A CH-53D Sea Stallion from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), waits for its crew to arrive for a routine mission on which the aircraft will reach its 10,000th flight hour. More
This is the postage stamp from a letter my great-grandfather, Leo Morgenstern, wrote from Nazi-occupied France to his son in America asking for bribe money to facilitate his escape. The letter arrived in Januar More
The Union Flag of the United Kingdom waves in the Afghanistan breeze between the Afghanistan and United States flags June 1 after 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) raised it in a morning colors ceremony to sig More
Lt. Col. Douglas Glasgow, commanding officer of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), stands at attention as Sgt. Maj. James Cully, the squadron's sergeant major, begins unca More
Staff Sgt. Robert Leatherman, the current operations chief for 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), ensures tent poles are connected properly during a temporary site construction project, Aug. 21. Marines from 3 More
Marines from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 (Reinforced), 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepare to unload a CH-53E Super Stallion from an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III cargo plane Aug. 22. Marines from More
Marines from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 (Reinforced), 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, raise a rotor blade to the top of a CH-53E Super Stallion during its re-assembly process on the flight line here A More
Marines from 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), wait to board a CH-53E Super Stallion on the flight line, Sept. 2. Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wi More
Lance Cpl. Jeffrey Wyman, a flight equipment technician with Marine Heavy Helicopter 361, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), finishes strapping on a Micro-climate Cooling Unit System vest Sept. 4. The vest, m More
Lance Cpl. Timothy Daniels, a Base Defense Augmentation Force Marine with 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, searches the horizon for movement at the base perimeter here. Daniels and 32 other Marines volun More
Two Mi-17 "Hips" with the Afghan National Air Forces lead an Mk9(A) "Lynx" with the United Kingdom's Lynx Detachment of 659 Squadron, Army Air Corps, during a joint mission to deliver election materials and per More
Lance Cpl. Nathanael Shoemate, an unmanned aerial vehicle maintainer for Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), prepares a UAV RQ-7B "Shadow" More
An RQ-7B "Shadow," operated by Marine Unmanned Aerial Squadron 1, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), returns from the first successful laser-guided ordinance drop from a fixed-wing More
The combat-worn guideon of Marine Wing Support Squadron 274 flies over Afghan soil for the last time as the squadron carried out its Transfer of Authority ceremony with MWSS-373 here Sept. 26. "Aces" assume avi More
Sgt. Bart C. Davis, a crew chief with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369, the "Gunfighters," 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), gives a final check after U.K. Maj. Terry Middlemas, liaison officer wit More
Sgt. Bart C. Davis, a crew chief with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369, the “Gunfighters”, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), gives a final check after U.K. Maj. Terry Middlemas, liaison officer wit More
A U.S. AH-1W Cobra from Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369 provides security for a U.K. Mk4 Sea King with the Royal Navy, during a joint mission Sept. 29. The aircraft serve together under 3rd Marine More
Marines from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), stand at parade rest as they wait for a change of command ceremony to begin on the flight line here Sept. 30. Lt. Col. Rich More
Staff Sgt. James Nine, the paraloft chief for 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), and Cpl. Joel Denning, a loadmaster with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352, 3rd Marine Airc More
Marines of Bravo Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), prepare their parachutes and gear for an aerial insertion training mission here, Oct. 5. The Marines jumped out of a KC-130 More
An F/A-18C Hornet from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), receives fuel from a KC-130J Hercules from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352, 3rd MAW (Fwd), here Oct. More
Royal Navy Capt. Paul Shawcross, the new commander of U.K. Joint Aviation Group, shakes hands with Royal Air Force Capt. Nick Laird, the former commander of JAG, here, Oct. 7. On June 1, the JAG integrated with More
Cpl. Kevin Reuter, a plane captain with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), performs a visual check around an F/A-18C Hornet before the engines are started here Oct. 13. The More
Staff Sgt. Steven Engs, the staff non-commissioned officer in charge of the powerline shop, and Sgt. Ryan Shouse, a powerline mechanic, both with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fo More
Marines of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), prepare an F/A-18D Hornet for flight at Kandahar Air Field. On Nov. 4, seven F/A-18s such as this one were used in a preplanne More
