Tag Archives: F-35C Lighting II

Marines Stand Back Up 'Tomcats' as a F-35C Lighting II Squadron

Marines Stand Back Up ‘Tomcats’ as a F-35C Lighting II Squadron

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Janet Marrufo (left) and Lt. Col. Michael Fisher, both with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 311, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), unfurl the U.S. flag during a reactivation ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, April 14, 2023. US Marine Corps Photo

MIRAMAR MARINE CORPS AIR STATION, San Diego, Calif. — A deactivated squadron got new life as Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 311 in a Friday ceremony attended by scores of combat veterans and an F-35C Lightning II jet sporting the “Tomcats” historic squadron logo. Read More

Pilot Error After ‘Sierra Hotel Break’ Resulted in South China Sea F-35C Crash, Investigation Says

Pilot Error After ‘Sierra Hotel Break’ Resulted in South China Sea F-35C Crash, Investigation Says

An F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter during a ramp strike aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) on Jan. 24, 2022.

This post has been modified to clarify the recommendations from the investigators.

A 2022 ramp strike aboard the carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) that injured six sailors and resulted in the loss of an F-35C Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter was due to a mistake by the fighter pilot during landing, an investigation into the Jan. 24, 2022 incident determined. Read More

Navy Recovers F/A-18E Super Hornet Blown off Deck of USS Harry S. Truman

Navy Recovers F/A-18E Super Hornet Blown off Deck of USS Harry S. Truman

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 1st Class Zuani Batista, from the Dominican Republic, directs the pilot of an F/A-18E Super Hornet, attached to the “Blue Blasters” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 34, on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), April 14, 2022. U.S. Navy Photo

The F/A-18E Super Hornet blown off the deck of an aircraft carrier was recovered 9,500 feet under the Mediterranean Sea, U.S. 6th Fleet announced on Monday. Read More

F-35 JPO Evaluating Spare Parts Following Vinson, Queen Elizabeth Deployments

F-35 JPO Evaluating Spare Parts Following Vinson, Queen Elizabeth Deployments

An F-35C Lightning II, assigned to the ‘Argonauts’ of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147, launches off the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) on Jan. 14, 2022. US Navy Photo

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Joint Program Office for the military’s F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter is evaluating recent carrier deployments to better understand how the fifth-generation aircraft fared at sea during its first deployment. Read More

UPDATED: Navy Recovers Crashed F-35C From Depths of South China Sea

UPDATED: Navy Recovers Crashed F-35C From Depths of South China Sea

A Navy F-35C on the deck of DSCV Picasso following a March 2, 2022 recovery from 12,400 feet under the South China Sea. US Navy Photo

This post was updated with a photo from U.S.7th Fleet.

Navy salvage crews operating from a commercial salvage ship have recovered the F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter that suffered a ramp strike on the deck of USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70 and crashed into the South China Sea, a U.S. 7th Fleet spokesman confirmed to USNI News on Thursday. Read More

UPDATED: Four Chiefs, Ensign Facing Charges Over Release of USS Carl Vinson F-35C Crash Video

UPDATED: Four Chiefs, Ensign Facing Charges Over Release of USS Carl Vinson F-35C Crash Video

An F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter during a ramp strike aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) on Jan. 24, 2022.

This post has been updated to include Article 92 charges against an Ensign in addition to the four senior enlisted sailors.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Four senior enlisted sailors and a junior officer are facing charges for their alleged role in releasing government video footage from aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) showing the ramp strike of an F-35C Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter last month, USNI News has learned. Read More

USS Carl Vinson Recovered Quickly After F-35C Ramp Strike, Say Officials

USS Carl Vinson Recovered Quickly After F-35C Ramp Strike, Say Officials

An F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter during a ramp strike aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) on Jan. 24, 2022.

ABOARD AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS CARL VINSON, OFF THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA – The crew of aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) were trained and prepared to effectively handle the F-35C Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter crash that took place in the South China Sea last month, officials recently told USNI News. Read More