'Black Knights' - Back in the Game!

Combat Aircraft Journal reports from MCAS Miramar as VMFA-314 becomes the first F-35 unit at the San Diego base.

Once known as ‘Fightertown’ in its US Navy heyday, MCAS Miramar, California, is today home to the 3rd Marine Air Wing (MAW). The F/A-18 Hornet has dominated here since the navy moved out, but now the first Lightning IIs have arrived as VMFA-314 ‘Black Knights’ returned home following transition to the F-35C at NAS Lemoore, California. The squadron is the first US Marine Corps unit to fly the carrier variant of the F-35, with its first aircraft arriving at Miramar on January 21, 2020. ‘It should be no surprise that VMFA-314 is once again leading the way into the next generation of fighter attack aircraft,’ commented Lt Col Cedar Hinton, commanding officer of VMFA-314.

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