3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

Large quantities of opium recovered during a recent Afghan National Security Forces-led counter-narcotics operation in the Marjah district of Helmand province, Afghanistan. The total amount of suspected narcoti More

A Marine’s cover sits on a bleacher during a question and answer portion of a three-day Committed and Engaged Leadership Indoctrination Course aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., June 3-5. Maj. Gen More

Len Maffioli and Damaso Sutis, two retired Marines and Iwo Jima veterans, share stories and laughs with active-duty Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 363 at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, C More

Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 169's outgoing commanding officer, Lt.Col. Joseph Lagoski, relinquishes command to Lt. Col. Everett M. Good during a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Air More

The Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum displays several portraits, including this painting of World War II Marine Corps fighter pilot Col. James E. Swett, a Medal of Honor recipient. The Flying Leatherneck is t More

A CH-53E Super Stallion is displayed during the 70th anniversary celebration of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462 aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., April 26. The squadron displayed the Super S More

Lt. Col. Dustin J. Byrum, the outgoing Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314 commanding officer, prepares to relinquish command to Lt. Col. Cedar L. Hinton during a change of command ceremony at Marine Corp More

A guest of the 2018 Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Air Show waves as tanks with 4th Tank Battalion, 4th Marine Division pass by the crowds on MCAS Miramar, Calif., Sept. 28. This year’s air show honors “100 y More

Patriots Jet Team pilot Rob “Stache” Hutchison inspects his jet before a flight during the 2018 Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Air Show at MCAS Miramar, Calif., Sept. 29. This year’s air show honors “100 year More

Photographs, official documents and other memorabilia rest in a display case Marine Air Control Group (MACG) 38’s heritage room aboard Marine Corps Air Station, Calif., March 16. Marines with MACG-38 hosted thr More

Members of the U.S Army Golden Knights prepare to jump from a K-C130T Hercules during the 2018 Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Air Show at MCAS Miramar, Calif., Sept. 29. This year's air show honors "100 years More

The Patriots Jet Team flies in formation while performing aerobatic maneuvers during the 2018 Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Air Show at MCAS Miramar, Calif., Sept. 28. This year's air show honors "100 years More

A Marine with 1st Marine Division takes a high knee during the Marine Air-Ground Task Force demonstration at the 2018 Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Air Show on MCAS Miramar, Calif., Sept. 29. This year's air More

Nine Marines from Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron (MALS) 11, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, competed in the Competition-In-Arms Program (CIAP), Western Divisional Shooting Matches, More

U.S. Sailors with 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) stand in formation prior to a cake cutting ceremony in honor of the 226th birthday of chief petty officers at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., April 1, More

U.S. Marines with 1st Marine Division repel from a UH-1Y Huey during the Marine Air-Ground Combat Task Force demonstration at the 2018 Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Air Show at Marine Corps Air Station Miram More

Jacquie B. Warda performs a series of aerobatics in the Extra 300 monoplane during the 2018 Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Air Show at MCAS Miramar, Calif., Sept. 28. This year’s air show honors “100 years of More

Kent Pietsch performs aerial maneuvers in his 1942 Interstate Cadet during the 2018 Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Air Show at MCAS Miramar, Calif., Sept. 29.This year's air show honors "100 years of women in More

Cpl. Becky L. Cleveland, a combat photographer with Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar Communication Strategy and Operations, applies face paint during the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Meet and Greet at MCAS Mira More

Two Marines from Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 3 watch a performance at the 2018 Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Air Show on MCAS Miramar, Calif., Sept. 29. This year’s air show honors “100 years of woman More

Jacquie B. Warda dives in her Extra 300 Monoplane during the 2018 Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Air Show at MCAS Miramar, Calif., Sept. 29. This year's air show honors "100 years of women in the Marine Corps More

Members of the U.S. Navy Parachute Team "Leap Frogs" and U.S. Army Golden Knights prepare for their parachute jump during the 2018 Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Air Show at MCAS Miramar, Calif., Sept. 28. Th More

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Clinton Kuhn and Sgt. Kyle Mankin attached to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 465, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, post security after fast-roping onto th More

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Nashagh Kadijah, C-130 pilot, with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, discusses her flight plan during the 2018 Marine Corp More

Digital illustration created using Adobe Photoshop, to recognize and honor women in the Marine Corps and their contributions to the service legacy. This year’s air show honors “100 years of women in the Marine More

Two F/A-18 Hornets with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, fly over Southern California during the 2018 Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Air Show at M More

