Marines set arrested landing record on Tinian

Photo By Cpl. Joseph Karwick | An FA-18D Hornet aircraft receives fuel and functions checks at West Field here Dec. 7 during Exercise Forager Fury 2012. A total of six Hornets made 13 arrested landings within one hour which is a new record on Tinian. The aircraft is with Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224, which is currently under the Unit Deployment Program with Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. J. Gage Karwick/released)  

TINIAN, NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS

12.07.2012

Story by Lance Cpl. Joseph Karwick 

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni

Six FA-18D Hornet aircraft made arrested landings on West Field here Dec. 7 during Exercise Forager Fury 2012.

The aircraft are with Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadrons 224 and 225, which are currently under the Unit Deployment Program with Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

“The FA-18s came in to do a field arrestment exercise to help train our expeditionary airfield Marines on the emplacement and operation of expeditionary equipment,” said Major Matthew Halbert, the officer in charge of Marine forces on Tinian and airfield operations company commander with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, MAG-12, 1st MAW, III MEF.

Thirteen arrestments were conducted in under an hour by MWSS-171 which broke their previous record of 10 set in June during Exercise Geiger Fury 2012.

“We coordinated with the aircraft on the radio, they came in, let the hook down, and took the arrestment,” said Halbert. “Then the Marines came and got the wire and, as they taxied clear of the runway, the Marines reset the cable and prepared to take the next aircraft coming in behind them.”

Tinian has proven itself to be an ideal expeditionary training location for the Marines and sailors thus far, but the true test comes next week when MAG-12 will conduct 24 hour surge operations.

“When we do 24 hour operations during this exercise, we will be able to shift back and forth between Guam and Tinian,” said Lt. Col. Thomas E. Frederick, the executive officer with MAG-12, 1st MAW, III MEF. “That way we can kind of give half the team a break and the fresher Marines can step in so that we are at a constant operational tempo.”

During the surge, Tinian will also see participation from MV-22B Ospreys with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, MAG-36, 1st MAW, III MEF.

• Date Taken: 12.07.2012
• Date Posted: 12.08.2012 05:52
• Story ID: 98976
• Location: TINIAN, MP