F-35B Lightning II Combat Debut

One of the VMFA-211 F-35Bs involved in the variant’s combat debut, on the fl ight deck of USS ‘Essex’ in the Gulf of Aden on September 22. The jet is named in honour of Lt Col Christopher Raible, the VMFA-211 commander killed in a Taliban attack on Camp Bastion in September 2012. 

 
The US Marine Corps employed its F-35B in combat for the first time during a September 27, 2018 air strike over Afghanistan’s Kandahar Province in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. Officials announced that a Lightning II from the US Navy amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) conducted an air strike in support of ground clearance operations, and the strike was deemed successful by the ground force commander. 

At least two F-35Bs made a stopover in Kandahar Airfield after the air strike before returning to the ship.

 
Col Chandler Nelms, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) commanding officer, said: “The opportunity for us to be the first navy, Marine Corps team to employ the F-35B in support of manoeuvre forces on the ground demonstrates one aspect of the capabilities this platform brings to the region, our allies, and our partners.”
 
The F-35B first entered the US Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility earlier the same month. The Lightning IIs deployed to the Middle East as part of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG). The 13th MEU is the first combat-deployed MEU to utilize the aircraft. Its Lightning IIs are provided by Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211 ‘Wake Island Avengers’.
 
The first F-35B ARG/ MEU deployment was in February with the Wasp ARG and the Japan based 31st MEU.