Marines, following the rapid Japanese retreat northward on Okinawa, pause for a moment's rest at the base of a Japanese war memorial during the Battle of Okinawa, April 12, 1945. They are (on steps) Pfc. F. O. More

A piece of cake is cut and dished out during Chief Warrant Officer 4 Wayne H. Silva's 40th anniversary with the Marine Corps at Al Asad, Iraq, July 8. Silva is a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear d More

Dressed in random uniforms and clothing as part of their maintenance day, 11 Marines pose as a group in front of their commanding officer's CH-53D Sea Stallion at Al Asad, Iraq, July 8. The 11 Marines are with More

Sgt. Maj. Don W. Gallagher swings to hit the ball at Al Asad, Iraq, July 10, during a softball game between the champions of softball league B, Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38, and the runners up in soft More

Soldiers with Charlie Company (Air Ambulance), 1st Battalion, 214th Aviation Regiment, unload equipment and medical supplies from their UH-60 Black Hawk, during the company's administrative flight and to Al Qai More

Capt. Elizabeth A. Okoreeh-Baah, the first female MV-22 Osprey pilot, stands on the flight line after a combat operation March 12, 2008. The Nashville, Tenn., native spent five years flying the CH-46E Sea Knigh More

A Marine from 3rd Battalion, 23rd. Regiment, walks with members of Iraqi security forces during an assault today. A UH-1N Huey, belonging to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773, provided close-air suppo More

Detachment Alpha, Marine Air Control Squadron 1, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), is responsible for providing all-weather air traffic control services to civilian, tactical and non-tactical aircraft operati More

Navy Lt. Cmdr. Christina M. Williams, the medical officer for Marine Wing Support Squadron, assigned to 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), hands out stuffed animals to the children of a schoo. The children suf More

Iraqi Pvt. Kalieph Qayes, military policeman with Military in Transition Team 0720, 7th Iraqi Army Division, searches an Iraqi national before coming aboard Al-Asad Air Base Apr. 6. All local national coming on More

Members of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees survey the living conditions of the Palestinian refugee camp April 17. Marines from the Border Transition Team of the 5th Iraqi Brigade, 2nd Region p More

These two multi-channel radio antennas aboard Al Asad Air Base serve as a communication link between service members here and other forward operating bases in the western Anbar province. Marine Wing Communicati More

The Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, maintain and create helicopter-landing zones at various locations in Iraq. Surveying the area to determine distance, elevation and an More

Cpl. Alan C. Hicks, a Marine with Marine Wing Communication Squadron 38, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, removes dirt from a location during a dig project here today. The Outside Plant Ma More

Master Gunnery Sgt. Sean P. Jevning and son, Cpl. Robert S. Jevning, are deployed together with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16. Sean, on his tenth deployment, and Robert, on his first, both work in the a More

Warrant Officer Christopher Harden, avionics officer and Cpl. Falesia Gorski, aerial observer with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), pause for a photo after a mission May More

Sgt. Kardell D. Anderson, the mission commander with Heavy Equipment Platoon, Engineer Company, Marine Wing Support Squadron 374, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, guides the driver to his correct location as they plac More

Two MV-22 "Osprey" aircraft from Marine Tiltrotor Squadron 161 take off from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Feb. 12. Almost a dozen CH-53E "Super Stallion" aircraft preceded the Osprey aircraft as part of Th More

Iwo Jima veterans gather at The Flying Leatherneck Marine Aviation Museum aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Feb. 18. The veterans perused the museum before enjoying lunch at the station chow hall and expl More

Maj. Gen. Andrew O’Donnell Jr., the assistant commander of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, presents a letter of appreciation to Jack Ensch, the recently retired director of military marketing for the San Diego Pa More

Maj. Gen. Thomas Conant, the commanding general of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, pins a Distinguished Flying Cross to Maj. Tres Smith, a UH-1Y Huey pilot, who flew with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 3 More

The 3rd Low Altitutde Aerial Defense Battalion unveils a new “Wall of Warriors” at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., May 27. The wall features 3rd LAAD Marines who’ve distinguished themselves valorously More

Marines push one of Marine Heavy Helicopter 363's refurbished CH-53D helicopters on the flight line after rolling it out of an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III. The squadron is now preparing to redeploy to Marine More

The color guard from Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), marches onto the flightline during their Transfer of Authority ceremony with VMU- More