Staff Sgt. Christopher Pischl, a crew chief with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), watches out the window of a CH-53D Sea Stallion as it lands here Oct. 17. In support of More
The sun rises over a CH-53E Super Stallion from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), as it sits on the flightline here. The Super Stallions are used to transport troops and More
A Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle with Marine Wing Support Squadron 373 rests inside a motor pool lot here Oct. 19 after spending the day convoying from Camp Leatherneck. The vehicle was cleaned and re More
Rear crewman U.K. Sgt. Mikey Done, 659th Squadron, Joint Aviation Group, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), scans the countryside from a Mk9(A) Lynx while providing overwatch for another Lynx inserting coaliti More
Cpl. Alex Higham, a Hazardous Material Marine, prepares to move and inventory materials the HAZMAT Center recently received. The HAZMAT Center at Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing More
Sgt. Thomas C. Foster, an air traffic controller with Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), communicates with the Air Traffic Control tower here and informs them of what he sees on th More
Elders board Royal Air Force EH101 Merlins from 1419 Flight Squadron, Joint Aviation Group, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), for transport to a shura in Nad Ali here, Oct. 25. The Merlins transported the el More
Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 373, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), hammer down matting while constructing a forward arming and refueling point under the cover of darkness in support of Operation More
Cpls. Zachary Sedam, an operations clerk with 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), and Michael Grabowsky, a Marine Corps Integrated Maintenance Management System specialist with Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron More
Cpl. Ryan Smith, a UH-1Y Huey crew chief with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), puts a de-linker back together on an M134 Minigun. The Huey is being prepped as the More
Marines of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), touch the front tire of a CH-53D Sea Stallion during the final event of the Ugly Games. During this event, Marines put on the More
Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 373, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), work alongside local nationals to create a runway, capable of hosting the KC130-J Hercules at Forward Operating Base Delaram II More
Sgt. Noe Santana, a motor transport dispatcher with Marine Wing Support Squadron 373, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), guides and supervises the unloading of 55-gallon drums of Envirotac II at Forward Operat More
Marines from 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), carry a traditional Marine Corps birthday cake during the 3rd MAW (Fwd) cake cutting ceremony held at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Nov. 10. In attendance at th More
The first and only KC-130J "Harvest Hawk" in Afghanistan sits on the flightline at Forward Operating Base Dwyer for routine maintenance. The Harvest Hawk, which is a 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) asset, ha More
The first and only KC-130J "Harvest Hawk" in Afghanistan sits on the flightline at Forward Operating Base Dwyer with its four Hellfire missiles ready for takeoff. The Harvest Hawk, which is a 3rd Marine Aircraf More
Lt. Col. Michael Moore, the commanding officer of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), cases the squadron battle colors during a transfer of authority ceremony at the More
Dancers and entertainers from Combined Service Entertainment visited U.S. Marines and sailors as well as U.K. service members at the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) compound here Nov. 17. Tickets to the CSE More
Sgt. Calvin Seeley, chief instructor for 1st Combat Engineer Battalion Counter Improvised Explosive Device Class, teaches Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 373, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), about More
Lt. Col. Daniel Shipley, the commanding officer of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), and Sgt. Maj. Rodolfo Sarino, the squadron sergeant major, case the VMFA-232 squadron c More
ScanEagle operators prepare to launch an X-200 ScanEagle Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, which will provide overwatch and real-time intelligence to troops on the ground here Nov. 20. The lightweight UAV, with Marine U More
A CH-53E Super Stallions with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 (-) (Reinforced) line the flightline here ready to support International Security Assistance Forces operations within the region. Being the onl More
CH-53E Super Stallions with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 (Reduced) (Reinforced) line the flightline at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, ready to support International Security Assistance Force operations with More
A MK 19 Mod 3 40mm grenade machine gun, such as the one pictured, is used by Base Defense Augmentation Force Marines who stand guard at the perimeter of Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. Each unit aboard Camp Lea More
An AH-1W Super Cobra with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) rests staged next to a UH-60A Black Hawk at Forward Operating Base Dwyer, Afghanistan. The Cobra is one More
