MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- Dozens of aircraft capable of dropping 500-pound bombs, lifting artillery pieces and transporting combat troops dominate the flight line here - except for three aircraft that serve the Corps in a much different capacity.
Marines from the Fixed Wing Marine Transport Detachment, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Marine Corps Installations West, use the UC-12F “King Air” and the Cessna UC-35 “Citation” to transport senior military leadership, military personnel and cargo all over the United States.
“Our mission is not limited to just transporting generals,” said Capt. Nicholas B. Sills, a pilot with the VMR Det. “We try to fly Marines as much as possible because supporting Marines is important to us. We haul cargo in support of the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course, Enhanced Mojave Viper and other training events.”
The detachment’s UC-12F and two UC-35’s, while smaller than most other aircraft on the flight line, can fly farther and faster than some of its counterparts. Like any of the squadrons here, maintainers work on the aircraft, but a much smaller staff of civilian contractors share the responsibility of making repairs and handling maintenance administrative work.
“Other than flying the aircraft, we are responsible for everything from washing it to working on the engines, to the electronics, to power plants,” said David L. Brown, an UC-12F mechanic contracted from L-3 Communications, who has been working on the Super King Air for more than seven years. “We know the aircraft like the back of our hand.”
The Marines who fly the detachment’s aircraft are also KC-130J “Super Hercules,” CH-53E “Super Stallion,” CH-46E “Sea Knight,” F/A-18 “Hornet and AV-8B Harrier II combat aviators who each have more than 1,500 flight hours. The VMR Det. also has its own detachment with United States Central Command, giving military leadership access to areas of operation.
“The VMR Detachment transports our VIP’s from place to place, including combat zones, so commanding officers and commanding generals get to the point on the battlefield so that they can make the decisions,” said Col. Frank A. Richie, the MCAS Miramar commanding officer. “They’re extremely professional. The det’s contract maintenance and the mission capable rates of these aircraft are extremely high, which is a testament of their professionalism.”
Like in other aircraft, crew chiefs fly with the pilots and assist with the mission by checking weather conditions, relaying information over the radio and helping to ensure a safe flight.
“We’re still responsible for the same things as far as proper procedures, pre-flight and post flight,” said Cpl. Robert C. Kiple, a UC-35 crew chief with the detachment. “The only real difference is that instead of carrying cargo all the time, we carry passengers. These people are counting on me and the pilots to help them safely reach their destination.”
To the naked eye, the detachment’s aircraft might look like any other civilian aircraft. However, the Eagle, Globe and Anchor on the aircrafts’ wings represent the professionalism of not only the detachment, but the Corps as a whole. With the Marines and civilians working at the VMR Det., Marines and military officials can more effectively lead and accomplish the mission at hand.
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