Maj. Gen. Thomas L. Conant, the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing commanding general, presents Sgt. Charles M. Zolotas, a career planner for the 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, Marine Aircraft Group-38, 3rd MAW, More

Petty Officer 3rd Class Courtney Casey, a corpsman at the Flightline Aid Station, Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, talks to Lance Cpl. Niki Brown, a CH-53D crew chief with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362, 3rd Ma More

Brig. Gen. Andrew W. O'Donnell Jr., the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) commanding general, awards five Marines from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362, 3rd MAW (Fwd), their combat aircrew wings at the fli More

The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) commanding general stands with the senior leadership of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362, 3rd MAW (Fwd), and the five Marines who received their combat aircrew wings a More

Soldiers with the 101st Airborne Band perform a medley of Christmas songs during the holiday concert held at the Living Sustainment Area 7 Chapel aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Dec. 21. The five-member b More

First Lt. Russell W. Hromadka, a UH-1Y Huey pilot with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), gives the commandant of Marine Corps, Gen. James F. Amos, a demonstration More

Marines and sailors with the Aviation Logistics Department of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, hold up Valentine's cards and candy they received from the Poway, Calif., 4 More

Anthony Aranda, eight, discusses film with Danny Gokey, a former "American Idol" contestant, at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar April 2. Gokey and fellow American Idol alumna Brooke White performed at the Bob More

Marines huff and puff to pull a humvee across a parking lot at the Bob Hope Theater May 26. Marines aboard Miramar spent the afternoon testing their fitness at various stations as part of their summer health, f More

Marines earned plaques and trophies for their overall and team scores at the 52nd Annual Interservice Pistol Championship awards banquet in Columbus, Ga., June 17. Twenty Marines from various shooting teams rep More

Sgt. Benjamin Webdell, a Gary, Ind., native who serves as a heavy equipment operator with Marine Wing Support Squadron 373, helps unroll a tent at San Diego High School, July 11. The Marines of MWSS-373 will pu More

Naval Academy midshipmen prepare to board a CH-53E Super Stallion here July 13. The midshipmen are scheduled to spend a week experiencing the various aspects of Marine life, including hiking to firing ranges, r More

Marines from squadrons under Marine Aircraft Group 16, start their engines before a three hour, round-trip group motorcycle ride here July 15. The Marines took curvy roads to a restaurant near Lake Henshaw for More

Marine Wing Support Squadron 373 Marines transformed an athletic field at San Diego High School to house nearly 1,000 homeless veterans July 15. The squadron spent a week constructing tents for sleeping, dining More

U.S. Navy Capt. Irving A. Elson, a chaplain for the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and his son Jacob, 19, stand holding an Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund Flag at Uhuru Peak on Mount Kilimanjaro. Their climb to Uhuru More

The KC-130J Harvest Hawk with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352, prepares for touch down here July 22. The Harvest Hawk landed here after its nine month deployment to Afghanistan. Twelve Marines dep More

Adamari Muniz, 10, sits with a service dog at the Defense Commissary Agency here July 29. Milk-Bone and the DCA will donate a dog to Adamari, who suffers from epilepsy. A service dog can alleviate many of the t More

Sgt. Christina G. Thuman, the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Provost Marshal’s Office crime prevention non-commissioned officer in charge and an Earlville, Iowa, native, pins a special deputy badge on Amina, More

Guests select donated school supplies at the Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron Family Day here Aug. 5. Marines and their family members took the afternoon off to try their hands at rock climbing, flag foot More

A Marine with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465 gets a big hug Aug. 6. The Marines with HMH-465 returned home from a six-month deployment to Helmand province, Afghanistan. HMH–465 conducted operations from C More

An Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting crewman extinguishes a simulated fire on a training aircraft here Aug. 15. The crewman, from Miramar station, 3rd and 4th Marine Aircraft Wing ARFF, spent the afternoon rehe More

Maj. Gen. Thomas Conant, the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing commanding general, shakes hands with Coast Guard Lt. Dave McCarthy, a MH-60T Jayhawk pilot, at Coast Guard Sector San Diego Aug. 18. Conant visited the Coa More

More than 100 veterans, active-duty service members and their families applaud for the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band following a concert at the American Legion Post 432 Cambria Sept. 3. The band also performed More

An F/A-18C belonging to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (All-Weather) 225 sits on the flight line here. The squadron used this aircraft during training at Avon Park Air Force Range, Aug. 1 through 26.

