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First JSF Marine squadron stands up at Eglin

  • Published
  • By Samuel King Jr.
  • 96th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Eglin Air Force base made military history when the first-ever Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II training squadron, Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, stood up here April 2.

The significance of the occasion was not just for the new F-35 unit, but it also marked the first time a Marine Corps squadron was embedded in an Air Force wing.

"And they couldn't have picked a better place to start," said Lt. Col. James Wellon, VMFAT-501 commander, referring to the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin.

The "Warlords" squadron was redesignated from the VMFAT-451, a 13-year retired squadron that was reactivated April 1 for the ceremony.

"This is truly a historic event," said Maj. Gen. James F. Flock, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing commander, who also addressed the crowd of military, civilians and community leaders. "It has taken a lot of hard work to move toward joint-basing. It's been a genuine grassroots effort here at Eglin to make joint-basing a possibility."

The general said this is the next chapter in the future of Marine aviation toward the "direction of an all-Short Take Off and Vertical Landing force."

The ceremony took place with the three current Marine aircraft, the AV-8B Harrier, F/A-18 Hornet and the EA-6B Prowler in the distance.

The Marine F-35 variant will be equipped with the STOVL ability. Just two weeks prior to the stand up, the first vertical landing of the F-35B STOVL took place March 18.

The general said the Joint Strike Fighter mission rested on the shoulders of the 37 "hard-charging" Marines currently assigned to the unit who are tasked with training the future pilots and maintainers.

"You Marines are the plank-holders to the future," the general said. "You were hand-selected for this duty with the highest potential and performance. I'm confident you'll do well in your mission."

During his comments, Colonel Wellon reflected on the work and trials that led to this "game-changing" moment.

"Many great Marine officers got us here today," said the first-time squadron commander. "They have set the Warlords on a path for success."

According to Marine officials, the VMFAT-501 is scheduled to receive its  first F-35B in winter 2010. Training of instructor pilots will follow. The Marines hope to have eight initial cadre and two operational test pilots trained within a year.