U.S. Marines with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 167, Marine Aircraft Group 29, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, fly AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom helicopters in a formation near Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, July 25, 2025. HMLA-167 conducted surge operations to exercise their ability to launch and recover multiple divisions of aircraft concurrently. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donavan Pimentel)
U.S. Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 461, Marine Aircraft Group 29, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), and 2nd Distribution Support Battalion (DSB), Combat Logistics Group 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, perform an external lift with a CH-53K King Stallion at U.S. Coast Guard Base Sector Key West, Florida, July 30, 2025. Marines with 2nd MAW and 2nd DSB are training alongside elements of the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to refine humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capabilities while also refining the CH-53K King Stallion's ability to support distributed aviation operations in a joint environment. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Rowdy Vanskike)
Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA(AW)) 224 redesignated to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 224 during a change of command and redesignation ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina, on Thursday.
The event marked the squadron’s historic transition from operating the F/A-18D Hornet to becoming an F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter squadron, concluding more than 32 years as a Hornet squadron and as a Marine all-weather fighter attack squadron.
In addition to the redesignation, the ceremony also served as a change of command, representing a transfer of responsibility, authority, and accountability from Lt. Col. Jarrod Allen, the former commanding officer, VMFA(AW)-224, to Lt. Col. John...
06.27.2025 | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
Story by Capt. Jacob Ballard
