VMFA-115 HORNETS DEPLOY TO FINLAND

摘要

A DETACHMENT of ten US Marine Corps F/A-18C Hornets recently deployed to Finland to participate in a squadron-level visit to Karelia Air Command at Rissala Air Base. The Hornets were all from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115 (VMFA-115)'Silver Eagles' at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina. They arrived at Rissala on May 25 in readiness for joint training with the Finnish Air Force, which took place from June 2-20. Support was provided by KC-130J tankers of Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 452 (VMGR-452) from Stewart Air National Guard Base, New York. Around 250 personnel were involved in the deployment. The USMC detachment was originally scheduled to participate in the Arctic Challenge Exercise 21 (ACE 21) at Rovaniemi Air Base, but COVID-19 precautions have led to the exercise being scaled back and limits being placed on the number of participants.