Videos

U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242 participate in bilateral and joint flight operations while supporting exercise Resolute Dragon (RD) 24 in Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, from July 28 to Aug. 2, 2024. RD24 is an annual bilateral exercise in Japan that strengthens the command, control, and multi-domain maneuver capabilities of U.S. Marines in III Marine Expeditionary Force and Japan Self-Defense Force personnel, with a focus on controlling and defending key maritime terrain. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Chloe Johnson)

U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Thomas Swanson, an F-35B Lightning II pilot with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 242, reads and answers questions sent from Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas, at Marine Corps Air Station, Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 19, 2023. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Marines of VMFA-242!

U.S. Air Force Airmen with 391st Fighter Squadron, 366th Fighter Wing, and U.S. Marines with Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, participated in Northern Edge (NE) 23-2 from Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan and Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, July 2-21, 2023. NE23-2 is a U.S. Indo-Pacific Command exercise designed to practice tactics, techniques, and procedures; to improve command, control and communication relationships; and to improve interoperability of participating forces. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Jose Angeles)

U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 242, F/A-18 Hornet aircraft with VMFA-115, and U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft from the 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, arrive for the Fiscal Year 2023 Korea Flying Training at Gwangju AB, ROK, April 14, 2023. KFT 23 is a combined training event focused on tactical execution of combat missions to maintain military readiness and is part of the ROK-U.S. alliance’s routine, annual training program. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Ryan Ulibarri)

U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 242 and VMFA-115, and Sailors with Carrier Air Wing 5 prepare to conduct a live-fire exercise at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 12, 2023. Marines with MAG-12 and U.S. Navy Sailors with Carrier Air Wing 5 conducted a joint, live missile shoot over the Pacific to sustain their high-level of weapon proficiency, while serving as forward-postured aviation units in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Chloe Johnson)

U.S. Marines with Marine Air Control Squadron 4, conducted Exercise Ryukyu Vice 23.1 alongside Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 312, VMFA-242, U.S. Navy Sailors with Electronic Attack Squadron 131, and Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, in December, 2022. Ryukyu Vice is a joint, fixed-wing aviation command and control exercise that provides critical training to 1st Marine Aircraft Wing tactical air control personnel through offensive, defensive and counter-air live-flight scenarios. (U.S. Marine Corps Video by Cpl. Ryan Ulibarri)

U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242 participated in an aerial demonstration of the F-35B Lighting II aircraft during Singapore Airshow 2022 at Changi Exhibition Center, Republic of Singapore, Feb. 15th to Feb. 18th, 2022. Singapore Airshow is the largest defense exhibition and biennial international tradeshow in the Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Evan Jones)

U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 242 conducted vertical landings and take offs aboard the Japanese Ship Izumo off the coast of Japan, Oct. 3, 2021. U.S. Marines and Sailors embarked aboard the Japanese Ship Izumo in support of the first ever F-35B Lightning II operations aboard a Japanese vessel. The U.S. and Japan continue to work closely together to broaden their operational capabilities, support the Treaty of mutual Cooperation and Security, and maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Bryant Rodriguez)

U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 participated in a large-scale joint and bilateral integration training exercise with U.S. Pacific Fleet Air Forces, U.S. 7th Fleet, and Japan Air Self-Defense Force aircraft, Aug. 18, 2020. VMFA-121 is the first forward deployed Marine F-35B squadron, capable of providing close air support and conducting strike missions in support of a #FreeandOpenIndoPacific “U.S. strategic bomber forces project strength and deter regional threats to our free and open Indo-Pacific. Integrating Marine tactical aircraft allows us to demonstrate the advantages created by our own unique capabilities and support these important assets,” said Lt. Gen. Steven Rudder, commander of U. S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific. “Our joint aviation team is unmatched in its ability to command and control the missions required in this complex and dynamic global environment. We are committed to our allies and partners across the region.” (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Jackson Ricker and Lance Cpl. Katie Markwald)

U.S. service members take part in the static displays and aerial demonstrations during Singapore Airshow 2020 at Changi Exhibition Center, Republic of Singapore, Feb. 15, 2020. U.S. military participated in the airshow, showing continued commitment to the Republic of Singapore. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Tyler Harmon)

Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, refuel and resupply an F-35B Lightning II jet with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, 1st MAW, during Distributed STOVL Operations (DSO) on Ie Shima island, Japan, Jan. 23, 2019. The rehearsal enabled CH-53E helicopters to re-fuel and re-arm F-35B Lightning II jets from a Forward Arming and Refueling Point (FARP), significantly improving the operational flexibility, survivability, and lethality of the F-35B. The FARP provided a hot refuel and hot reload for multiple aircraft with All Up Rounds (AUR), also known as a completely assembled weapon, giving pilots the ability to stay in the fight longer, and accomplish more missions in a shorter period of time from austere locations. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Dakota Heathwarr)

U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 and Marine Aircraft Group 12 show support for their alma-mater, the United States Naval Academy (USNA), at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 1, 2018. The midshipmen alumni cheer on their team for the annual Army-Navy football game between the USNA and the United States Military Academy. (U.S. Marine Corps motion imagery by Cpl. Richard Limone and Lance Cpl. Seth Rosenberg)