The Royal Navy released images confirming the operations, stating, “U.S. Marine Corps F-35Bs landed on, refuelled and launched from U.K. Flagship, HMS Prince of Wales, ahead of Exercise TALISMAN SABRE.” VMFA-242 is currently embarked on USS America (LHA-6) as part of the America Amphibious Ready Group and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU).
Although the precise location of Prince of Wales was not disclosed, the carrier is believed to be in the Timor Sea en route to Darwin, Australia. USS America was reported operating in the Coral Sea on Monday.
Aircraft No. 32 from VMFA-242, identified in Royal Navy imagery, has previously been documented as deployed on USS America in official U.S. Department of Defense media. VMFA-242 made history in October 2021 by conducting the first F-35B launches and landings from a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force ship, JS Izumo (DDH-183).
At a press conference on 24 June, Commodore James Blackmore, Commander of the U.K. Carrier Strike Group (UKCSG), confirmed the group would integrate with Marine Corps F-35Bs from VMFA-242. This marks the second instance of the UKCSG operating with foreign F-35Bs on its Operation Highmast deployment, following earlier integration with Italian Navy F-35Bs from the Cavour Carrier Strike Group during NATO’s Exercise Mediterranean Strike in May.
The UKCSG, led by HMS Prince of Wales, includes Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dauntless (D33), Royal Australian Navy destroyer HMAS Sydney (DDG42), Royal Navy frigate HMS Richmond (F239), Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Ville De Quebec (FFH332), Royal Norwegian Navy frigate HNoMS Roald Amundsen (F311), Spanish Navy frigate ESPS Mendez Nunez (F-104), and fleet oiler RFA Tidespring (A136). The group is now positioned near Darwin ahead of Exercise Talisman Sabre, which runs from Sunday until 4 August across Australia.
