Take a look at the specially painted aircraft of VMFA-251, the first East Coast operational unit of the U.S. Marine Corps to receive the F-35C.
On Sept. 17, 2024, the U.S. Marine Corps’ Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 251 received its first F-35C Lightning II jet, at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, North Carolina. As we reported in detail back then, the delivery of the first CV (Carrier Variant) Lightning, made VMFA-251 the first U.S. Marine Corps’ East Coast operational F-35C squadron.
VMFA-251 is part of Marine Aircraft Group 14 (MAG-14) within the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW 2), the aviation combat element of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF).
The first aircraft delivered to the unit, BuNo 170501/CF-93, was also elected to be converted into the Thunderbolts CAG-bird and given a fresh new paint scheme to be ready for the ceremony held at MCAS Cherry Point on Dec. 5, to celebrate the reactivation of the squadron following a four-year, seven-month hiatus.
VMFA-251, known as the “Thunderbolts” or “T-Bolts,” was previously deactivated during a ceremony on April 23, 2020, at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina, after returning from deployment in 2020 in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. The Thunderbolts’ deactivation concluded its 34 years as an F/A-18 Hornet squadron. The squadron was then relocated to MCAS Cherry Point to begin its transition to the F-35.
“Today, almost 83 years to the day after it was founded, VMFA-251 reactivates as an F-35C Lightning II squadron. The T-Bolts are humbled and honored for the privilege of carrying that proud legacy forward,” said Lt. Col. Evan Shockley, commanding officer, VMFA-251 in a public release.
“Our immediate focus is working towards initial operational capability, which means that VMFA-251 has enough operational F-35C Lightning II aircraft, trained pilots, maintainers, and support equipment to self-sustain its mission essential tasks. Following that, we will turn our attention towards reaching full operational capability to ensure that, when called upon, the T-Bolts will stand ready to serve our great nation.”
While the official photos published on the DVIDS website showed the CAG-bird in the hangar where the ceremony was held, a much better look at the special colored aircraft is provided by the images taken by our contributors Gherardo and Victoria Fontana.
In fact, on Dec. 12, 2024, using radio callsign TBOLT 21, the CAG bird flew into NAS JRB Fort Worth for a gas and go. After landing around 14.30 LT, the aircraft remained on the ground for about an hour and a half, and then left for Yuma.
As the images in this article show, the tail includes an orange lightning bolt design over a white cross and black background, markings (including “MARINES”, “VMFA-251”, warning triangles and “JET INTAKE DANGER”), displayed in orange.
The front gear door of aircraft says “THUNDERBOLTS” on left side and “CUSTOS CAELORUM” on the right side in yellow paint. The latter translates from Latin to “Guardians of the Sky”.
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The traditional U.S. military roundel is high-visibility and colored white, red, and blue.
It’s worth noticing that the CAG-bird is a specially painted aircraft that is officially assigned to the Commanding officer of the Air Wing: every embarked squadron has a CAG-bird that sports modex usually ending with the ’00’ numbers.
One-two ‘punch’ for the USMC
“Today’s arrival of our first carrier-based, fifth-generation fighter-attack aircraft represents an enormous milestone for MAG-14, MCAS Cherry Point, 2nd MAW, and the F-35 community,” said Colonel Benjamin Grant, commanding officer, MAG-14, when the aircraft was delivered to VMFA-251 on Sept. 17, 2024.
The Thunderbolts and the third F-35C unit of the USMC. The other F-35C units, based on the U.S. West Coast, at MCAS Miramar, California, are VMFA-314 and VMFA-311. Overall, VMFA-251 has become the 15th USMC squadron equipped with the F-35, adding to the two other F-35C squadrons and 12 F-35B squadrons.
“The one-two punch provided by the F-35C’s increased range and the F-35B’s STOVL capability will give MAG-14 (Marine Aircraft Group 14) and the MAGTF (Marine Air-Ground Task Force) a significant advantage in the future fight,” added the commander. “I’m proud of the team of Marines and Sailors at MAG-14 and VMFA-251 for their professionalism and dedication, and grateful for our partners in the Marine Corps and the joint force that made today’s event possible.”
“The F-35C Lightning II brings tremendous combat power to 2nd MAW, MAG-14, and MCAS Cherry Point. Its incredible range, firepower, sensors, and survivability, coupled with the fact that it is truly a Joint aircraft, makes it a lethal asset for Marine aviation,” said VMFA-251’s Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Evan Shockleym, who flew the first F-35 to the base. “The T-Bolts of VMFA-251 are excited to accept these aircraft, reactivate the squadron in the coming months, and carry their legacy forward.”
The F-35C had its baptism of fire last month, when U.S. Marine Corps F-35Cs, belonging to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), conducted multiple strikes on Houthi weapons storage facilities within Houthi-controlled territories in Yemen on Nov. 9-10, 2024.
The facilities housed conventional weapons, including anti-ship missiles that the Iranian-backed Houthis used to target U.S. and international military and civilian vessels navigating international waters in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
“The F-35C demonstrated its warfighting advantage by transiting contested airspace and striking targets in the heart of Houthi territory over multiple days,” stated Lt. Col. Jeffrey “Wiki” Davis, commanding officer of VMFA-314. “My Marines are honored to be first to fight with the F-35C.”
“The offensive and defensive capabilities of the F-35C absolutely enhance our air wing’s striking arm,” said Capt. Gerald “Dutch” Tritz, commander, CVW 9. “The now battle-tested Air Wing of the Future has proven itself a game changer across all carrier air wing missions.”
