First F-35C Fighters, CMV-22B Deploy with Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group

An F-35C Lightning II, assigned to the “Argonauts” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147, prepares to land on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) June 17, 2021. US Navy Photo

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) departed San Diego Bay Monday afternoon with nearly 6,000 sailors and a crowded flight deck to begin a scheduled deployment to the Indo-Pacific region, marking a key milestone for 21st-century naval aviation.

Aboard Vinson is...

https://news.usni.org/2021/08/02/first-f-35c-fighters-cmv-22b-deploy-with-carl-vinson-carrier-strike-group

First Marine Corps Carrier-Capable F-35C Squadron Now Ready to Deploy

U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, gain the capability of conducting a hot-load of ordnance on an F-35C Lightning II, while being validated at south combat aircraft loading area, during the Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course 1-21, at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., on Oct. 6, 2020. US Marine Corps Photo

The Marine Corps’ first carrier-capable squadron of F-35C Lightning II jets reached initial operational...

https://news.usni.org/2020/12/02/first-marine-corps-carrier-capable-f-35c-squadron-now-ready-to-deploy

Super Hornet Crashes Near China Lake, Pilot in Stable Condition

An F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to the Sidewinders of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 86 makes an arrested landing on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) on July 8, 2019. US Navy Photo

This post will be updated with additional information as it becomes available.

A Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet crashed near Naval Air Station China Lake, Calif., on Tuesday, a service official told USNI News.
The single-seat Super Hornet from NAS Lemoore, Calif., was on a...

https://news.usni.org/2020/10/20/super-hornet-crashes-near-china-lake-pilot-in-stable-condition

Navy Concludes Experienced Pilot’s ‘Brief Lapse of Judgement’ Root Cause of ‘Star Wars’ Canyon Crash

An undated photo of the Super Hornet that crashed on July 31, 2020 into the Rainbow Canyon at the Death Valley National Park. US Navy Photo

An experienced pilot’s split-second lapse in judgment is the likely cause of a 2019 F/A-18E Super Hornet crash in Death Valley National Park, Calif., the Navy concluded in a command investigation obtained by USNI News.

Lt. Charles Walker, 33, was leading a two-fighter low-level training mission through the Rainbow Canyon in the park when his Super Hornet...

https://news.usni.org/2020/05/28/navy-concludes-experienced-pilots-brief-lapse-of-judgement-root-cause-of-star-wars-canyon-crash

First Marine F-35C Squadron Certified Safe for Flight

The first Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314 “Black Knights” F-35C aircraft from Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore flown by CAPT Tommy Beau Locke from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 125 “Rough Raiders” flies in formation over the Sierra’s with the VFMA-314 squadron F/A-18A++, flown by LtCol Cedar Hinton aircraft “passing the lead” as part of the F/A-18 Sundown with the Black Knights. US Navy photo.

The first Marine Corps F-35C carrier-variant Joint Strike Fighter squadron reached an...

https://news.usni.org/2020/03/23/first-marine-f-35c-squadron-certified-safe-for-flight

F-35Cs Arrive at Miramar as Marines Prepare First Carrier Squadron

U.S Marine Corps Lt. Col. Cedar L. Hinton, commanding officer of Marine Wing Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), lands VMFA-314’s first F-35C Lightning II on Marine Air Station Miramar, Calif., Jan. 21, 2020. Marine Corps photo

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — The Marine Corps’ first squadron of F-35C Joint Strike Fighters will reach an initial operating capability next month ahead of future carrier deployments, officials said Friday.


The second F-35C Lightning II belonging to...

https://news.usni.org/2020/02/03/f-35cs-arrive-at-miramar-as-marines-prepare-first-carrier-squadron

Navy Identifies Pilot Killed in Death Valley Super Hornet Crash

Lt. Charles Walker, 33, died when his F/A-18E Super Hornet crashed about 40 miles north of Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, Calif.

The Navy has identified the pilot who was killed in a Wednesday crash in Death Valley National Park, Calif.

Lt. Charles Walker, 33, died when his F/A-18E Super Hornet crashed about 40 miles north of Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, Calif. He was on a training mission over a canyon at the national park when the crash occurred.

Walker was assigned to the...

https://news.usni.org/2019/08/02/navy-identifies-pilot-killed-in-death-valley-super-hornet-crash

Navy Declares Pilot in Death Valley Super Hornet Crash Dead

An F/A-18E Super Hornet, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 151, flies over the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) in the Pacific Ocean, Feb. 19, 2019. The John C. Stennis is deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Grant G. Grady)

The pilot of a single-seat F/A-18E fighter that crashed on Wednesday has been declared dead, Navy officials said...

https://news.usni.org/2019/08/01/navy-declares-pilot-in-death-valley-super-hornet-crash-dead

California Super Hornet Crashes Near China Lake, Condition of Pilot Unknown

A U.S. Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet aircraft, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 151, takes off from the flight deck aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) in the Arabian Sea, Dec. 11, 2018. US Navy Photo

The following story will be updated as new information becomes available.

A single-seat F/A-18E Super Hornet based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif. crashed on Wednesday morning and the status of the pilot is unknown, Navy officials have told USNI News.

The fighter went...

https://news.usni.org/2019/07/31/california-super-hornet-crashes-near-china-lake-condition-of-pilot-unknown

Navy Deactivates VFA-101 Grim Reapers, Consolidates F-35Cs at NAS Lemoore

A U.S. Navy Sailor marshals the last F-35C Lightning II to leave Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, May 23, 2019. Consolidation of F-35C resources to Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, enables the U.S. Navy to support Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) production, operational fleet transitions for both Navy and Marine Corps squadrons, testing and other requirements. US Air Force photo.

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – The Navy deactivated one of its two F-35C Joint Strike Fighter training squadrons...

https://news.usni.org/2019/05/23/navy-deactivates-vfa-101-grim-reapers-consolidates-f-35cs-at-nas-lemoore

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