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http://www.airforcesmonthly.com #354 SEPTEMBER 2017 // 17

Fitter-killer Super Hornet

AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS

George H W Bush’s arrival

in UK waters confirmed

the identity of the Strike

Fighter Squadron (VFA) 87

‘Golden Warriors’ F/A-18E

that downed a Syrian Arab

Air Force Su-22M-4 over

northern-central Syria

on June 18 (see Hot skies

over Syria, August, p6).

The F/A-18E in question

was not 168914/’AJ-304’

as previously reported,

but 168912/’AJ-302’, flown

by LCDR Michael Tremel.

An Su-22 kill marking

has now been applied

below the canopy.

The Super Hornet and

its pilot were on deck

when the carrier dropped

anchor near Stokes Bay

in the Solent on July 27.

‘Red Devils’ Hornets train at Hyakuri

Above: Two VMFA-232 F/A-18C Hornets taxi in after arriving at Hyakuri Air Base, Japan, on July 7
for exercises as part of the Aviation Training Relocation programme. USMC/Lance Cpl Mason Roy
US MARINE Corps
Marine Fighter Attack
Squadron (VMFA) 232 ‘Red
Devils’ has carried out a
14-day Aviation Training
Relocation programme
deployment to the Japan
Air Self-Defense Force’s
( JASDF’s) Hyakuri Air Base.
The unit’s F/A-18Cs
arrived at the base on July
7 and completed their
training under the ATR on
July 21. It gave them the
opportunity to increase

operational readiness and

interoperability between

US and Japanese forces.

The ATRs also reduce

overall noise impact

by dispersing bilateral

jet fighter training of

US forces across many

different JASDF bases.

During the training –

the squadron’s first visit

to Hyakuri – VMFA-

conducted Red Air and

Blue Air training, involving

basic fighter and section-

engaged manoeuvres,

active air defence and

air interdiction with the

resident JASDF RF-4E/

EJs of the 501st Hikotai.

The ‘Red Devils’ returned

to Marine Corps Air

Station Iwakuni on July 24,

where they are currently

stationed as part of

the Unit Deployment

Program, away from

their normal home

base at MCAS Miramar,

California. Dave Allport

Adrian M Balch