Operation Aero Hunter.

An AH-1W Cobra with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), and an EH101 Merlin with 1419 Flight Squadron, Joint Aviation Group, 3rd MAW (Fwd), refuel before joint Operation Aero Hunter in Western Kandahar province Jan. 13. The operation consisted of two phases. The first part was a patrol to flush insurgents out of a village; the second part was a series of snap vehicle check points along Route 1. The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland, conducted the patrol and Marines of Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, conducted the VCPs.

 

An EH101 Merlin with 1419 Flight Squadron, Joint Aviation Group, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), prepares to land along Route 1 in Western Kandahar province during joint Operation Aero Hunter Jan. 13. The operation consisted of two phases. The first part was a patrol to flush insurgents out of a village; the second part was a series of snap vehicle check points along Route 1. The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland, conducted the patrol and Marines of Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, conducted the VCPs.

Marines from Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, board a EH101 Merlin with 1419 Flight Squadron, Joint Aviation Group, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), along Route 1 in Western Kandahar province during joint Operation Aero Hunter Jan. 13. An AH-1W Cobra and a UH-1Y Huey with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, 3rd MAW (Fwd), provided overwatch for the duration of the operation, which consisted of two phases. The first part was a patrol to flush insurgents out of a village; the second part was a series of snap vehicle check points along Route 1. The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland, conducted the patrol and the Lima Company Marines conducted the VCPs.