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KURMITOLA AIR BASE, Bangladesh – Morning mist rose above a jungle-bound airfield in Bangladesh, Oct. 25, as aircraft from Marine Fighter-Attack Squadron 314 and the Bangladesh Air Force revved to life to start a day of flight operations during Exercise Sumo Tiger 2007.
The "Black Knights" of VMFA-314 and several other detachments from Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, participated in the bilateral exercise between the U.S. Marines Corps and BAF, Oct. 24-31.
"The purpose of this exercise is to practice and learn from each other," said Wing Cmdr. Rafik, the senior BAF officer in charge of the exercise, as he addressed U.S. and Bangladeshi officers on the opening day of the exercise. "We look forward to some good, safe flying."
Sumo Tiger is part of an ongoing effort by the U.S. military to strengthen the security of Asia and the Pacific region by enhancing U.S. forces' ability to work alongside militaries throughout the region and by promoting professional relationships between exercise participants.
During the exercise, the Black Knights went head-to-head in training against Chinese- manufactured F-7 Fantan jet fighters and Russian-built MiG-29 Fulcrums.
"The Bangladesh Air Force personnel are very professional," said Lt. Col. Flay R. Goodwin, the Black Knights commanding officer. "They have taken care of us since we got here, and it has been good to fly with them."
The exercise focused heavily on the exchange between American and Bangladeshi pilots, but aviation support personnel from both countries also shared expertise. From air traffic control to aircraft maintenance to crash fire rescue, Marines and BAF personnel teamed up to share knowledge and learn from one another.
"It's a good experience," said Gunnery Sgt. Randal Southern, an air traffic controller with Marine Air Control Squadron 4. "You get to see different aspects of controlling and the different way they do things."
Military personnel from both countries took a day off from flying, Oct. 26, to allow the Kurmitola Air Base community to see the U.S. and Bangladeshi aircraft. Hundreds of family members and friends got an up-close look at an American F/A-18C Hornet and a Bangladeshi F-7 and MiG-29.
"I'm exhausted, but I've never smiled so much," said Maj. Scott Fortner, a pilot with the Black Knights after an afternoon of showing off his aircraft to throngs of curious Bangladeshi visitors.
| Date Taken: | 11.02.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 11.04.2007 19:51 |
| Story ID: | 13603 |
| Location: | KURMITOLA AIR BASE, BD |
| Web Views: | 68 |
| Downloads: | 20 |
This work, MAG-12 Marines kick off Sumo Tiger in Bangladesh, by CPT Adrian Rankine-Galloway, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
