Marine aviation will continue to be an integral part of the MAGTF. Some of the reasoning for this retirement is the VMAQs are considered strategic assets so would get snapped up by the COCOMs and not be under Marine control. Why continue to support a small unique platform that didn't benefit their service.

Hearing aid left ear. That's what happens after a career around bang bang bang. Add that to his VA claim.

Yes the site switched to the mess. Before that it was a forum chock full of military imagery with daily and subject threads people contributed. It had a record thread for females in uniform I think! LOL. I guess the Brigade is kind of good just for pics.

You must miss militaryphotos.net!

Good point! Although maybe it has to do with not having the leadership, tech, and money to really apply any strategy.

I think PACOM or PACFLT has mentioned something like your idea. Instead of playing the A2AD game find a way around it

Yes and also why the “experts” who say bases on Okinawa are useless are wrong too. Presence and access counts for a lot.

Yeah. Remember this version of what will happen if we bomb their islands?

Yeah and the PRC would like to push out to the 2nd island chain. Which includes Japan and the Philippines

It’s not just about oil though. See the BBC articles about how Chinese fishermen are actually killing the coral reefs to harvest giant clams. It’s Vietnamese, Filipino, and Chinese fishing boats on the front lines now.

Money. I think it's a more recent trend invented by marketing and lawyers. Do you hear anyone refer to a P-51 Mustang as anything but North American? The Boeing F4 Phantom? I get it it's business. I remember when our F18 rep had to change his polo shirt from Mcd to Boeing. The legacy was in the logo as you mentioned.

But we have to appear to be willing to fight because we’ve promised the Philippines et al to defend them. And how do you know it won't be an American company that gets the drilling contract? ;)

True but just thought should give the original company credit.

Admiral Harris PACOM called these bases “grapes” because they'll be easy to pick off. But then he still emphasizes until that time comes those threat rings are dangerous to everyone.

It's a medical condition!

B24's were from Consolidated Aircraft not Lockheed.

There’s a Aussie LNO where I work. Harder to understand him than the Japanese officer.

See the world? Where does RAAF deploy? I hope so. Their F18s are as old as ours but they’ve definitely been more careful with preserving their lifespan.

Sorry I meant Armadillo. ;)

We’re all in the same boat. If Smedley Butler was right and the military is a gangster for Wall Street then nobody would go to war with China because of business.