F-35B marks aviation first at JBER

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Mike Campbell
  • 477th Fighter Group
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska --  On any given day at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, you can hear sound of freedom as the F-22 Raptors circle the mountains and come in for a landing. There was a different tone to that sound Jan. 9 as the Marine F-35B Lightning II fighter jets joined the orchestra.

“There aren’t a lot of firsts in the world; they happen once and that’s it and it’s always amazing when you see it first-hand,” said 477th Fighter Group Commander Col. Christopher Ogren.

JBER got the rare opportunity to be part of one of those historic moments last week when the crew from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 stopped by with their F-35Bs while transitioning from Yuma, AZ to Japan.

“This operation is good for the F-35 and its crew to experience the harsh environment of Alaska,” said Marine Staff Sgt. Andre Villanueve, F-35B maintenance control member. “Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson is a great base, the Air Force took care of our crew and our aircraft.”

“This is a first for an operational F-35 squadron in Alaska,” said Marine Staff Sgt. Cassidy Cleinmark, an F-35 avionics maintenance control Marine. “This is an unprecedented movement for the F-35 operational unit.”

The F-35 is the newest fighter jet, and fifth-gen fighters aren’t new to JBER. The last time a new aircraft entered the JBER airspace was August 2007, when the base became the first Pacific Air Forces installation to receive the F-22 Raptor which joined the 3rd Wing and Air Force Reserve Command’s 477th FG.

Master Sgt. Mark Ling, who works as an F-22 expediter for the 90th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, was one of the first 477th Fighter Group aircraft crew chiefs who worked on the Raptor.

“In 2007, the F-22 Raptor was the aircraft maintainer’s top choice to learn and work on,” he said. “It was a new jet that we all knew would change the fighter world forever. Even ten years later, it is still an exciting, state-of-the-art aircraft to work with.”

Fast-forward to 2017 and JBER can add the F-35B transition pit-stop as another aviation first.

“As a plane captain, I make sure the aircraft is safe for flight, including the fuel systems, propulsion, pre-flight inspection and aircraft marshaling,” said Marine Cpl. Alexander Noonan, a powerline Marine, similar to an Air Force crew chief mechanic. “I like the F-35; it is relatively easy to work on, with good contractor support. The capabilities of the F-35 are impressive, it combine’s legacy aircraft into one.”

While most crew chiefs in the Air Force, and across the military, work on legacy aircraft that have accomplished many missions, those working on the new fighters have a different perspective. Cleinmark, who has eight years of experience with Marine avionics and maintenance control, said he enjoys working with the F-35, getting to see the big picture of where the future of aviation is going.

“The F-35 is tenfold better to work with than any aircraft I’ve been assigned to; maintenance is less in-depth than legacy aircraft and more innovative.”

The transition to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni marks a significant milestone in the F-35B program as the United States continues to lead the way in stealth fighter attack aircraft advancement.