Maj. Gen. Thomas Conant, right, commanding general of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and Col. Frank A. Richie, center, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, present Howie Mandel with an aviator jac More

Col. Patrick Gramuglia, commanding officer of Marine Aircraft Group 16, presents Lt. Col. Joseph K. Decapite, commanding officer of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466, with the Chief of Naval Operations Aviat More

Sgt. David Garcia, a crew chief with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369 and Phoenix native, prepares a can of 7.62mm ammunition in flight above Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, C More

Cpl. James Rader, an air control electronics operator with Marine Air Control Squadron 1 and Colorado Springs, Colo., native, performs the shoulder throw on Lance Cpl. Michael Hoxie, an air control electronics More

Marines from 4th Tank Battalion, 4th Marine Division, move a Light Armored Vehicle into position on the flight line aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Sept. 28. The Marines here spent the days prior to th More

Lance Cpl. Dylan Wolff, a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialist and a Manitowoc, Wisc., native, and Pfc. Alexis Satterwhite, a heavy equipment operator and a Downey, Calif., native, both wit More

Several CH-46E Sea Knights from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 163, ‘Evil Eyes,’ returned to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar after a seven-month deployment with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit serving in More

Sgt. Dante Collins, a team leader with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion and a San Diego native, guides a team member onto the fast rope during the Marine Air-Ground Task Force demonstration at the 2011 Marine Corps More

An MV-22B Osprey helicopter takes part in the Marine Air-Ground Task Force demonstration during the 2011 Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Air Show Oct. 1 aboard MCAS Miramar. The MAGTF demonstrated the capabili More

A drill instructor races around a formation of spouses at the 2011 Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron Jane Wayne Day aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Oct. 7. The recruit indoctrination was t More

Staff Sgt. Ruben Acosta, an Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting section leader with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron and El Paso, Texas, native, motivates H&HS Jane Wayne Day participant Stephanie Douglas, More

Navy Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Chesler, an endodontist and a Minneapolis native, and Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Dean Fowler, a dental technician and a Honesdale, Pa., native, both with 13th Dental Company, perform a More

A CH-53E Super Stallion with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 circles above Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., before flying over a Marine Air-Ground Task Force assault zone during the filming of the More

Col. Frank A. Richie, center, the commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, cuts the first slice of Marine Corps birthday cake as the air station and 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing celebrated the Marine More

Marines with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364 present the colors, officially opening the squadron’s 50th anniversary ceremonies aboard Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, Calif., Nov. 10. The squadron More

Col. Frank A. Richie, Santa Clause, Dr Seuss' The Grinch and Maj. Gen. Andrew O'Donnell Jr. prepare to light the tree during the annual tree lighting ceremony aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., No More

Lt. Col. Joseph Levreault, the commanding officer of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 163 and a South Hadley, Mass., native, lands a CH-46E Sea Knight after a ceremonial final flight from Marine Corps Air Stat More

Bennis Branch, left, head coach of the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Falcon’s football team presents Maj. Gen. Andrew W. O’Donnell Jr., right, the commanding general of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, with a team More

Marines from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar sign in at the Summit for Children Worldwide Holiday with Heroes event Dec. 7 in Poway, Calif. This annual event pairs one of more than 50 Marines, sailors and poli More

Mikio Shimoji, member of the Japanese House of Representatives, People’s New Party for Okinawa district one, observes a pilot operating the MV-22B Osprey simulator aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif More

Maj. Gen. Andrew O’Donnell Jr., commanding general of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, speaks with Shozo Azuma, member of the Japanese House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan, before Azuma’s first flight a More

Mikio Shimoji, member of the Japanese House of Representatives, People’s New Party for Okinawa district one, boards an MV-22B Osprey for his first flight in the aircraft, Jan. 19. Japanese dignitaries visited t More

Aaron, son of Capt. David Coleman, a CH-53E pilot with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462, checks the position of his sign during a welcome home celebration aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Fe More

Cpl. Dawson Yeakel, a 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band musician, plays a bass drum during a band performance at Crown Point Junior Music Academy here, Feb. 24. The annual event was part of the academy’s “Music Fri More

British service members from the Joint Helicopter Force (Afghanistan) salute as the colors are retired during a transfer of authority ceremony at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Feb. 29. British forces routinely More

Col. Richard W. Pauly, the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing comptroller, a military term meaning financial adviser, answers questions concerning budget cuts and money appropriation during a Sergeants Major Symposium ab More