A CH-53E Super Stallion with the Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 (Reduced) (Reinforced) "Flying Tigers" returns to Forward Operating Base Jalalabad, Afghanistan, to deliver a disabled H-47 Chinook for repa More
Cpl. Jeffery Nau, an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Marine with Marine Wing Support Squadron 373, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), lights a piece of material during a fire simulation training exercise aboa More
Sgt. Vincenzo Polistena, an expeditionary airfield specialist, and Cpl. Ubarnel Diaz, a combat engineer, both with Marine Wing Support Squadron 373, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), use a gas-powered hammer More
Cpl. Ernesto Bottoms, a heavy equipment operator with Marine Wing Support Squadron 373, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), uses a skid-loader to level the ground at Patrol Base Taalanda Dec. 22. Five Marines f More
Sgt. Marcus Galvan, a crew chief with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), pushes a cargo box to the front of a CH-53D during a general support mission. HMH-362 transports c More
Lt. Col. Craig LeFlore, the commanding officer of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), and Sgt. Maj. Leo Varos, the squadron sergeant major, case the squadron colors during More
An AH-1W Cobra with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), and an EH101 Merlin with 1419 Flight Squadron, Joint Aviation Group, 3rd MAW (Fwd), refuel before joint Opera More
Marines from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 arrive aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, as an augment from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit Jan. 15. Marine elements from the 26th MEU will reinforce securit More
Marines from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 arrive aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, as an augment from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Jan. 15. Marine elements from the 26th MEU will reinforce securi More
Navy Lt. Sarah Ballard readies a prescription for one of her Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 352, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), at the Flightline Aid Station aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan More
A Marine from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352, Detachment A, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), prepares the cargo loading system before a section aerial delivery drop to Marines of 2nd Battalion More
Lance Cpl. Matthew Truesdell, a load master with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352, Detachment A, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), prepares to manually release bundles of supplies during a sectio More
Marines of Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 3, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), watch the Never Leave a Marine Behind video as part of suicide awareness training aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Jan. 2 More
U.K. Lt. Col. Simon Delabilliere, the first U.K. senior watch officer for the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) Tactical Air Command Center, Cpl. Tabitha Allen and Cpl. Erik Granlend, both part of the 3rd MAW More
Combat aircrew wings, pictured here, were presented to six Marines from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), Jan. 20. Brig. Gen. Joseph Osterman, the 1st Marine Division (Fo More
Cmdr. Herbert Griffin, the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) chaplain, talks to Marines and sailors of Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 3 and Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16, both part of 3rd MAW (Fwd), More
Crash, Fire and Rescue Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 373, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), practice rescue procedures on an up-armored vehicle aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Jan. 25. The More
Lance Cpl. Roy Castro, an aircraft mechanic with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), receives his Certificate of Naturalization from Mr. Robert V. Looney, a citizens More
The Afghan, U.K. and U.S. colors fly side-by-side, representing the joint effort of the Camp Bastion flightline project, during the Camp Bastion flightline ribbon-cutting ceremony in Afghanistan Feb. 10. The ex More
Coalition forces conducted a large-scale counter insurgent operation in Regional Command (Southwest) Feb. 27, which involved U.K. and U.S. forces carrying out an aerial assault, with support from the Afghan Nat More
Staff Sgt. Hugo Paniagua, an Aerial Observer with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362 and Brooklyn, N.Y., native, helps Marines from Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, get seated as they boar More
Sgt. David Garcia, a Crew Chief with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369 and Glendale, Ariz., native, flies an American flag over Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 9, 2012. The helicopter is en route More
U.S. Marines with the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, and Afghan soldiers observe an MV-22B Osprey helicopter, assigned to the Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 365, 3rd Marin More
