Yoshihiko Fukuda, left, and Col. Robert V. Boucher discuss the off-load of 12 MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft at the port facility at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, July 30. The aircraft arrived by commercial cargo ship, before being flown to Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa, Japan, as part of HMM-262. The 12 aircraft will be inspected, and prepared for flight operations to Okinawa at the beginning of August completing the one-to-one CH-46E replacement on Okinawa. The MV-22 is a highly-capable aircraft with an excellent operational safety record. The aircraft combines the vertical capability of a helicopter with the speed and range of a fixed-wing aircraft that can fly twice as fast, carry three times as much, and fly four times the range of the older, CH-46E. Its capabilities will significantly benefit the U.S.-Japan alliance, strengthen our ability to provide for the defense of Japan and an increased ability to perform humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions. Fukuda is the mayor of Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. Boucher is the commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Marine Corps Installations Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Vanessa Jimenez/released)
Cpl. Vanessa Jimenez
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