MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 121 recently painted its flag plane or flag ship as it’s called.
Paint jobs are commonplace with aircraft; however, the Green Nights went the extra mile with this one.
“There are three colors on a typical jet,” said Cpl. L.W. Hughes, corrosion control painter for VMFA (AW)-121. “They are 35-237, 36-320 and 36-375; they are all gray.”
The Green Knight’s flag plane has a paint job with over 10 colors but still within the 30 percent painted guidelines.
The new design of the flag plane came after many design suggestions and changes.
“We came up with designs, gave it to the aviation maintenance officer (AMO) and he approved,” said Sgt. Jacob Shobe, corrosion control paint crew supervisor with VMFA (AW)-121.
It took the corrosion control team about two weeks to paint their flag plane.
“As far as their attention to detail and work ethic goes, it can’t be beat,” said Shobe.
Previously, the flag plane had a green knight painted on the stabs of the plane; now the stabs of the plane have “Bombing Betty.”
“Bombing Betty was a mascot the squadron used around World War II,” said Hughes.
Typically, aircraft are painted every couple of years according to the Marines with corrosion control.
“We needed a new flag ship, and every couple of years the squadron will rotate the design of the flagship,” said Shobe.
The last time the Green Knight’s flag plane was painted was around October 2008, so it was due for a new paint job.
It took only six Marines from VMFA(AW)-121 to paint the plane in the two-week time period.
It started with Lance Cpl. Stephen Flavin, “Tape Boy,” prepping the jet with the tape followed by Lance Cpl. Jock Sears who ordered all the equipment needed to get the job done.
Once the orders and prep work were done, in came Pvt. Rick Padilla and Cpl. Hughes, the corrosion control painters, to do the dirty work with the paint.
Finally, it was Shobe and Staff Sgt. Solis Gonzalez who supervised and made sure everything was going according to plan and kept the Marines on schedule.
“Painting aircraft is more of a corrosion treatment for the aircraft on top of making it look good,” said Shobe.
Although the paint job to VMFA(AW)-121’s flag plane was just another day at work for some, it really proves the type of pride and honor these Marines take in their job.
It was not just a tablet and some paint brushes needed to paint this plane.
These Marines got into the most intricate details where they were down on their hands and knees with razor blades, cutting fabricated stencils to make layer upon layer to get their pride and joy done.
Hughes said when he saw it finished he felt just like he did when he went to visit Iwo Jima.
Since the new paint job on the VMFA(AW)-121 flag plane, they have received numerous comments and praise.
It just goes to show how a few standout Marines can go the extra mile to show their squadron’s pride.