USS America conducts flight ops in Philippine Sea

A U.S. Navy Sailor, assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), signals to a U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft, assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 242, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, during flight operations aboard the America in the Philippine Sea, Aug. 10, 2025. Following a successful training iteration with partnered nations, VMFA-42 departs the amphibious ready group back to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. The 31st MEU is operating aboard ships of the America Amphibious Ready Group in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations, the U.S. Navy’s largest forward deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Peter Rawlins)