A Tiltrotor Squadron in Afghanistan
Scenes of a Marine unit flying the incredible, versatile Osprey.
- By Rebecca Maksel
- AirSpaceMag.com, March 15, 2010

Ed Darack
At Camp Bastion, each squadron has a large hangar for maintenance, notes Darack. “None of the aviators live at the squadron headquarters itself. They live at Camp Leatherneck, which is a sprawling tent city. Each morning members of the ‘day shift’ of the squadron catch a bus, usually about 4:00 in the morning, from Camp Leatherneck, and take the 20-minute ride to headquarters. The ride is 20 minutes not because it’s that far from Leatherneck, but because they have to drive around the airstrip. There’s a small chow tent at the squadron, where they serve ‘tray rats,’ or tray rations.”
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Comments (4)
Lovely picture. Could I purchase a copy? EDITORS' REPLY: We do not sell copies of photographs. You would need to buy one from the photographer directly. Most photographers have websites or agencies that can be found easily through a Web search.
Posted by Elizabeth Freeman on March 17,2010 | 10:41 PM
I would like to see more pictures of VMM261 squadron--maybe we can see our marine.Thank you all for what you are doing. God bless and take care.
Posted by RUBEN PIMENTEL on March 22,2010 | 05:44 PM
As a Naval Aviator w/ seaplane, carrier attack (A-1)&mucho combat time in helicopter gunships + command of a squadron & aircraft carrier, I fail to understand why NAVAIR size~ selected the V-22 to emulate an H-46 sized capacity vice the larger H-47 or H-53 heavy lift capabilities. Troop support capability suffers from the meager load capabilities of this aircraft. (Love the concept & flexibility but it begs for a weapons capability to also support the Troops.) ~ww~
Posted by Warrior Wes on March 24,2010 | 06:10 PM
I was an Air Force weather observer at Ft Huachuca AZ in 1982 when the Osprey was being flight tested. It was amazing to see it in operation.
Posted by Michael C. Gahagan on November 26,2011 | 01:53 AM