History made as Royal Marine takes command of fast jet squadron for first time

British military aviation history has been made as a Royal Marines officer has taken command a fast jet squadron for the first time - 617 Squadron "The Dambusters".

The official handover took place at RAF Marham, the squadron's home base, when Lieutenant Colonel Mike Carty took over command from Wing Commander Stew Campbell.

The squadron, which adopted its name and badge after the famous Lancaster bomber raid in 1943, operates the F-35B Lightning fifth-generation combat aircraft.

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Posting on X, the journal of the Royal Marines, The Globe & Laurel Magazine, marked the achievement.

It said: "Congratulations Royal, hoofing news."

Lt Col Carty joined the Royal Marines in 2000 and deployed on several combat operations before applying to specialise as a pilot.

He then went on to fly the Harrier GR9 serving aboard HMS Illustrious and HMS Ark Royal.

During an exchange with the US Marine Corps he flew the AV-8B Harrier and was awarded the US Navy Air Medal after being deployed on Operation Inherent Resolve.

Inherent Resolve is the US military's operational name for the international war against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

Lt Col Carty served at RAF Valley as an instructor on the Hawk T2 before working as a staff officer on the F-35 programme at the Air & Space Warfare Centre and then with the Combat Air Force HQ at RAF Marham.

Having completed his conversion course to the F-35B Lightning with 207 Squadron, the joint RAF and Royal Navy Operational Conversion Unit for the warplane, he is now in command of 617 Squadron.

Lt Col Carty said: "It is a great honour to take over command of this historic Squadron from Wg Cdr Campbell.

"I will certainly aim to hit the ground running as we prepare to embark in HMS Prince of Wales next week alongside 809 NAS to participate in Exercise Strike Warrior.

"I am looking forward to the challenges ahead as the squadron continues to build on the great work that has already been done to ensure that we maintain a level of readiness to fly and fight from a land or sea base when required."

Just like its younger sister formation, 809 Naval Air Squadron, 617 Squadron draws its air and ground personnel roughly equally from the Royal Air Force and the Fleet Air Arm.