USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) Gets First Experience with Osprey

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Mesa Verde Gets First Experience with Osprey
UNITED STATES - 3 SEPTEMBER 2009

NORFOLK -- Members of USS Mesa Verde's (LPD 19) flight deck team had their first opportunity to provide support for an MV-22 Osprey during helicopter operations Aug. 31.

The aircraft from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162 (VMM 162) made six landings on the flight deck which gave the pilots a chance to train on landing and gave Mesa Verde personnel the experience of bringing an Osprey aboard the ship.

"It was a learning process for everyone because there were a lot of people on our team who hadn't worked with the Osprey before," said Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuels) 1st Class (SW) Greg Kucharski. "We were able to come together and accomplish bringing the aircraft onboard faster."

Before the Osprey made its first landing, there were measures put in place to ensure the safety of personnel working on the flight deck. Air Department utilized special equipment to make sure this happened in addition to receiving support from the pilot.

"This evolution was a great learning experience for our Flight Deck Team," said Lt. Dee Gordon, Mesa Verde Air Boss. "Through coordination between the V-22 flight crew and the hard work of our own team onboard, we were able to accomplish this first landing of the V-22 onboard Mesa Verde safely and without incident."

"This was my first time seeing an Osprey which is a very large aircraft," said Hull Technician 3rd Class Derek Bunch of the ship's repair division and flight deck team member. "With it being a bigger aircraft, there was a strong downwash. We did all we could to make sure all of the members of the team were safe and this was an overall safe evolution."

During one of the landings, the crew of the Osprey picked up members of Combat Logistics Battalion 24. Members of VMM 162 were impressed by how the Air Department was able to get the helicopter onboard as efficiently as they did.

"The flight deck crew handled bringing the helicopter aboard well," said Sgt. Zachary Brown of VMM 162. "They were fast in getting the Osprey on deck as well as off."

"I'm especially proud of the ship's flight deck crew," said Gordon. "They are the best in the Navy."




Archive Photo: USS Mesa Verde (LPD-19), Length: 208.5 meters

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SUEZ CANAL (Feb. 26, 2010) The amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) transits the Suez Canal. USS Mesa Verde is part of the Nassau Amphibious Ready Group supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.



ROTA, Spain (Feb. 19, 2010) The amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) is moored pier side for a scheduled port visit. USS Mesa Verde is deployed as part of the Nassau Amphibious Ready Group.



ROTA, Spain (Feb. 18, 2010) The amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) pulls into Naval Station Rota. USS Mesa Verde is the first amphibious transport dock ship to visit Rota.



NORFOLK (Jan. 18, 2010) The amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) deploys as part of the Nassau Amphibious Ready Group to support maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility.



CARIBBEAN SEA (Sept. 14, 2009) A multi-national naval force, including the San Antonio class-amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19), USS Doyle (FFG 39), USCGC Mohawk (WMEC 913), the Colombian navy frigate ARC Independiente, the Dutch navy auxiliary ship HMNLS Amsterdam, and the Uruguayan navy frigate General Artigas, underway in formation as part of Fuerzas Aliadas PANAMAX 2009. FA PANAMAX is an annual multi-national training exercise tailored to the defense of the Panama Canal.

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U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (March 5, 2010) An MV-22B Osprey from the Golden Eagles of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 162 takes off from the amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19). Mesa Verde is part of the Nassau Amphibious Ready Group supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.



U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (March 2, 2010) A UH-1N Huey helicopter returns Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (24th MEU) to the amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) after patrolling the waters surrounding the Bab El Mandeb Strait. This is Mesa Verde's maiden deployment and her first transit of the strait. Mesa Verde is part of the Nassau Amphibious Ready Group, supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.



RED SEA (Feb. 28, 2010) The amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) prepares to receive pallets of supplies during an underway replenishment. Mesa Verde and embarked Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (24th MEU) are part of the Nassau Amphibious Ready Group supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.



U.S. 5th FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (March 6, 2010) The amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) transits near the coast. Mesa Verde and embarked Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (24th MEU) are part of the Nassau Amphibious Ready Group supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.



SUEZ CANAL (Feb. 26, 2010) The amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) transits the Suez Canal. Mesa Verde and Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (24th MEU) are on deployment as part of the Nassau Amphibious Ready Group supporting maritime security and theater security cooperation operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.