To the sky

VMFA-122 conducts first flight as F-35 squadron

It was like a scene from Top Gun as pilots marched out to the flight line to mount the metal beast known as the F-35B Lightning II. Once there they climbed into the cockpits, started the engines and prepared for takeoff.

As the final tests were completed, the jets taxied out, gained speed and took to the sky as history was made.

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, “The Flying Leathernecks,” conducted their first flight operations in the F-35B Lightning II at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma on March 29. This marked the end of the first phase in the transition from a legacy F/A-18C Hornet squadron to an F-35B squadron.

“This was a critical moment for us because it got the ball rolling for us to have a fully operational squadron,” said Lt. Col. John P. Price, the commanding officer of VMFA-122.

VMFA-122, originally based at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina, arrived at MCAS Yuma in October 2017.

“It highlights the flexibility and agility that we have inside the Marine Corps to accomplish the mission,” said Price. “We have a lot of great Marines and Sailors here from Yuma and all over the Marine Corps. It’s truly impressive how quickly it was put together.”

There were various tests and procedures that the “Flying Leathernecks” needed to conduct and pass just to get to this stage of their transition, including the assumption of command and posting of the sergeant major.

“Starting over, all of our programs have to be rebuilt and reestablished here on MCAS Yuma with a whole new group of people,” said Maj. John Dirk, the executive officer of VMFA-122. “This is the culmination of that first part and going forward we get to maintain and improve them so we can make the squadron have full combat capability.”

The commencement of flight operations marked the successful transition of yet another Marine Corps squadron.

“It’s validation of all the work we’ve done, and we finally got over that hurdle that was keeping us from finally becoming fully functional,” said Price.

Completion is on the horizon for VMFA-122 and the “Flying Leathernecks” are speeding toward it at jet speed.

U.S. MARINE CORPS PHOTOS BY SGT. ALLISON LOTZ THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 (VMFA-122), Lt. Col. John P. Price, and Maintenance Officer of VMFA-122, Maj. Christopher J. Kelly, prepare for VMFA-122’s first flight operations in an F-35B Lightning II at Marine Corps Air...

THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 (VMFA-122), Lt. Col. John P. Price, conducts VMFA-122’s first flight operations in an F-35B Lightning II on Marine Corps Air Station Yuma.