On September 9, a second U.S. Marine Corps squadron declared its F-35B squadron ready for operations. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242 reached initial operational capability for its Warfighters at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. It is the second combat capable forward deployed F-35B unit assigned to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and joins the other Iwakuni-based Marine Corps F-35B squadron as the only one of its kind based in the Western Pacific region. (Read more...)