United Stated Marine Corps Unit Deployment Program (UDP)

[The DJ]

I stand corrected, SD was right on those 12 VMFA(AW)-121 F/A-18s heading for Japan.
Just a coincedence that on the same day 11 (not 12) VMFA-314 F/A-18s departed for home after a two-week training excercise with 115FW F16s at Key West.

Would have been a good day at the fence! Have no bunos though!

[sdamico]

I stand corrected, SD was right on those 12 VMFA(AW)-121 F/A-18s heading for Japan.
Just a coincedence that on the same day 11 (not 12) VMFA-314 F/A-18s departed for home after a two-week training excercise with 115FW F16s at Key West.

Would have been a good day at the fence! Have no bunos though!

Actually, DJ is correct. I ran across the news article below on VMFA-314 training at Key West through the 21st, so this makes sense. VMFA(AW)-121 would have of course departed from Miramar (at about the same time) for the UDP. Also, -314 uses the Knight callsign while -121 uses Combat. (Feud is a Coronet callsign for these UDP units.)

Thanks,
SD

http://dma.wi.gov/dma/news/2011News/12013.asp

[Le Addeur noir]

On February 18th,2 additional VMFA(AW)-121 F/A-18D arrived,

164650 VK-14
164705 VK-15

These are now 11 Jets from this unit here.

[Le Addeur noir]

It appears the unit to replace VMFA-115 will be VMFA-232.Their jets have been seen transitting Hickham AFB this week(w/c 12th March).

Hopefully,more details to follow.

[Le Addeur noir]

Latest arrivals at Iwakuni from Wake Island on 17th March,

83-0080 wt KC-10A 60 AMW RCH286 arr from PWAK
165181 WT-00 F/A-18C VMFA-232 Fued 92 arr from PWAK
165186 WT-01 F/A-18C VMFA-232 Fued 81 arr from PWAK
164908 WT-02 F/A-18C VMFA-232 Fued 91 arr from PWAK
165191 WT-03 F/A-18C VMFA-232 Fued 93 arr from PWAK
165183 WT-04 F/A-18C VMFA-232 Fued 84 arr from PWAK
165193 WT-05 F/A-18C VMFA-232 Fued 86 arr from PWAK
165194 WT-06 F/A-18C VMFA-232 Fued 83 arr from PWAK
165195 WT-07 F/A-18C VMFA-232 Fued 96 arr from PWAK
165218 WT-10 F/A-18C VMFA-232 Fued 95 arr from PWAK
165227 WT-12 F/A-18C VMFA-232 Fued 94 arr from PWAK
164878 WT-13 F/A-18C VMFA-232 Fued 82 arr from PWAK

These should replace VMFA-115.

[Le Addeur noir]

19th March,

The following F/A-18A++ departures were recorded,

163166 VE-200 F/A-18A++ VMFA-115 dep to PWAK returned with a problem
162884 VE-201 F/A-18A++ VMFA-115 dep to PWAK
163174 VE-203 F/A-18A++ VMFA-115 dep to PWAK
162429 VE-207 F/A-18A++ VMFA-115 dep to PWAK
163137 VE-206 F/A-18A++ VMFA-115 dep to PWAK
163171 VE-202 F/A-18A++ VMFA-115 dep to PWAK
163129 VE-211 F/A-18A++ VMFA-115 dep to PWAK
163094 VE-213 F/A-18A++ VMFA-115 dep to PWAK
163141 VE-210 F/A-18A++ VMFA-115 dep to PWAK
162433 VE-205 F/A-18A++ VMFA-115 dep to PWAK


22nd March,

162433 VE-205 F/A-18A++ VMFA-115 dep to PWAK
163158 VE-212 F/A-18A++ VMFA-115 dep to PWAK

[Le Addeur noir]

11th April,

The VMFA-115 jet that returned here with a problem when the remainder of the unit departed to Wake Island on 19th March,163166 VE-200,today departed to Atsugi,no doubt to inducted into depot level maintenance by Nippi Industries.

