EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The CH-46 has flown through many chaotic times since its inception in the Marine Corps almost 40 years ago: Vietnam, Grenada, Somalia and the Persian Gulf to name a few.
Marines with Detachment B, Marine Aircraft Group-46, Helicopter Marine Medium Squadron-764, hailing from here, know all too well about the strength and endurance of the "Frog" -- they witness it daily.
"I wouldn't fly in any other helicopter in a combat situation," said Sgt. Jeffery Kraus, crew chief, HMM-764. "It has proven its effectiveness with blood."
It was just another average day for the squadron on Nov. 12, when they got the call to support infantry Marines from Twenty-Nine Palms, Calif.
"Because of our location were able to support many bases in the area," said Lt. Col. Drew Crane, executive officer and Peacetime Wartime Support Team, Det. B, MAG-46.
The "Frog" and crew of four flew over the Mojave Desert to its destination. With speeds reaching 145 nautical miles per hour, it took approximately an hour to hit its landing zone on the desert floor.
As the ramp lowered, the squad of Marines entered the steel bird, which is able to hold 17 combat loaded troops plus crew. They were off again over the endless sand to the drop off point a couple of miles away.
"That's our main mission, we put the grunts in place," Kraus said.
Throughout the afternoon the bird did exactly that -- placing the infantry in different landing zones, working on the effectiveness and speed of loading and unloading the troops.
Darkness began to immerse in the sky, but this didn't hinder the crew's capabilities because they utilize night vision goggles.
"The pilots aren't able to see all around the aircraft, so the aerial observer and the crew chief need to be always aware of the surroundings and landing zone," Kraus said.
The aerial observer and crew chief are staged directly behind the cockpit on the left and right. In a combat situation they would have two .50 caliber machine guns on each side of the aircraft.
When the mission was complete, it was time for the two General Electric T58 1700 shaft horsepower engines to fly the crew safely home.
That day was over, but on Nov. 14 the "Frogs" were off again to another location to support the Navy SEALs.
"Frogs are the workhorse of the Marine Corps," Kraus said.
Two CH-46s were tasked to meet up with SEALs just outside of San Diego. Their mission: to taxi two SEAL teams and their rubber boats a couple miles off the coast and drop them off into the sea, where they would then ride in to shore.
"We could get tasked to support anyone at anytime," said Lt. Col. Mark Bowen, aircraft commander and also incoming commanding officer Det. B, MAG-46.
The CH-46, able to hold 24,300 lbs, max weight, carried the SEALs and gear with ease. The two birds hovered over the water and descended until the aft grazed the top of the sea. The crew chief gave the word and in an instance the two teams jumped out of the birds.
Another day and mission complete for HMM-764. Always on guard, they remain ready, willing and able -- because the next mission could be the "real deal," Kraus said.