The last of the CH-46Es in Okinawa lands Sept. 30 on Camp Kinser for storage and disposition. The CH-46E Sea Knight, affectionately called “the Phrog,” has served with the Marine Corps and Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 since the Vietnam War. The VMM-262 “Flying Tigers” have used the CH-46 to participate in engagements such as Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq, Operation Unified Assistance in Southeast Asia, and, most recently, Operation Tomodachi in response to the Great East Japan Earthquake and subsequent tsunami. After serving faithfully for decades, the Phrog’s service has ended, paving the way for the MV-22B Osprey to take over. Aircraft “00” has a paint scheme unique to the “Flying Tigers” of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262. - The last of the CH-46Es in Okinawa lands Sept. 30 on Camp Kinser for storage and disposition. The CH-46E Sea Knight, affectionately called “the Phrog,” has served with the Marine Corps and Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 since the Vietnam War. The VMM-262 “Flying Tigers” have used the CH-46 to participate in engagements such as Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq, Operation Unified Assistance in Southeast Asia, and, most recently, Operation Tomodachi in response to the Great East Japan Earthquake and subsequent tsunami. After serving faithfully for decades, the Phrog’s service has ended, paving the way for the MV-22B Osprey to take over. Aircraft “00” has a paint scheme unique to the “Flying Tigers” of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262.

Marines secure a landing zone as an Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter takes flight Sept. 10 at Landing Zone Phoenix on Camp Schwab. Three helicopters with the Army’s 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade were used for Marine Wing Support Squadron 172’s forward-arming and refueling point training during Exercise Lejeune II. MWSS-172 is with Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Marines secure a landing zone as an Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter takes flight Sept. 10 at Landing Zone Phoenix on Camp Schwab. Three helicopters with the Army’s 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade were used for Marine Wing Support Squadron 172’s forward-arming and refueling point training during Exercise Lejeune II. MWSS-172 is with Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters fly in formation during a sundown flight over Okinawa Sept. 6 to commemorate the retiring aircraft. Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 is slated to hold their final flight of CH-46Es Sept. 30, as they fly down to Camp Kinser to be retired. - CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters fly in formation during a sundown flight over Okinawa Sept. 6 to commemorate the retiring aircraft. Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 is slated to hold their final flight of CH-46Es Sept. 30, as they fly down to Camp Kinser to be retired.

A Smokey SAM, also known as a GTR-18, travels through the air Aug. 27 on a training island off the coast of Ie Shima. - A Smokey SAM, also known as a GTR-18, travels through the air Aug. 27 on a training island off the coast of Ie Shima.

Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Frank Kendall, left, is greeted by Col. James G. Flynn during Kendall’s visit to Marine Corps Air Station Futenma July 31. Kendall visited MCAS Futenma and received aerial tours of other Marine Corps installations on Okinawa to gain a better understanding of the issues associated with consolidation and realignment efforts. Flynn is the commanding officer of MCAS Futenma, Marine Corps Installations Pacific. - Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Frank Kendall, left, is greeted by Col. James G. Flynn during Kendall’s visit to Marine Corps Air Station Futenma July 31. Kendall visited MCAS Futenma and received aerial tours of other Marine Corps installations on Okinawa to gain a better understanding of the issues associated with consolidation and realignment efforts. Flynn is the commanding officer of MCAS Futenma, Marine Corps Installations Pacific.

