TW-5 Marines honor fallen aviators

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Marines from Training Air Wing 5’s Helicopter Squadron 8 (HT-8) based out of Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Fla., honored fallen Marine aviators during a Memorial Placement Ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park in Pensacola, May 17. Hosted by the Veterans Memorial Park Foundation of nearby Pensacola, the ceremony marked the unveiling of 158 newly inscribed granite memorial bricks commemorating the lives of 311 service members, including 210 heroes who have lost their lives since 9/11. Fellow Whiting squadron members from HT-18 landed a TH-57 Ranger trainer helicopter at the park prior to the event as part of a static display for the ceremony, which also included AH-1W SuperCobra and UH-1Y Venom helicopters from the “Red Dogs” of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773 of New Orleans. Two KC-130J cargo aircraft from the “Rangers” of Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 of NAS/Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas, also conducted a flyby in support. “It’s a great honor” to participate in the aviation memorial ceremony,” HT-18’s Marine Maj. Kyleigh Cullen said. “The Marines, Sailors, and Coast Guardsmen of Training Air Wing 5 (TW-5) are proud to honor our brothers and sisters in arms and support the families of those we have lost.” (Source: Chief of Naval Air Training 05/21/19)