USS Pearl Harbor trains with MEU helicopters

Photos by Lance Cpl. Claudia M. Palacios

Sailors aboard landing ship Pearl Harbor unchain a CH-46 Sea Knight with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced) here Sept. 30. The squadron serves as the aviation combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit embarked the USS Makin Island, the amphibious transport dock New Orleans and the dock landing ship Pearl Harbor in San Diego Sept. 28. The Unit is participating in its final exercise before deploying in November.

A CH-53 Sea Stallion with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced) lands on the dock landing ship Pearl Harbor here Sept. 30. The squadron serves as the aviation combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit embarked the USS Makin Island, the amphibious transport dock New Orleans and the dock landing ship Pearl Harbor in San Diego Sept. 28. The Unit is participating in its final exercise before deploying in November.

Marines aboard USS Pearl Harbor unload a CH-46E Sea Knight with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced) here Sept. 30. The squadron serves as the aviation combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit embarked USS Makin Island, USS New Orleans and USS Pearl Harbor in San Diego Sept. 28 for its final two week exercise before deploying in November. Photo by Lance Cpl. Claudia M. Palacios.

A crew chief sits on a CH-46E Sea Knight parked on USS Pearl Harbor here Sept. 30. The Marine serves with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced), which is the aviation combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit embarked USS Makin Island, USS New Orleans and USS Pearl Harbor in San Diego Sept. 28 for its final two week exercise before deploying in November.