An MV-22B Osprey receives an aerial refuel Aug. 2 during a flight from Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to Townsville, Australia. The flight is currently the longest to be performed by the Osprey in the Pacific region. The Osprey is assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - An MV-22B Osprey receives an aerial refuel Aug. 2 during a flight from Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to Townsville, Australia. The flight is currently the longest to be performed by the Osprey in the Pacific region. The Osprey is assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

(From left to right) Master Chief Petty Officer David D. Jones, Petty Officer 1st Class Joseph S. De La Cruz, Brig. Gen. Steven R. Rudder and Petty Officer 1st Class Michael J. Pena pose Aug. 2 at Building 1 on Camp Foster following an awards ceremony. De La Cruz was presented the Independent Duty Corpsman of the Year award, and Pena received the Robert Graham Enlisted Award for his performance in support of the Naval Aerospace and Physiology Program. Rudder is the commanding general of the 1st Marine Air Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Jones is the command master chief with 1st MAW, III MEF. De La Cruz is an independent duty corpsman with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st MAW, III MEF, and Pena is an air medical safety corpsman with MAG-36, 1st MAW, III MEF. - (From left to right) Master Chief Petty Officer David D. Jones, Petty Officer 1st Class Joseph S. De La Cruz, Brig. Gen. Steven R. Rudder and Petty Officer 1st Class Michael J. Pena pose Aug. 2 at Building 1 on Camp Foster following an awards ceremony. De La Cruz was presented the Independent Duty Corpsman of the Year award, and Pena received the Robert Graham Enlisted Award for his performance in support of the Naval Aerospace and Physiology Program. Rudder is the commanding general of the 1st Marine Air Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Jones is the command master chief with 1st MAW, III MEF. De La Cruz is an independent duty corpsman with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st MAW, III MEF, and Pena is an air medical safety corpsman with MAG-36, 1st MAW, III MEF.

Marines watch as CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters fly over following insertion-and-extraction training July 30 at Landing Zone Falcon at the Central Training Area. The Marines were tasked with gathering enemy intelligence before calling for emergency evacuation from the area. - Marines watch as CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters fly over following insertion-and-extraction training July 30 at Landing Zone Falcon at the Central Training Area. The Marines were tasked with gathering enemy intelligence before calling for emergency evacuation from the area.

An MV-22B Osprey taxis behind a CH-46E Sea Knight Helicopter after its arrival at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma Aug. 3. Two Osprey aircraft, part of the second Osprey squadron to Japan, flew from MCAS Iwakuni. The arrival of the second Osprey squadron will complete the one-for-one replacement of the older CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters on Okinawa. The Osprey can fly twice as fast, carry three times the payload, and fly four times the distance of the older CH-46E. Its capabilities significantly benefit the U.S.-Japan alliance and strengthen III Marine Expeditionary Force’s ability to provide for the defense of Japan and perform humanitarian assistance and disaster response missions. The aircraft are part of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III MEF. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Matthew J. Manning/Released) - An MV-22B Osprey taxis behind a CH-46E Sea Knight Helicopter after its arrival at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma Aug. 3. Two Osprey aircraft, part of the second Osprey squadron to Japan, flew from MCAS Iwakuni. The arrival of the second Osprey squadron will complete the one-for-one replacement of the older CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters on Okinawa. The Osprey can fly twice as fast, carry three times the payload, and fly four times the distance of the older CH-46E. Its capabilities significantly benefit the U.S.-Japan alliance and strengthen III Marine Expeditionary Force’s ability to provide for the defense of Japan and perform humanitarian assistance and disaster response missions. The aircraft are part of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III MEF. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Matthew J. Manning/Released)

Lance Cpl. Victor Balbuena traverses the pit-and-pond obstacle of the endurance course July 15 at the Jungle Warfare Training Center on Camp Gonsalves. The pit-and-pond is one of 31 different obstacles the Marines must navigate through during the 3.8-mile endurance course. Balbuena is a water support technician with MWSS-172. Photo by Lance Cpl. Donald T. Peterson - Lance Cpl. Victor Balbuena traverses the pit-and-pond obstacle of the endurance course July 15 at the Jungle Warfare Training Center on Camp Gonsalves. The pit-and-pond is one of 31 different obstacles the Marines must navigate through during the 3.8-mile endurance course. Balbuena is a water support technician with MWSS-172. Photo by Lance Cpl. Donald T. Peterson