Upon their arrival in December 2020, U.S. Marine Corps F-35Bs assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122 are providing Close Air Support to the U.S. forces in East Africa. These F-35Bs, deployed off Somalia aboard amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), are part of the Joint Forces Maritime Component Command for Joint Task Force – Quartz that is supporting Operation Octave Quartz (OOQ). OOQ's mission is to relocate U.S. DOD forces in Somalia to other East Africa operating locations while maintaining pressure on violent extremists and supporting partner forces. Learn more about their mission here. (Read more...)