A CH-53D Sea Stallion with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362 taxis down the runway during the early morning hours at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, June 4. Two helicopters from the squadron transported Marines f More
CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), transport M777 Howitzers from Forward Operating Base Zeebrugge, Aug. 6. The howitzers, belonging More
U.S. Navy Lt. Brigid Maruszak, front, flight surgeon and U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Robert A. Simkins, CH-53E Super Stallion aerial gunner with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, More
U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Gregg Sturdevant, commanding general of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) Forward, is welcomed home by members of the "Freedom Riders" on Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Feb. 18, 2012 More
Marines with 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) present the national and unit battle colors during the transfer of authority ceremony held aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Feb. 4, 2014. The unit replaced 2 More
The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) band performs during a morning colors ceremony on Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, San Diego, Calif., Dec. 9, 2014. The ceremony was held to retire the colors of Marine Aircr More
The British flag flies alongside the Afghanistan flag aboard the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) compound at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Jan. 19. The flag belongs to U.K. Lt. Col. Simon Delabilliere, the More
United Kingdom Cpl. Mark Bone, an arming landing point commander with 664 Squadron, Army Air Corps, gets a quick seat belt lesson from U.S. Marine Sgt. John Leist, a crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squa More
Two CH-53E Super Stallions with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), launch on an early morning mission, Aug. 6. The "Pinups" recently arrived, replacing HMH-466 in a transf More
Cpl. Adam Lisa, the camp commandant non-commissioned officer in charge of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) compound, adjusts a tent pole as a group of Marines establish an expeditionary maintenance facili More
Marines from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), watch as a CH-53E Super Stallion belonging to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 (Reinforced), 26th Marine Expeditionary More
Sgt. Nathan Schied, a CH-53E mechanic with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 (Reinforced), 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, moves a rotor blade into place during the Super Stallion's re-assembly process. The More
Lance Cpl. Joshua Perkins, a CH-53E Super Stallion crew chief with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), watches out the window for any threats to the aircraft during a trans More
Sgt. Maj. Timothy Tacett and Lt. Col. Thomas Pecina, the Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362 sergeant major and commanding officer, prepare to unveil the squadron's colors at a transfer of authority ceremony h More
Sgt. Oliver Ventura, a Base Defense Augmentation Force Marine with 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, waves vehicles to the inspection site at one of the main entry points here. Ventura, an armory technici More
An Mi-17 "Hips" with the Afghan National Air Forces leads a Mk9(A) "Lynx" with the United Kingdom's Lynx Detachment of 659 Squadron, Army Air Corps, during a joint mission to deliver election materials and pers More
(Left to right) Lance Cpls. Nathanael Shoemate and Quinn Schweher, and Cpl. Matthew Worrell, Marines with Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forwar More
An RQ-7B "Shadow" rests on a launcher as Marines of Marine Unmanned Aerial Squadron 1, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), continue to discover new ways to utilize their aircraft. More
Sgt. Maj. Michael Mack, the Marine Wing Support Squadron 373 sergeant major, and Lt. Col. Thomas Fahy, the MWSS-373 commanding officer, uncase the unit's battle colors during the Transfer of Authority ceremony More
A UH-1Y crew chief with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) mans the GAU-17/A 7.62mm machine gun while gathering key coalition personnel to be inserted into the Ismaa More
Staff Sgt. Christopher Whittemore, a crew chief for Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369 "Gunfighters," 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), provided overwatch for coalition forces engaged in collecting c More
A U.K. Mk4 Sea King with the Royal Navy prepares to land here during a joint operation with a U.S. UH-1Y Huey and a U.S. AH-1W Cobra from Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369 Sept. 29. The aircraft serv More
Cpl. Joel Denning, a loadmaster with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), gives a 30-second warning to parachute jumpers during an aerial insertion training mission More
Cpl. Joel Denning, a loadmaster with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), gives a 30-second warning to parachute jumpers during aerial insertion training mission at More
Marines of Bravo Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), wait in line to have their parachutes and gear inspected by a jump master before an aerial insertion training mission, Oct. More