Face of Defense: Venerable ‘Sea Knight’ Makes Goodbye Flights

By Marine Corps Cpl. Owen Kimbrel

3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif., Oct. 2, 2014 – For decades, the CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter has served the nation with honor, reliability and time-tested dependability.

The Sea Knight, also known as the “Phrog,” is scheduled to perform Oct. 3-5 during the 2014 Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Air Show in California, but it will be a bittersweet event.

This will be the Sea Knight’s last appearance at the Miramar show before the aircraft is retired from service.

Historic military aircraft

The CH-46 has been used in military missions for 50 years and now is passing the torch to the MV-22B Osprey.

“The Marine Corps is about to be out of the ‘Phrog’ business and that seems sad,” said Lt. Col. John Field, the commander of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364. “However, it is also an exciting time as we complete the transition to the more capable MV-22 and prepare to write the next chapter in the great legacy of Marine aviation”

The air show will likely be an emotional event as the Marines with HMM-364 and the local community say farewell to this great helicopter, Field said.

“I know it is time for the ‘Phrog’ to retire, but I'm not happy to see it go,” said Marine Corps Capt. Brett Bishop, a ‘Phrog’ pilot with HMM-364. “It will be an emotional time for a large number of people to see the mighty battle ‘Phrog’ fly through the skies of Southern California for the last time in this capacity.”

The ‘Phrog’ is scheduled to perform in the Marine air-ground task force demonstration along with various other Marine Corps aircraft during the Miramar air show. This will be one of the many demonstrations during the show.

“It is a good way for the squadron to retire the aircraft by flying one more pass for the American public to see,” Bishop said.

Goodbye flights

The Miramar air show will provide the public one of the last opportunities to see the historic aircraft perform.

“I want people to remember that wherever the battle ‘Phrog’ was needed, she was there and performed in a manner that the American people would expect from an aircraft with ‘MARINES’ written on the side,” Bishop said.