U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit , load ordnance into an F-35B Lightning II aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex in preparation for the F-35B’s first combat strike on Thursday.

U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, load ordnance into an F-35B Lightning II aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex in preparation for the F-35B’s first combat strike on Thursday.

U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, stage ordnance before loading it into an F-35B Lightning II aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex in preparation for the F-35B’s first combat strike on Thursday.

U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, ensure a panel is secure on an F-35B Lightning II in preparation for the F-35B’s first combat strike on Thursday.

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Rey White, an aviation boatswain’s mate handler with the Essex Amphibious Ready Group, launches an F-35B Lightning II with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, from the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex, before the F-35B’s first combat strike on Thursday.

U.S. Sailors with the Essex Amphibious Ready Group refuel an F-35B Lightning II with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex in preparation for the F-35B’s first combat strike on Thursday.

U.S. Marines and Sailors with the Essex Amphibious Ready Group and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit wait for flight operations to begin while F-35B Lightning IIs with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211, 13th MEU, are refueled in preparation for the F-35B’s first combat strike on Thursday.