22nd MEU (SOC) Harriers join the fight against Taliban insurgents

Marine Link ^ | June 10, 2004 | Gunnery Sgt. Keith A. Milks

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

 
22nd MEU (SOC) Harriers join the fight against Taliban insurgents
Submitted by: 22nd MEU
Story Identification #: 20046105260
Story by Gunnery Sgt. Keith A. Milks



KANDAHAR AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (June 10, 2004) -- AV-8B Harrier II attack jets from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) recently conducted ground attack missions against anti-coalition militia in Afghanistan's Oruzgan province in support of the MEU's ground forces.

Based out of Kandahar Air Field, the Harriers have seen extensive use flying escort and reconnaissance missions, but the missions beginning on June 2 marked their first true combat sorties since the MEU's arrival in Afghanistan in mid-April.

"We've been flying a lot of aerial reconnaissance missions, helicopter convoy escorts, and now, finally, close air support," said Lt. Col. Sean Blochberger, officer-in-charge of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 266 (Reinforced)'s Harrier detachment, as he suited up for another mission.

Perhaps best known for its ability to take off and land vertically, the Harrier has been the mainstay of the Marine Corps' fixed-wing ground attack inventory for nearly 20 years. It has seen extensive combat in Operations DESERT STORM, ENDURING FREEDOM, and IRAQI FREEDOM, Bosnian peace-enforcement operations, and with deploying MEUs since the late 1980s.

The six-plane detachment assigned to HMM-266 (Rein) is drawn from Marine Attack Squadron 542 (VMA-542) out of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., and many of its pilots and ground support personnel are veterans of last year's war in Iraq.

"It feels good to finally be utilized like we're supposed to," said Sgt. Jason Cordoza, of Whitefish, Montana, an aircraft maintainer, commenting on the current rash of ground sorties undertaken by the Harriers.

"Everything's running really smooth," he said. "The tempo's the same for us, but there's a greater sense of urgency because we know we need to make sure we send the planes out so they can do what they need to do."

According to the Marines, so long as the grunts need their support, the planes will keep flying, dropping bombs, firing rockets, and shooting its 25mm gun pods.

"We've really picked up the pace in the last few days," said Capt. Jonathan Lundy, an AV-8B Harrier pilot assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 266 (Reinforced), the MEU's aviation combat element. "We're running longer missions and added sorties, but this is our bread and butter - supporting the grunts."

In addition to HMM-266 (Rein), the 22nd MEU (SOC) consists of its Command Element, Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 6th Marines, and MEU Service Support Group 22. The MEU is in Afghanistan conducting combat and civil military operations as Task Force Linebacker.

For more information on the 22nd MEU (SOC)'s role in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, visit the unit's web site at www.22meu.usmc.mil.

-30-

Photos included with story:

	Two AV-8B Harrier II pilots from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 266 (Reinforced) head toward their aircraft for a combat mission over south-central Afghanistan. HMM-266 (Rein) is the aviation combat element of the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable). Photo by: Gunnery Sgt. Keith A. Milks
	Lt. Col. Sean Blochberger conducts a pre-flight inspection of his AV-8B Harrier II attack jet before a combat mission over south-central Afghanistan. Blochberger is the Harrier detachment officer-in-charge for Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 266 (Reinforced), the aviation combat element of the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable). Photo by: Gunnery Sgt. Keith A. Milks
	Lt. Col. Sean Blochberger climbs into the cockpit of his AV-8B Harrier II for a combat mission over south-central Afghanistan. Blochberger is the Harrier detachment officer-in-charge for Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 266 (Reinforced), the aviation combat element of the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable). Photo by: Gunnery Sgt. Keith A. Milks
	Lance Cpl. Charles Hooks glances toward the camera as he braces for an airstrike against anti-coalition militia by AV-8B Harrier IIs from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 266 (Reinforced), the aviation combat element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable). Hooks is a rifleman with Charlie Co., Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 6th Marines and is in Afghanistan conducting combat operations against Taliban insurgents and anti-coalition militia. Photo by: Gunnery Sgt. Keith A. Milks
	Impacts from a gun run by AV-8B Harrier II attack jets from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 266 (Reinforced) are visible on a mountain where anti-coalition militia have taken refuge during a firefight with elements of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable). Photo by: Gunnery Sgt. Keith A. Milks

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

AV-8B Harrier II attack jets from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) recently conducted ground attack missions against anti-coalition militia in Afghanistan's Oruzgan province in support of the MEU's ground forces.

Based out of Kandahar Air Field, the Harriers have seen extensive use flying escort and reconnaissance missions, but the missions beginning on June 2 marked their first true combat sorties since the MEU's arrival in Afghanistan in mid-April. 

                                       

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~                

 

     Marine Attack Squadron 542 
                   

                             (assigned to)

 

Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 266

 

                       

 

      22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit 

              Special Operations Capable

                                                            ~    ~

                           (Bad news for the Taliban bad guys!)

---

 

    More 22nd MEU good guys in action:

 

    8 Marines Battle Taliban Insurgents ~ A Defend America Photo Essay ~ 6/08/04

[Tallguy]

Anybody know how well those Harriers perform at those high-altitude Afghan airbases in summer heat? I bet the payload is somewhat restricted and the vertical landings a bit hairier than usual.

[Texas_Jarhead]

GET SOME!

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[Yo-Yo]

Anybody know how well those Harriers perform at those high-altitude Afghan airbases in summer heat? I bet the payload is somewhat restricted and the vertical landings a bit hairier than usual.

From the pics it appears that they are at a base with a paved runway. They could operate in STOL but wouldn't have to perform a vertical landing as they would from their normal shipborn operations.

VTO results in almost no payload even at sea level, so even aboard the ships they do a short take off. The Brits have a ski jump at the end of the deck that improves takeoff performance, but for some reason we don't have the ski jump on our ships.

[Americanwolf]

Thats some fine looking machinery there Devil DOGS!!!! GO GET SOME!


Ah man what I wouldn't give to watch them fly by on a bombing run!

[windchime]

Bump!

[Tallguy]

They could operate in STOL but wouldn't have to perform a vertical landing as they would from their normal shipborn operations.

Perhaps I'm wrong in assuming that Harrier flight ops consist of Short Take-offs and Vertical Landings? To me, the landing gear arrangement doesn't look conducive to a normal landing approach.

[Yo-Yo]

Perhaps I'm wrong in assuming that Harrier flight ops consist of Short Take-offs and Vertical Landings?

You are absolutely correct for shipboard operations.

For land operations the Harrier AV-8B can perform a rolling landing, using both thrust vectoring and wingborn lift. It really saves on fuel to land conventionally, and you can land with a higher gross weight. (Aborted mission, for example, and you don't want to dump your stores and fuel.)