Lunchtime Landing Zone

Will Clark Field the LZ for Marine Attack Helicopter.

On Wednesday, November 29th, both the students and faculty watched in awe as two Marine Corps Helicopter Gunships floated down to Will Clark Field. The Marine Helicopters, which were sponsored by the Jesuit Marine Corps Junior ROTC as a celebration of the Marine Corps 248th Birthday, carried camo-clad Marine soldiers that stepped out and instructed the curious students about the aircrafts and their missions. 

Many Jays even got the opportunity to tour the aircrafts and witness the control center of the helicopter and the meticulous buttons and controls required to operate the 12,000lb machine. These specific models were gunships, and they therefore had large firepower attached to the sides of the crafts. 

I had an opportunity to talk to Lieutenant Colonel Brandon Kelly, one of the marine personnel on duty, and I was able to ask him some questions that Jesuit students interested in a career as a marine pilot would be interested in knowing. When asked how he got into a career as a marine pilot, Kelly replied that when he was in college, he applied to a Marine Corps aviation contract. 

Once in the marines, all marine officers were required to attend flight school in Pensacola. According to Kelly, he was allowed to choose which aircraft he wanted to specialize and fly in, which was why he was here in these helicopters today. When asked if flying helicopters for the Marines was exciting, he replied that it was a very exciting job and that the night flights and even the training missions were all exhilarating. 

Finally, when asked about the hardest part of landing at Jesuit, Kelly spoke about the trees surrounding Will Clark, and he said that they were concerned about the wind blowing any of the trees down. All and all, Kelly spoke very highly of his career with the Marines. As the helicopters lifted off of Will Clark, dust kicked off the ground, hats flew, and the Jays looked on in wonder. This event at lunch on a Wednesday, just like a career in the Marines, will be remembered for a long time.