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 The Beginning of the End... And a New Beginning! 
In May, the Nightmares consolidated their assets at home just long enough to send the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit Detachment out for a final pre-deployment exercise. The far-flung activities of the previous two months were major successes, and the squadron began May well-poised to split into its two components: a six-jet "Det Bravo"; and a ten-jet "Squadron(-)." It seems appropriate therefore, that the squadron should say farewell to the CO in the same breath as it bids "bon voyage" to Det Bravo. As the final full month of this CO's monthly scrapbook, it is envisioned that the seven days of duty covered in June's installment will be very similar to the "Change of Command" page that began the project. It has gone by too fast, but then, it always does. In the images that follow, you will see a squadron at the top of its game, core competent in all skill sets and combat ready. Without note or fanfare, the squadron passed 45,000 mishap-free flight hours in March, the best safety record in the history V/STOL aviation. VMA-513 is flying over 400 hours a month and morale is extremely high. This is the squadron that all Marine Aviators dream of flying with, and leaving will be hard. 
Hero's first trip to the tanker, Yap's second 
The Southeast corner of the Salton Sea in the Imperial Valley 
It was a bumpy, convective day  Please be mindful that the
following images are not the property of Harrierpilot.com and are proprietary. They are the
copyrighted property of Ted "Kodak" Carlson of
Fotodynamics. Please honor his copyright as these images are posted
by his kind permission. Thank you!
A great image over the shoulders of the KC-130 pilot and co-pilot 
This alternate "break" was Kodak's idea... 
Did I mention that the air was bumpy? 
The descending line in trail 
Cow and Yap before Torch & Hero arrived 
Abeam the KC-130's nose, Yap breaks beside Cow 
Torch snuggles up close with his pod open 
Cow carries a Litening II Pod with the lens covered 
Hard turn away in A/C 16 
Over California's Imperial Valley 
Cow and Yap up close 
Cow in a slow break; the KC-130's max speed with the ramp open is 180 knots 
Yap joins up 
Staying behind the transport is easier with the landing gear down 
A "close Cow" with auto flaps helping out 
No, this isn't a Harrier sliding into gun position on a Hornet; these are from the 7 May aerial refueling test at NAS China Lake. Hornets DO have utility in the expeditionary realm! :) 
"Screech" 
"Maccer" 
"Torch" 
"Critter" 
"Lurch" 
"Chunks" appears to be missing a chunk of his head! 
"Stern" 
"Smitty" 
"Fraggle"  And a very special salute to the stellar enlisted Nightmares who keep our jets combat ready and our pilots safe through their uncompromising professionalism!   On 10 May 2002, the CO had the high honor of reenlisting his Sergeant Major!  This is his last hitch!  Staff NCO's congratulate the Sergeant Major  Two new Lance Corporals and two Privates First Class  Promotion to Lance Corporal...  ...and it feels good!  On 16 May, the CO promoted those who were on leave earlier in the month...   Looking down from the cockpit on 16 May; the CO's last sortie 
The only thing worse than knowing that you are flying your last sortie in the Harrier, is NOT knowing that you are flying your last sortie in the Harrier! 
The CO's last flight was a close air support sortie with "Chunks" in the 29 Palms Complex. During the sortie, Chunks became a Section Leader and Cow became an earthling 
This is Cow's last airborne photo from a Harrier 
Our 17 May Mess Night...click on it to see more! 
Screech will take good care of our Nightmares on the boat |