U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 (VMFA-112), 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, recover aircraft at night after flight operations during Exercise UNITAS LXV in Santiago, Chile, Sept. 7, 2024. UNITAS, which is Latin for “unity,” was conceived in 1959 and has taken place annually since it was first conducted in 1960. This year marks the 65th iteration of the world’s longest-running annual multinational maritime exercise. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Eric Kilpatrick)

Two pilots with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112(VMFA-112) successfully located a downed aircraft that led emergency response personnel to provide medical assistance to the injured. The incident unfolded on Sept. 23, 2023, near El Dorado, Arkansas. VMFA-112 F/A-18 pilots, Lt.Col. Christopher Baker and Maj. Robert Lundgren were traveling from a memorial in Beaufort, South Carolina for LtCol Andrew “Simple Jack” Mettler when they heard another pilot on the same frequency in distress.

Ordnance Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 (VMFA-112) and Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 41 (MALS-41) hot load a Mark 82 General Purpose bomb onto an F/A-18C Hornet aircraft at San Clemente Island Naval Auxiliary Landing Field, March 7, 2023. Hot-loading refers to the loading and arming of ordnance on an aircraft while the aircraft is still running, increasing the combat effectiveness of a squadron by reducing the downtime of an aircraft between sorties.

Ordnance Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 (VMFA-112) and Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 41 (MALS-41) hot load a Mark 82 General Purpose bomb onto an F/A-18C Hornet aircraft at San Clemente Island Naval Auxiliary Landing Field, March 7, 2023. Hot-loading refers to the loading and arming of ordnance on an aircraft while the aircraft is still running, increasing the combat effectiveness of a squadron by reducing the downtime of an aircraft between sorties.

Ordnance Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 (VMFA-112) and Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 41 (MALS-41) hot load a Mark 82 General Purpose bomb onto an F/A-18C Hornet aircraft at San Clemente Island Naval Auxiliary Landing Field, March 7, 2023. Hot-loading refers to the loading and arming of ordnance on an aircraft while the aircraft is still running, increasing the combat effectiveness of a squadron by reducing the downtime of an aircraft between sorties.

U.S. Marines Capt. Jared Bramble, a pilot with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 (VMFA-112), Marine Aircraft Group 41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, U.S. Marine Forces Reserve prepares for flight in an F/A-18 hornet aboard Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas, August 24, 2021. VMFA-112 participated in an inter-service exercise with Marine Aerial Refueling Squadron 234, Marine Fighter Training Squadron 401, and the Air Force’s 22nd Air Refueling Wing to conduct a long-range strike from Fort Worth to a training range in Yuma, Arizona, spanning over 1000 miles and five flight hours, while evading and maneuvering against F-5N Tiger II’s. The overall mission time, coordination with external agencies, inter-unit and service operability between fellow MAG-41 squadrons and the Air Force, and unfamiliar territory exercised the capabilities of all aircraft and pilots involved.

Pilots with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 112, Marine Aircraft Group 41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, rehearse flight formations in preparation for a deployment sendoff aboard Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas, Sept. 2, 2021. VMFA-112 completed pre-deployment training in preparation for deployment to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command AOR to augment and support Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. During the pre-deployment phase, VMFA-112 underwent a series of inspections, completed annual training requirements, and conducted a rehearsal at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo By Sgt. Booker T. Thomas)

U.S. Marines Sgt. Chancellor Rich, a powerline supervisor with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 (VMFA-112), Marine Aircraft Group 41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Forces Reserve performs final pre-flight checks on an F/A-18 hornet before takeoff aboard Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas, August 24, 2021. VMFA-112 participated in an inter-service exercise with Marine Aerial Refueling Squadron 234, Marine Fighter Training Squadron 401, and the Air Force’s 22nd Air Refueling Wing to conduct a long-range strike from Fort Worth to a training range in Yuma, Arizona, spanning over 1000 miles and five flight hours, while evading and maneuvering against F-5N Tiger II’s. The overall mission time, coordination with external agencies, inter-unit and service operability between fellow MAG-41 squadrons and the Air Force, and unfamiliar territory exercised the capabilities of all aircraft and pilots involved.

An aircraft maintainer with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 112 conducts final flight checks at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas before launching an F/A-18 Hornet for the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility (AOR), Sept. 13, 2021. VMFA-112 completed pre-deployment training in preparation for deployment to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, to augment and support Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. During the pre-deployment phase, VMFA-112 underwent a series of inspections, completed annual training requirements, and conducted a rehearsal at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo By Sgt. Booker T. Thomas)

Flight crew with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 (VMFA-112), Marine Aircraft Group 41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, U.S. Marine Forces Reserve prepared to launch six F/A-18 hornets in support of a training exercise aboard Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas, August 24, 2021. VMFA-112 participated in an inter-service exercise with Marine Aerial Refueling Squadron 234, Marine Fighter Training Squadron 401, and the Air Force’s 22nd Air Refueling Wing to conduct a long-range strike from Fort Worth to a training range in Yuma, Arizona, spanning over 1000 miles and five flight hours, while evading and maneuvering against F-5N Tiger II’s. The overall mission time, coordination with external agencies, inter-unit and service operability between fellow MAG-41 squadrons and the Air Force, and unfamiliar territory exercised the capabilities of all aircraft and pilots involved.