Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Bell 430

Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class James Holmes, a landing safety enlisted, directs an Ecuadorian navy Bell 230 helicopter to take off from guided-missile frigate USS Thach (FFG 43) during cross-deck flight operations as part of PANAMAX 2011. Thach is a part of the PANAMAX Pacific Task Force with navy ships from Canada, Chile, Ecuador and Peru. PANAMAX focuses on the defense of the Panama Canal, with participants from 17 countries, and involving more than 4,500 personnel throughout the U.S. Southern Command. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Steve Smith/Released)

CH-46E Sea Knight

A crew member of the Military Sealift Command dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Matthew Perry (T-AKE 9) attaches cargo to a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter assigned to the Flying Tigers of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM) 262 during a vertical replenishment. The Flying Tigers are conducting humanitarian assistance missions in Northern Japan as part of Operation Tomodachi. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Charles Oki/Released)

CH-46 Sea Knight

Airmen remove chocks and tie-down chains from a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter assigned to the Evil Eyes of Marine Medium Helicopter Squdron (HMM) 163 during flight operations aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20). Green Bay and the embarked 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (13th MEU) are underway supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Stephen M. Votaw/Released)

CH-46E Sea Knight

Two CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters assigned to the Dragons of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM) 265 land on the flight deck of the amphibious transport dock ship USS Denver (LPD 9). Denver is part of the forward-deployed Essex Amphibious Ready Group and is underway conducting operations in the western Pacific ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Bryan Blair/Released)

CH-46E Sea Knight

A CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter assigned to the Red Dragons of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM) 268 (Reinforced) lands aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18) during flight quarters. New Orleans and embarked Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (11th MEU) are deployed as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Dominique Pineiro/Released)

CH-46 Sea Knight

A Marine assigned to the Marine Corps Training Division at Expeditionary Warfare Training Group Pacific jumps from a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter, assigned to the "Knightriders" of Marine Medium Helicopter Training Squadron (HMMT) 164 during a training exercise. The exercise was the conclusion of the Infantry Company Small Boat Raid Course. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Tim Godbee/Released)

CH-46 Sea Knight

Marines and Sailors remove chocks and chains from a Marine Corps CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18) during a fast-rope exercise with the Maritime Raid Force of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (11th MEU). New Orleans and embarked Marines assigned to the 11th MEU are conducting operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group commanded by Capt. Humberto Quintalla II. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Dominique Pineiro/Released)

CH-46 Sea Knight

Sailors aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) secure a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM) 268 Reinforced, to the flight deck. Pearl Harbor and embarked Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (11th MEU) are on deployment conducting operations in the U.S. 7th fleet area of responsibility as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason Behnke/Released)