The US Navy and Marine Corps have completed live training to recover a downed F-35 Lightning II combat aircraft at Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina.
The three-day preparation involved a stripped-down system with detached front landing gear, simulating realistic damage on the plane’s anterior.
Lessons focused on launching a controlled recovery site and advanced procedures to safely retrieve the jet.
The unit used in the training was a non-operational F-35 airframe sourced from the FRCE’s stockpile that is also employed for other “readiness enhancer” programs.
Participating teams included personnel from the navy’s Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) and the Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 (MWSS-271).
For Multiple Scenarios
Although conducted in a depot setting, the proficiency effort provided a set of approaches that can be applied to different recovery situations across garrison and forward environments.
“We’re training to educate on how pertinent it is to be able to recover an F-35, the practices that go into that recovery and the hazards that come along with it,” MWSS-271 Heavy Equipment Platoon Leader Chief Warrant Officer 2 Joseph Durand explained.
“What we’re looking forward to is being able to conduct this same recovery scenario, whether it be a front landing gear that went down or something more catastrophic, no matter where it happens. We need to be able to get that bird back into the fight, and do it in a safe manner that doesn’t harm the aircraft or the individuals working to recover it.”

Critical ‘Opportunity’
The joint F-35 fighter jet recovery training resulted in a positive outcome for the teams, FRCE said.
“Supporting MWSS-271’s training not only allowed their Marines to advance their F-35 aircraft recovery skills, it also gave our team the opportunity to sharpen their expertise while serving as subject-matter experts,” FRCE F-35 Branch Head Ike Rettenmair stated.
“Developing a way to simulate a landing gear failure, for example, presented a challenge that the team proved ready to tackle. Teaching the Marines the proper way to crane lift the aircraft provided our artisans and engineers the opportunity to refresh their skills, as well. This really was a win-win situation for everyone involved.”
F-35 Crash in Alaska
The training in North Carolina followed last month’s crash incident in Alaska of an F-35 aircraft belonging to the US Air Force.
Responders were immediately dispatched to the site, according to confirmation released by the Eielson Air Force Base where the accident happened.
The pilot operating the jet ejected safely before the impact and was taken to Bassett Army Hospital for recuperation.
