abiteofthecoastatdecoys

[usafphantom2]

Load ‘er up! 🙌

U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 prepare to load an AIM-120 air missile into an F-35B Lighting II at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan.

@theF35JPO via X

[todaysdocument]

US Marine Corps GUNNERY Sergeant Frank Pater, hugs his son Matthew after returning to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina

Record Group 233: Records of the U.S. House of RepresentativesSeries: Records of Early House Select CommitteesFile Unit: Petitions and Memorials, Resolutions of State Legislatures, and Related Documents Which Were Referred to Various Select Committees during the 8th Congress

US Marine Corps (USMC) GUNNERY Sergeant (GYSGT) Frank Pater, Maintenance Marine with Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224 (VMFA(AW)-224), hugs his son Matthew after returning to Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort, South Carolina (SC), upon returning from a six month routine deployment to Iwakuni, Japan.

Color photograph of man in military fatigues holding an infant in matching fatigues with a hat.  

[captain-price-unofficially]

A ShinMaywa US-2 assigned to the Japanese Navy’s Air Patrol Squadron 71 idles in the sea while the crew completes rescue swimmer drills off the coast of Marines Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

[the-nomadicone]

Raptor // United States Air Force

[planesawesome]

Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet aircraft with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 fly during an aerial refueling exercise in Japan, Nov. 16, 2021. During the exercise, VMFA-112 received fuel from a KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, extending Hornet’s maximum range capabilities. Marines with VMFA-112, based out of Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas are on a rotational unit deployment program from Marine Forces Reserve at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni to maintain regional stability and a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Booker T. Thomas III)

[keenlen]

No kidding, I see 2 C2s. 😅😬😆 Caught these two C-2A(R) Greyhounds from VRC-30 Detachment 5 flying in on a hazy evening. The Greyhounds are on their last legs of service life. They have been fulfilling Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) missions since the late 1980s and are expected to be retired from service by 2024. They are in the midst of being replaced by the tiltrotor CMV-22B Osprey multi mission aircraft. VRC-30 Detachment 5 is the only permanently forward deployed COD detachment with its home station in Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. #AviationGeek #MilitaryEnthusiast #MilitaryAviation #aviation4u #excellentaviation #PlaneSpotter #ShipSpotter #USNavy #USN #USPacificFleet #7thFleet #Grumman #C2AGreyhound #VRC30 #VRC30Det5 #WeDeliver #Providers #CVW5 #CSG5 #CVN76 #USSRonaldReagan #TheGipper #PeaceThroughStrength #Singapore #USA #Nikon #NikonD500 #Nikonsg #PlanesPatchesPeople (at Singapore / Singapura / 新加坡 / சிங்கப்பூர்) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cf_r7bzvjBC/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[j-r-macready]

U.S. Air Force F-22s and a KC-135 Stratotanker fly in formation with Japanese Air Self-Defense Force F-35As. by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Via Flickr: MCAS IWAKUNI, YAMAGUCHI, Japan (April 1, 2021) - U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors from the 199th Fighter Squadron and Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft from the 302nd Tactical Fighter Squadron fly alongside a USAF KC-135 Stratotanker from the 909th Air Refueling Squadron during 5th generation fighter training near Japan, Apr. 1, 2021. The F-22 Raptors are currently operating out of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, to support U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s dynamic force employment concept. U.S. and Japanese forces train and operate together regularly, employing a full spectrum of joint and bilateral capabilities, to defend Japan and support a secure and stable Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Matthew Kakaris) 210401-F-XL818-1001 ** Interested in following U.S. Indo-Pacific Command? Engage and connect with us at www.facebook.com/indopacom | twitter.com/INDOPACOM | www.instagram.com/indopacom | www.flickr.com/photos/us-pacific-command; | www.youtube.com/user/USPacificCommand | www.pacom.mil/ **

[usafphantom2]

F-14 of VFA-102

USN Strike Fighter squadron now based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. Their call sign is Diamond, with the tail code NF, and they fly the F/A-18F Super Hornet.

credit World of Aircraft

@CcibChris via X

[nicholassabalos]

Friendship among great nations….

IWAKUNI, Japan (May 5. 2019) -- Team Fastrax professional skydivers perform a bi-national flag jump during the 43rd Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force – Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Friendship Day at MCAS Iwakuni.

The major Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni is 25 miles (40 km) west of historic Hiroshima, Japan.

Designed to foster positive relationships and offer an exciting experience that displays the communal support between the U.S. and Japan....the annual air show features a multitude of U.S. and Japanese static display aircraft, aerial performances, food and entertainment.

A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft performs a flight demonstration during the annual MCAS Iwakuni Friendship Day air show....(Photo: Lance Cpl. Harrison Rakhshani, USMC)

A Japanese guest poses with pilots as they show her their aircraft and explain its missions....(Photo: Sgt. Timothy Valero, USMC)

A local Japanese child tries out some of the gear that keeps the United States Marines in such good shape....(Photo: Lance Cpl. Angelo Sagum, USMC)

                                               *          *          *          *

We’ve come a very long way since the horrors of World War II with Japan...from once bitter enemies....to the best of warm friends and trusted allies.

I grew up during my teens in Japan (my Dad was a Navy attorney stationed there)....only 25 years after the end of World War II....and it was one of the finest times of my life. 

I loved living in Japan! The Japanese culture and people taught me some of my most treasured core values at a young age. 

I’ve been back many times since....and plan to return often to the end of my days....

                                         _______________________

>>CLICK the top photo for a closer look....

>>Top photo: Sgt. Sara Abrego, U.S. Marine Corps

[mhirtzsr]

170119-M-RP664-0041 by U.S. Department of Defense Current Photos Via Flickr: An F-35B Lightning II with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121, prepares to land at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Jan. 19, 2017. VMFA-121 conducted a permanent change of station to MCAS Iwakuni, from MCAS Yuma, Ariz., and now belongs to Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. The F-35B Lightning II is a fifth-generation fighter, which is the world’s first operational supersonic short takeoff and vertical landing aircraft. The F-35B brings strategic agility, operational flexibility and tactical supremacy to III MEF with a mission radius greater than that of the F/A-18 Hornet and AV-8B Harrier II in support of the U.S. – Japan alliance. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Aaron Henson) www.dvidshub.net

[mtviewmirror]

Military diplomacy in Japan

Military diplomacy in Japan

Since Teddy Roosevelt sent the “Great White Fleet” around the world America has had a history of putting its military power on display to build alliances and deter enemies. This is happening today. The US is sending F-35s to japan to be “the cornerstone” of US defense in the Pacific. The planes are heading for Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, not far from Hiroshima, on the Japanese main island…

[the-nomadicone]

Lightning II // United States Marine Corps

[worldofaviation]

A Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) US-2 sea plane flies over the water in search of a missing person during a simulated search and rescue exercise at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Jan. 8, 2013.

[planesawesome]

A Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) US-2 sea plane flies over the water in search of a missing person during a simulated search and rescue exercise at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Jan. 8, 2013.