Marine Corps
Air Station (MCAS) Miramar, just north of San Diego, CA is home to the 3rd
Marine Aircraft Wing (3rd MAW). During early April 2013, I was
fortunate to be granted a tour of the flightline which enabled me to
capture images of the currently based squadrons.
I was met
promptly by my escort at the decal and pass office at the main gate and
during the short journey to the flightline, I clarified what could and
couldn't be photographed. The rules were straightforward; no shooting into
hangars and no close-ups of open avionics bays. During the tour, my
vantage point remained between the hangars and the flightline itself which
meant that for much of the time I was shooting into the sun (an experience
that many photographers at Miramar would have experienced no doubt).
Fixed and rotary wing squadrons from the 3rd MAW based at Miramar are part
of Marine Aircraft Group 11 (MAG-11) and Marine Aircraft Group 16 (MAG-16).
Aircraft from all squadrons were present during my visit including a
couple of T-34C Turbo Mentors from VMFAT-101 and a base UC-35D
Citation Encore. Also present were a couple of F/A-18D Hornets from
VMFA(AW)-533 “Hawks” and an F/A-18C Hornet from VMFA-122
"Werewolves" based at MCAS Beaufort, SC.
Marine
Aircraft Group 11 (MAG-11)
Fixed wing squadrons at Miramar are part of MAG-11 and
consist of the following:
- VMFA(AW)-225
"Vikings" flying the F/A-18D Hornet (tailcode CE) in the all
weather fighter attack role.
- VMFA-232 "Red
Devils" flying the F/A-18C Hornet (tailcode WT) in the fighter
attack role.
- VMFA-314
"Black Knights" flying the F/A-18A++ Hornet (tailcode VW) in
the fighter attack role.
- VMFA-323 "Death
Rattlers" flying the F/A-18C Hornet (tailcode NH) in the fighter
attack role.
- VMFAT-101
"Sharpshooters" flying the F/A-18A+/A++/C/D
Hornet (tailcode SH) in the fighter attack training role.
- VMGR-352
"Raiders" flying the KC-130J Hercules (tailcode QB) in the aerial
refuelling and transport role.
VMFA-323 is currently
assigned to Carrier Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11) and were soon to fly-out to
the USS Nimitz with the rest of the air wing for a sustainment training
exercise (SUSTEX) prior to a deployment to the Western Pacific.
Click on
images below to see larger images
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Marine
Aircraft Group 16 (MAG-16)
Rotary wing
squadrons at Miramar are part of MAG-16 and consist of the following:
-
VMM-161
"Greyhawks" flying the MV-22B Osprey (tailcode YR) in
the medium lift transport role.
-
VMM-163
"Ridge Runners" flying the MV-22B Osprey (tailcode
YP) in the medium lift transport role.
-
VMM-165
"White Knights" flying the MV-22B Osprey (tailcode YW) in
the medium lift transport role.
-
VMM-166
"Sea Elk" flying the MV-22B Osprey and CH-53E
Super Stallion (tailcode YX) in the medium lift transport role.
-
HMH-361
"Flying Tigers" flying
the CH-53E Super Stallion (tailcode YN) in the heavy lift transport
role.
-
VMM-363
"Lucky Red Lions" flying
the MV-22B Osprey (tailcode YZ) in the medium lift transport role.
-
HMH-462
"Heavy Haulers" flying the CH-53E Super Stallion (tailcode
YF) in the heavy lift transport role.
-
HMH-465
"Warhorse" flying the
CH-53E Super Stallion (tailcode YJ) in the heavy lift transport role.
-
HMH-466
"Wolfpack" flying the
CH-53E Super Stallion (tailcode YK) in the heavy lift transport role.
Click on
images below to see larger images
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Equipment
Used
Nikon D7000
with Nikkor AF-S 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 G IF-ED VR.
Nikon D90 with Nikkor AF-S 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G IF-ED VR.
Acknowledgements
A big thank
you to Cpl Ryan Carpenter, 1st Lt Chad Hill, 1st Lt Tyler Balzer at the
Public Affairs Office for making this article possible.
Jeremy Gould
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