VMGR-352 Detachment takes off for MCAS Miramar
2/4/2011
By
Sgt. Deanne Hurla
,
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (FWD)
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan
Marines of Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352, Detachment A, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), are preparing for their last take-off – this time to their home station Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.
VMGR-352 Marines spent the past six months at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, supporting operations within Regional Command (Southwest) utilizing their KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft.
“The Marines and sailors of VMGR-352, Det A, have performed nothing short of outstanding,” said Maj. Brent A. Johnson, the VMGR-352, Det A, officer in charge. “From maintenance to aircrew to the support shops, Marines combined ingenuity and a willingness to serve with a motivation that pushed though until [the end]. The thousands of mishap free flight hours, combat sorties, high readiness and reliable support speaks for itself. I am very proud of them and their accomplishments.”
These accomplishments included fixed wing air-to-air refueling, which allowed the F/A-18s and other coalition aircraft to stay in the air longer for surveillance or close air support. VMGR-352 provided aerial delivery and troop transport throughout the area of operations and daily assault support to locations as far as Bagram.
The detachment also aided in facilitating helicopter inserts with battlefield illumination. However, its most notable contribution was the “Harvest Hawk” a modified KC-130J, which provided close air support, lengthy real-time surveillance, and employed Griffin and Hellfire munitions.
With all of this, the VMGR-352 crews completed 7,852 sorties and reached 7,897 flight hours. They also tracked 25,190 assault support requests, 65,815 additional passengers and 23,629,371 pounds of cargo.
The Harvest Hawk completed 93 sorties, flew more than 565 hours and completed 191 joint tactical airstrike requests.
To ensure the mission continues, Marines of VMGR-252, Detachment B, arrived from MCAS Cherry Point, N.C., to take over the squadron's area of responsibility.
“This detachment seeks, more than anything else, to continue the legacy that has been established by those that have gone before us,” said Maj. Scott M. Koltick, the VMGR-252, Det B, officer in charge. “Our training and integration at numerous weapons and tactics courses and several Enhanced Mojave Viper exercises have allowed us to come together here to form a seamless unit.”
VMGR-252’s goals for the next six months include upholding the high standards established by previous detachments by executing their mission safely and professionally, explained Koltick.
Det. B has already began working on upholding this goal as VMGR-352 prepares for their last take-off from Kandahar Airfield this month.
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KABUL, Afghanistan-An F/A-18D Super Hornet from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), receives fuel from a KC-130J Hercules with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352, 3rd MAW (Fwd), during an in-flight refueling mission here Oct. 5. The Hercules transferred approximately 61,000 pounds of fuel to six F/A-18s during the day’s mission. VMGR-352 performs several refueling missions each day to various platforms in support of International Security Assistance Forces., Sgt. Deanne Hurla, 10/6/2010 9:37 AM
FORWARD OPERATING BASE DWYER, Afghanistan-Cpl. Joel Denning, a loadmaster with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), gives a 30-second warning to parachute jumpers during an aerial insertion training mission here Oct. 5. Marines of Bravo Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), parachuted out of the KC-130J Hercules with about 200 pounds of gear including food, water, ammunition, weapons and their parachutes., Sgt. Deanne Hurla, 10/5/2010 1:55 PM
FORWARD OPERATING BASE DWYER, Afghanistan-The first and only KC-130J “Harvest Hawk” in Afghanistan sits on the flightline at Forward Operating Base Dwyer for routine maintenance. The Harvest Hawk, which is a 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) asset, has only been in country since October, but has already detected three improvised explosive devices and fired one GPS guided Hellfire. The battle damage assessment was five enemy forces killed in action and no civilian causalities. The aircraft carries four Hellfire and 10 Griffen GPS guided missiles, and houses an infrared and television camera. Its mission is to provide close air support, conduct intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance missions, and find IEDs., Sgt. Deanne Hurla, 11/13/2010 7:00 PM
FORWARD OPERATING BASE DWYER, Afghanistan-The first and only KC-130J “Harvest Hawk” in Afghanistan sits on the flightline at Forward Operating Base Dwyer with its four Hellfire missiles ready for takeoff. The Harvest Hawk, which is a 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) asset, has only been in country since October, but has already detected three improvised explosive devices and fired one GPS guided Hellfire. The battle damage assessment was five enemy forces killed in action and no civilian causalities. The aircraft carries four Hellfire and 10 Griffen GPS guided missiles, and houses an infrared and television camera. Its mission is to provide close air support, conduct intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance missions and find improvised explosive devices., Sgt. Deanne Hurla, 11/13/2010 7:00 PM
HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan-A KC-130J from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352, Detachment A, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), flies to the drop zone for a section aerial delivery to Marines of 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, in Helmand province, Afghanistan. A section aerial delivery is comprised of two aircraft making a supply drop. Bundles used during the drop are created using thick cardboard pallets and boxes of water, food or ammunition. Parachutes are then attached to the top of the bundles and rigged for automatic deployment as they leave the aircraft during flight. It took the Marines about two hours, from preparing the aircraft to releasing the bundles, to successfully complete the mission. Through teamwork, the VMGR-352, Det. A, Marines continually support coalition forces on the front lines and in isolated locations by delivering the supplies they need in the quickest manner possible., Sgt. Deanne Hurla, 1/17/2011 4:34 PM
HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan-Lance Cpl. Matthew Truesdell, a load master with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352, Detachment A, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), prepares to manually release bundles of supplies during a section aerial delivery to Marines of 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, in Helmand province, Afghanistan. A section aerial delivery is comprised of two aircraft making a supply drop. Bundles used during the drop are created using thick cardboard pallets and boxes of water, food or ammunition. Parachutes are then attached to the top of the bundles and rigged for automatic deployment as they leave the aircraft during flight. It took the Marines about two hours, from preparing the aircraft to releasing the bundles, to successfully complete the mission. Through teamwork, the VMGR-352, Det. A, Marines continually support coalition forces on the front lines and in isolated locations by delivering the supplies they need in the quickest manner possible., Sgt. Deanne Hurla, 1/16/2011 8:09 PM
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