Marine unit reactivated for F-35 duties

PENSACOLA, Fla. - Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 451 was reactivated this week after a 13-year absence to train Marines to pilot F-35 fighters. The ceremony was at the National Naval Aviation Museum at Naval Air Station Pensacola. The unit, first activated in 1944, is being redesignated Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501. It will train at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., which will be used by all the services for initial training in the F-35. The Marines will use the short-takeoff, vertical landing variant of the Lockheed Martin-built plane. (Source: Pensacola News Journal, 04/02/10)