F-35B From USS Essex Conducts Its 1st Combat Strike U.S. Navy

CENTCOM AOR (Sept. 27, 2018) U.S Marine Corps Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA 211) F-35B Lightning II joint strike fighters from the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) conducted the F-35B's first combat strike. The strike occurred in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel in Afghanistan. During this mission, the F-35B conducted an air strike in support of ground clearance operations, and the strike was deemed successful by the ground force commander. The aircraft are assigned to the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) which is the first combat-deployed MEU to replace the AV-8B Harrier with the F35B Lightning II. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Francisco Diaz and Lance Cpl. A. J. Van Fredenberg/Released)