Diego's growth
with a small monthly contribution
Fighter Attack Squadron VMFA-122 — The Flying Leathernecks — conducted their first flight operations at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma on March 29.
“This was a critical moment for us because it got the ball rolling for us to have a fully operational squadron,” said Lt. Col. John P. Price, commanding officer of the squadron.
The Flying Leathernecks are the third squadron in the San Diego-headquartered 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing to get the F-35B, but one of those squadrons, VMFA-121, has relocated to MCAS Iwakuni in Japan.
The new fighters, which can take off and land vertically from the Navy’s fleet of amphibious assault ships, are replacing the F/A-18C Hornets seen regularly over San Diego.
At full operation, MCAS Yuma will host five F-35B squadrons, each with 16 aircraft, and one operational test and evaluation squadron with eight aircraft.
>> Subscribe to Times of San Diego’s free daily email newsletter! Click here
Follow Us:
