Harvest Hawk lands after first deployment

Photo By Cpl. Deanne Hurla | Capt. Joel Dunivant, a Harvest Hawk aircraft commander and Boise, Idaho, native with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352, holds his son, Jackson, for the first time at a welcome home ceremony held here July 22. Dunivant deployed with 11 other Marines on the Harvest Hawk to Afghanistan for nine months. During the deployment the aircraft flew more than 1,500 hours and more than 200 sorties, dropping more than 50 guided missiles in support of coalition forces in Helmand and Nimroz provinces.  

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, CA, UNITED STATES

07.22.2011

Story by Sgt. Deanne Hurla 

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar

MIRAMAR, Calif. - Twelve Marines from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352 landed the KC-130J Harvest Hawk on the flightline here July 22 after completing a nine-month deployment to Afghanistan.

The Harvest Hawk arrived in Afghanistan in October 2010 and by November had already completed its first weapons engagement.

The Harvest Hawk continued its support to ground troops by providing close air support, conducting intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance missions and finding improvised explosive devices. By the end of their tour in Helmand and Nimroz provinces, the Marines completed more than 1,500 flight hours, more than 200 sorties, found eight IEDs and fired 42 Hellfire and 11 Griffin GPS guided missiles.

“They did a great job,” said Lt. Col. Erik Loquist, the commanding officer of VMGR-352. “I couldn’t be happier with their performance for the squadron and Marine Corps aviation.”

It was a good tour, even though there were growing pains for everyone, but every task completed was in support of ground forces, explained Maj. Marc Blankenbicker, a fire control officer for the KC-130J Harvest Hawk and an Avon, Conn., native.

Though Blankenbicker was happy to support coalition forces, he is even happier to be home. From the 12 Marines returning, he and one other pilot, Capt. Joel Dunivant, a Harvest Hawk aircraft commander and a Boise, Idaho, native, met their sons for the first time.

“It’s thrilling to be home and awesome to hold my son,” said Blankenbicker, smiling at his crying son.

• Date Taken: 07.22.2011
• Date Posted: 07.22.2011 19:36
• Story ID: 74172
• Location: MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, CA, US