'Moonlighters' bid farewell to its last CH-46

U.S. Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Skye Martin (left) prepares to board the last CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter from the Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 764 as it departs the Edwards Air Force Base flightline for the last time Dec. 19, 2012. The CH-46, tail number 5310, will be flown and processed into storage at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jet Fabara)

'Moonlighters' bid farewell to its last CH-46

Marines from the Marine Aircraft Group 41, Detachment Alpha, and the Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 764 look on as the sun rises over the squadron's last CH-46 as it departs the Edwards Air Force Base flightline for the last time Dec. 19, 2012. The CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter, tail number 5310, will be flown and processed into storage at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jet Fabara)

'Moonlighters' bid farewell to its last CH-46

Published Dec. 19, 2012
By 412th Test Wing Public Affairs

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Marines from the Marine Aircraft Group 41, Detachment Alpha and the Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 764, known as the 'Moonlighters,' were in full force Dec. 19 to bid farewell to the squadron's last CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter as it departed Edwards Air Force Base for the last time. The CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter, tail number 3510, will be flown and processed into storage at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.

Although the Sea Knight currently remains in service with the U.S. Marine Corps, it is in the process of being replaced by the MV-22 Osprey, according to Lt. Col. Darrell Platz, MAG-41, Det. A, commanding officer.

With the departure of the last CH-46, the squadron is expected to undergo a change of command and redesignation as the Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 764 on Jan. 12, 2013, in Hangar 1210 at 2 p.m.