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http://www.shephardmedia.com/news/rotor ... on-sortie/Marine Corps fly last CH-53D Sea Stallion sortie
23 August 2012 - 10:15
The United States Marine Corps (USMC) has flown its last CH-53D Sea Stallion sorties in Afghanistan, marking the end of its Marine Corps service.
The last flight took place on 16 August from Camp Bastion airfield in Helmand Province, the aircraft flown by crews from Hawaii-based Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 362, known as the 'Ugly Angels'.
The aircraft are now being dismantled, ready for decommissioning, while the unit will be deactivated at the end of the year.
Many of the CH-53Ds are 40 years old, having joined the USMC during the Vietnam War.
In Afghanistan, engineers were often working an average of 20 hours to provide one flight hour
while their relatively poor 'hot and high' capabilities meant the type was relegated to operating at night in the cooler temperatures.
The aircraft was officially retired from the USMC inventory in February, leaving just the CH-53Ds of HMH-362 in Afghanistan to complete their tour.
Nearly all the remaining CH-53Ds were based with the marines at Kaneohe Bay in Hawaii, but the type is now being replaced with the three-engined Super Stallion which began arriving in late February.