U.S. Marine Squadron Launches Pioneering Combat Missions with F-35C Jets

In a significant strategic operation, VMFA 314, a squadron aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), struck multiple Houthi weapons storage sites in Yemen. These sites contained conventional weapons, including anti-ship missiles, and posed threats to military and civilian vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

The mission highlighted the F-35C’s capabilities in navigating challenging airspaces. Lt. Col. Jeffrey “Wiki” Davis, leading VMFA-314, expressed pride in pioneering the use of the F-35C in active combat zones. “The F-35C demonstrated its warfighting advantage,” he stated, emphasizing its impact on their operations.

The F-35C, a fifth-generation stealth fighter, serves the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, executing diverse missions such as air-to-air combat and reconnaissance. Its advanced technology strengthens the carrier air wing’s operational reach, according to Capt. Gerald “Dutch” Tritz of CVW 9.

Other F-35 variants have also proven effective in combat. The F-35B first engaged in 2018, during actions against the Taliban and ISIS. The following year, the F-35A completed its first mission targeting ISIS in Iraq.

VMFA-314, known as the “Black Knights,” transitioned to the F-35C in 2020, marking a first for any Navy or Marine Corps fleet squadron. This transition follows a legacy of firsts, including operating the F-4 Phantom and F-18 Hornet. Based in Miramar, California, VMFA-314 remains the sole deployed Marine Corps F-35C squadron.