12 USMC MV-22s on way to Japan

[Tintin]

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/0 ... emRvaxASPR

U.S. says 12 more Ospreys on way

Kyodo

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Marine Corps confirmed Wednesday that 12 Osprey tilt-rotor transport aircraft have left San Diego for deployment in Japan.

A commercial ship carrying the 12 MV-22s departed San Diego on Tuesday and will arrive at U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture in late July, a USMC representative said.

The 12 aircraft are expected to join the other 12 MV-22s already deployed to Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa as soon as next month, replacing all of the base’s aging CH-46 helicopters.

The arrival of the second Osprey squadron will help the U.S. military heighten capability “in terms of security and humanitarian assistance for the entire Asia-Pacific region,” the representative said.

[Le Addeur noir]

The second United States Marine Corps Osprey squadron,the Lucky Red Lions has connenced the move to their new base of MCAS Futenma,Okinawa.Japanese channel 9 today showed footage of MV-22B modex YZ-04 being offloaded at a Japanese port.

On or by the 1st October,this unit should become VMM-262 'Flying Tigers',and the 'Lucky Red Lions' will again form on the USA on Ospreys and eventually deploy to MCB Hawaii-or MCAS Kaneohe Bay as this base was formally known as.

The CH-46Es of HMM-262 are very likely to be scrapped at Camp Kinser this fall.

[Le Addeur noir]

Further to this subject,

9 Ospreys have been shipped from NAS North Island,CA in the initial shipment and the following modexes are known for them,

YZ-00 168006 the color bird
YZ-01
YZ-02 168240
YZ-04
YZ-05 168017
YZ-10
YZ-11 1682?4 probably 168274
YZ-12 168283
YZ-16 168014 (corrected)

3 further Ospreys are likely to be also shipped on another shipment and these should be,

YZ-06 168237
YZ-13
YZ-14 168288

These Bu numbers and modexes have all been read from footage on http://www.youtube.com.

[Melchior Timmers]

These are the known serials of the unit:

168006 YZ-00 MV-22B D0136 VMM-363
168008 YZ-03 MV-22B D0138 VMM-363
168012 YZ-04 MV-22B D0142 VMM-363
168014 YZ-16 MV-22B D0144 VMM-363
168017 YZ-05 MV-22B D0147 VMM-363
168237 YZ-06 MV-22B D0187 VMM-363
168240 YZ-02 MV-22B D0190 VMM-363
168278 YZ-01 MV-22B D0195 VMM-363
168279 YZ-10 MV-22B D0196 VMM-363
168282 YZ-11 MV-22B D0199 VMM-363
168283 YZ-12 MV-22B D0200 VMM-363
168288 YZ-14 MV-22B D0205 VMM-363

[Le Addeur noir]

On Saturday 03 August the first 2 MV-22B were transferred from Iwakuni to Kadena.There were,

168282 YZ-11
168283 YZ-12

On Monday 05th August,further transfers were suspended following the fatal crash of a 33 RQS HH-60G on Okinawa.

On Monday,12 August this suspension was lifted and the following MV-22B were flown to Okinawa,

168278 YZ-01
168*** YZ-02
168012 YZ-04
168*** YZ-05
168279 YZ-10
168287 YZ-13
168*** YZ-14
168014 YZ-16

[Thijs]

Le Addeur Noir, what's the BuNo of YZ-16? You mention two different BuNo's.

168014 YZ-16

YZ-16 168283

I'm lost.

Thijs

[Melchior Timmers]

168283 = YZ-12
168014 = YZ-16

[raameagle]

Have the BuNos actually been read off?

Regards

Mark

[GIPS]

I have a base visit at kadena and futenma this week.....will check it out

[Melchior Timmers]

Buno's come from pictures.
Gijs, please check the C/Ns as well .....

Happy hunting!

[Le Addeur noir]

168014 is YZ-16

168283 is as reported YZ-12.

These Bu numbers have been read from pictures taken this week.

There should be 11 MV-22Bs from this unit in Okinawa,the 12th is according to Japanese sources remaining at Iawkuni for a while.