First Ship-Based Deployment With Tilt-Rotor Aircraft
The multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD
5) launched 10 MV-22B Ospreys from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary
Unit to fly into Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, November 6th, in
support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The aircraft, part of Marine
Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced), will be transferred to
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261 and serve as part of 2nd
Marine Expeditionary Brigade's Aviation Combat Element.
The 22nd MEU was the first Marine Expeditionary Unit to conduct
a ship-based deployment with the tiltrotor aircraft. VMM-263 (Rein)
attached to the MEU in September, 2008, and was also the first
squadron to deploy with the aircraft to Iraq in 2007.
"It is a great honor for us to support 2nd MEB, and we are proud
to be the first unit to bring this aircraft into Afghanistan," said
Col. Gareth F. Brandl, 22nd MEU commanding officer. "We have spent
more than a year working with the MV-22B and know that the added
capabilities this aircraft brings will benefit the Marines
currently engaged against the enemy."
"This historic mission has been one of the highlights of our
deployment," said Capt. Sam Howard, Bataan's commanding officer.
"We did all we could to make sure they had all the material and
logistic support necessary to have a safe and successful
fly-off."
The Ospreys launched in three waves making the 510 nautical mile
flight in just over two hours. During the aircraft's first
amphibious deployment, it flew in support of theater security
cooperation events in three countries, including U.S. Central
Command's largest exercise, Bright Star 2009 in Egypt.
U.S. Navy Photo
The Osprey was also used to conduct multiple medical evacuations
from ship to shore and was employed to conduct logistics flights to
Rota, Spain; Naval Air Station, Sigonella (Sicily); Djibouti,
Africa and Bahrain. For more than a month, the squadron supported
desert training when the MEU trained ashore in Camp Buehring,
Kuwait. "The men and women of the squadron performed admirably in
support of this mission," said Lt. Col. Paul P. Ryan, commanding
officer of VMM-263. "I am convinced that this weapon system will
serve the operating forces well for decades to come."
Ryan added that the MEU has learned a great deal about operating
with the Osprey and has captured lessons learned throughout the
deployment to support future tiltrotor squadrons as they begin to
deploy with other MEUs.