#1737 VMR-1 C-40A Clipper print
Description
Squadron Prints Lithograph No. 1737 - 170041, C-40A Clipper, Marine Transport Squadron 1 (VMR-1), NASJRB Fort Worth, Texas.
The ROADRUNNERS were activated on 1 October 1951 in Cherry Point, North Carolina as Station Aircraft Engineering Squadron 2. On 24 February 1954, the squadron was redesignated as Station Operations and Engineering Squadron, Cherry Point, North Carolina. For the next two decades, the ROADRUNNERS were responsible for Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point airfield operations, communications, crash crew, and photo lab. In 1975, the squadron took delivery of the United States Marine Corps’ first McDonnell Douglas C-9B Skytrain. The ROADRUNNERS flew in direct support of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm between August 1990 and April 1991. On 17 September 1997, the unit was redesignated with its present name as Marine Transport Squadron 1, operating two C-9B Skytrains and two UC-35D Cessna Encores for passenger operations, and three HH-46D Seaknight helicopters as search and rescue assets. The ROADRUNNERS participated in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Operations in response to Hurricane Floyd in North Carolina in September 1999. From 2003 to 2009, the ROADRUNNERS conducted numerous operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The squadron served throughout Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Operations in response to Hurricane Katrina across Louisiana in September 2005. Between 2006 and 2013, the ROADRUNNERS supported Operation Enduring Freedom across Afghanistan and from the Horn of Africa. From May to November 2017, VMR-1 participated in Operation Inherent Resolve and Operation Freedom Sentinel in both Iraq and Afghanistan. On 31 December 2017, the ROADRUNNERS were relocated to Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas, and reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, United States Marine Corps Forces Reserve to begin its transition to operating the C-40A platform. VMR-1 achieved its Initial Operating Capability certification as a C-40A squadron in November 2023, and currently fulfills missions through the Navy Air Logistics Office in support of short-notice, worldwide operations. The C-40A ‘Clipper’ is a military derivative of the Boeing 737-700/800 with a range in excess of 5,000 nautical miles. The Clipper can be rapidly reconfigured to operate in three modes to best support the needs of the warfighter: all-passenger mode, combination passenger/cargo mode, and all-cargo mode. The paint scheme and configuration of this aircraft lithograph represents that of the first Marine Corps C-40A aircraft, BUNO 170041, delivered by an all-ROADRUNNER crew to VMR-1 on 19 May 2023. The mission of Marine Transport Squadron 1 is to support the Marine Air-Ground Task Force by providing assault support in the form of air logistics. Specifically, VMR-1 provides time, place, or mission-sensitive, long-range, multipurpose air transport and critical logistical support of key personnel and cargo between and within combatant commands and theaters of war.