Bengals depart Fightertown

Photo By Staff Sgt. Benjamin McDonald | An F/A-18D Hornet aircraft taxis on the flight line aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, May 8. The Marines of Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224 deployed overseas in support of combat operations. The F/A-18D Hornet squadron will be providing air-to-ground support and close air support to combatant commands while deployed. The pilot is with VMFA(AW)-224, Marine Aircraft Group 31.  

BEAUFORT, SC, UNITED STATES

05.08.2017

Story by Lance Cpl. Benjamin McDonald 

Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort

Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224 departed from Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort to support combat operations overseas May 8.
The Marines of VMFA(AW)-224 have been training and preparing to ensure they are able to complete their mission or location. The F/A-18D Hornet aircraft departed apart from the main body of Marines mostly composed by support staff.
“We are going to be headed to the Middle East in support of combat operations,” said Maj. Jason Whittaker, a Weapons Systems Officer with VMFA(AW)-224. “For some of us, this isn’t our first deployment to this region so we know what has to get done. We can operate smoothly and efficiently to accomplish our mission while over there.”
Over the past months the pilots, maintainers, and rest of the squadron have been working to prepare not only the aircraft, but their minds for the fast-paced tempo of a deployment. Other Marine Aircraft Group 31 squadrons have been working with VMFA(AW)-224 to support their deployment and training.
“My squadron might not be deploying right now, but of course we are helping VMFA(AW)-224,” said Lance Cpl. Jordan Paladino, an aviation mechanic with VMFA(AW)-533. “They are our sister squadron and if they
couldn’t, we would be the ones out there. We are making sure that we have back up gear available to them. In the event that theirs should fail,
they will be able to use ours and complete the mission.”
While deployed, the Marines of VMFA(AW)-224 will face hardships such as severe heat and being away from their friends and family. Both the pilots and maintainers will be working longer shifts than the ones worked while aboard the air station as well.
“We are going to be operating in hostile territory, it doesn’t get any more real than this,” said Whittaker. “The shifts will be longer, the temperatures will be higher and the danger will be real. We have been preparing for months to go on this deployment and now all of the squadron’s hard will work will be paying off. Marines train to be operationally ready and that’s what we are. We are going to go over there, do our job, accomplish our mission, and bring the sound of freedom.”

• Date Taken: 05.08.2017
• Date Posted: 05.11.2017 14:20
• Story ID: 233508
• Location: BEAUFORT, SC, US