[Le Addeur noir]

Monday 09th July,

The following VMA-542 AV-8Bs arrived at Kadena today to replace VMA-311,

166312 WH-01
165004 WH-02
165003 WH-03
166287 WH-04
164560 WH-05
165381 WH-06
165593 WH-07
165001 WH-08

[sdamico]

On 20th July at least two aircraft from VMFA(AW)-121 passed through Fort Worth Alliance after returning from UDP:
164679/VK-13 F/A-18D (ATARS)
164882/VK-16 F/A-18D

Another three (using callsign Combat 41) transited through NASJRB Fort Worth on the 22nd heading east.

These are presumably ferry flights to Beaufort to redistribute the aircraft to East Coast units, as VMFA(AW)-121 will soon convert to F-35Bs as VMFA-121 and relocate to Yuma.

Rgds,
SD

[Le Addeur noir]

On 20th July at least two aircraft from VMFA(AW)-121 passed through Fort Worth Alliance after returning from UDP:
164679/VK-13 F/A-18D (ATARS)
164882/VK-16 F/A-18D

Another three (using callsign Combat 41) transited through NASJRB Fort Worth on the 22nd heading east.

These are presumably ferry flights to Beaufort to redistribute the aircraft to East Coast units, as VMFA(AW)-121 will soon convert to F-35Bs as VMFA-121 and relocate to Yuma.

Rgds,
SD

VMFA(AW)-121 were replaced at Iwakuni by a so far unidentified F/A-18 unit last week.

Hopefully more details here soon.

[sdamico]

Could VAQ-132 with its EA-18Gs be the replacement? Although not an F/A-18 squadron specifically and based at Misawa instead of Iwakuni, it arrived for the standard six-month deployment about the same time that VMFA(AW)-121 departed. This would be the first time in a while that VAQ/VMAQ expeditionary assets have been deployed to Japan as they have been heavily tasked in CENTCOM.

SD

[Le Addeur noir]

Could VAQ-132 with its EA-18Gs be the replacement? Although not an F/A-18 squadron specifically and based at Misawa instead of Iwakuni, it arrived for the standard six-month deployment about the same time that VMFA(AW)-121 departed. This would be the first time in a while that VAQ/VMAQ expeditionary assets have been deployed to Japan as they have been heavily tasked in CENTCOM.

SD

Highly doubtful.

The USMC had a VMAQ UDP det up to around 2004/2005 at Iwakuni,if anything this det will replace that.

I would guess that the addition of a VAQ TDY in the Far East is part of the overall build up of US forces in that part of the world.

As usual,time will tell.

I think the VAQ assets will also operate from Osan as part of a det from Misawa.A Growler from this unit visited Misawa and Osan a few months ago.

[sdamico]

Could VAQ-132 with its EA-18Gs be the replacement? Although not an F/A-18 squadron specifically and based at Misawa instead of Iwakuni, it arrived for the standard six-month deployment about the same time that VMFA(AW)-121 departed. This would be the first time in a while that VAQ/VMAQ expeditionary assets have been deployed to Japan as they have been heavily tasked in CENTCOM.

SD

Highly doubtful.

The USMC had a VMAQ UDP det up to around 2004/2005 at Iwakuni,if anything this det will replace that.

I would guess that the addition of a VAQ TDY in the Far East is part of the overall build up of US forces in that part of the world.

As usual,time will tell.

I think the VAQ assets will also operate from Osan as part of a det from Misawa.A Growler from this unit visited Misawa and Osan a few months ago.

You're right. It looks as though VMFA(AW)-225 is on its way. The July issue of Combat Aircraft Monthly also mentioned a "Summer 2012 deployment."

http://www.dvidshub.net/image/638784/ha ... ByzE_Zbd_w

SD

[Le Addeur noir]

The first wave of F/A-18Ds from VMFA(AW)-225 arrived at Iwakuni on the 4th August for their next UDP.*It is now known this wave was of 4 jets.

One identified so far is modex CE-02.*A second identified is CE-11.

Tanker support was KC-10A 83-0075 60 AMW Petro 41 into Yokota.

Hopefully,updates to follow.

[Le Addeur noir]

It appears VMA-542 arrived at Iwakuni during June,as opposed to arriving at Kadena en masse in early July.

Anyone like to confirm this ?.

Unfortunatly the loss of the Iwakuni blog is causing problems keeping up with the UDP program.