A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II attack jet flies alongside a KC-130J tanker aircraft attached to a refueling drogue during an aerial refueling mission above the East China Sea, Oct. 23, 2018.
A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II attack jet flies alongside a KC-130J tanker aircraft attached to a refueling drogue during an aerial refueling mission above the East China Sea, Oct. 23, 2018.
The F-35B belongs to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 (VMFA-121) and the KC-130J belongs to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 (VMGR-152). VMFA-121, part of the Aviation Combat Element for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, is the Marine Corps’ only forward-deployed F-35B squadron – as part of the 31st MEU, the squadron provides fixed-wing attack capabilities across the Indo-Pacific region during Marine Corps and U.S. Navy amphibious operations. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible force ready to perform a wide-range of military operations across the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. T. T. Parish) www.dvidshub.net. Original public domain image from Flickr