December 14, 2012

The U.S. Forces in Japan started the first overseas training of Marine Corps tilt-rotor aircraft MV-22 Ospreys, which are deployed in Okinawa, at a maneuver area on Tinian Island in the Pacific Ocean.

Three out of 12 the Ospreys from the Futenma base and 20 F/A-18 Hornets from the Iwakuni base took part in the drill. A local paper reported that they began the 80-hour consecutive combat training exercise from 7 am on December 11.

This is seen as the first practical overseas attack exercise of Ospreys following their flight training in Okinawa.

The Japanese government agreed to shoulder three quarters of the training costs because the U.S. “transferred” the drill to the island in order to alleviate the burden on the Japanese people. Such a subordinate attitude on the part of Japan has provoked severe criticism from the general public.


Related past article
> Japan shoulders costs for US exercises in Guam and US bases in Japan [November 23&24, 2012]