Marines Fly First MV-22 Osprey MEDEVAC

The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit made history June 25 when it used two MV-22B Ospreys assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced) to conduct a ship-to-shore emergency medical evacuation of a Sailor from the USS Bataan.

It marked the first time the aircraft has been used to conduct a MEDEVAC from the sea, the Marine Corps said in a press statement.

According to the Corps, two Ospreys were returning to Bataan after a routine mission at about 4:30 p.m. when the pilots were notified of an emergency situation and ordered back to the ship at maximum speed. On the ship, a Sailor had fallen and suffered head and hip injuries, and also was experiencing chest pains.

With the patient and medical team aboar the aircraft, the Ospreys lifted off again and flew 147 nautical miles in 37 minutes to a regional airport, where an ambulance was used to transfer the Sailor to a hospital for further treatment, the statement said.

The is now in stable condition in the U.S. Central Command area awaiting further transfer.

"Everybody from the ship made this very easy for us," said Maj. Brett A. Hart, assistant operations officer for VMM 263 and one of the pilots on the mission. "It was an all-hands effort and everybody gave their utmost to ensure the safety of this Sailor."

Hart, who has had experience in conducting MEDEVACS in other aircraft like the CH-46E Sea Knight, said the biggest difference with using the Osprey was the rapid speed with which the mission was executed.

"By virtue of having this aircraft, we were able to do it much faster and farther," he said. "This is a fine example of why we have an aircraft like this."

The 22nd MEU deployed May 15, 2009, aboard ships from the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and is currently deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.