AF pilots land 1st F-35B on amphib

EASTERN PACIFIC - Hundreds of Marines and sailors embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). Among the contingent were two Air Force pilots: Captains Spencer G. Weide and Justin J. Newman, both assigned to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz. They made history as the first operational AF pilots to fly the F-35B Marine variant aboard an “amphib” as part of an integrated training exercise back on Sept. 27. “This is a unique opportunity for the Air Force to integrate with Marines and sailors overseas,” said Weide, with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122. The two-week exercise allowed the pilots to refine their skills and apply their training to an integrated naval environment. “Integrated training like this is important because we operate off of a ship, and we get to learn the naval and Marine warfare functions.” said Newman, with VMFA-122. “This will allow us to return the knowledge back to the Air Force for better future integration.” Amphibious assault ships provide flexibility to the joint force by supporting a spectrum of air operations from the fifth-generation jets to heavy lift helicopters. Integrating the MAW’s combat power with the capabilities and skills of the Navy and Air Force leads to an armed force team that is better trained, equipped and ready to respond to crises across the globe. (Source: Marine Corps Air Station Miramar 11/01/19) Gulf Coast Note: USS America is one of many “amphibs” built at Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Pascagoula, Miss., shipyard.