CHERRY POINT, N.C. - A portion of Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 Detachment B returned to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Dec. 5 after a nine-month deployment.
While deployed, the Marines supported operations with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response Force.
The pilots and crewmembers with Det. B traveled all over Europe and the Middle East assisting with the missions of the Black Sea Rotational Force, and the 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company.
“The tasking part was moving around all the time, constantly moving to new locations and setting up shop,” said Capt. Joshua Mallow, the assistant operations officer and pilot for the detachment.
KC-130J Super Hercules were used to conduct missions like aerial refueling, logistics and delivery missions, said Mallow.
“We executed all types of aerial refueling like fixed wing, rotary wing with tilt rotary and aerial delivery ground refueling,” said Mallow. “This is where we basically land in an airfield and set up a gas station for others to come through and fill up.”
The last two months of the deployment, the detachment remained static in Spain for embassy support of the task force.
“Our mission was to be on standby and be ready to insert a Marine force into an embassy for reinforcements in case an emergency happened,” said Mallow. “Thankfully we did not have to execute that mission, because if we did, it would have been a bad day for somebody.”
The Marines visited many different places and numerous cultures in their travels.
“The amount of professionalism and initiative they displayed throughout the entire deployment was unmatched,” said Mallow.