The Marines Retired the Harrier for Good
By Lillian Battey
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The United States Marine Corps recently retired the AV8-B Harrier. One of the Harriers was retired at the Tillamook Air Museum and I had the opportunity to see the retirement. My dad was in the Marine Corps for 9 years as an AV8-B Harrier Avionics Technician (That's where he met many of his friends whom he still talks to today), and I was able to interview one of his friends over email .
Stephen Holmes was in the Marine Corps and now works as a Logistic Lead for Aircrew Escape and Crash Worthy Systems, Fleet Support Team for the ejection seat systems on the F-35, F-18 and Harrier. While in the Marine Corps, Mr. Holmes worked on the ejection seats for the planes so that if anything happened to the plane, the pilot could land semi-safely. He was very excited to do the interview and to participate in the article.
Interview
I asked Mr. Holmes, "Why did you want to go into the Marine Corps and why did you choose Marine Corps Aviation?"
“I enlisted into the Marine Corps because I wanted to serve my country with the most challenging and demanding branch of the military.” said Holmes “Choosing Marine Corps aviation as a mechanic was about being part of a dedicated team working towards a common goal. Mechanics are an integral part of the aviation team, working alongside pilots and other specialists to keep our aircraft flying. Knowing that my work directly supports the mission and contributes to the safety of our ground Marines, create a strong sense of camaraderie and purpose,” says Holmes.
I asked Mr. Holmes "Do you feel that the Harrier should be retired and why?"
He replied, “While the Harrier holds a special place in aviation history and in the hearts of many Marines, I believe the time has come for its retirement. The airframe is aging, parts are becoming sparse and expensive, and structural repairs are exceeding cost and deadlines due to the severity. Newer aircraft are simply more advanced and cost-effective to operate. Retiring the Harrier will allow the Marine Corps to invest in these cutting-edge technologies, ensuring we maintain our edge in future conflicts.” says Holmes.
"What do the Harrier and your experience as a maintainer mean to you?" I asked
Mr. Holmes said, “Working on the Harrier has been more than just a job; it’s been a significant part of my personal and professional growth. I went into the field of Aviation Life Support Systems, specializing in ejection seats. During my four years in Yuma, Arizona, I helped save the lives of four pilots whose Harriers experienced in-flight mechanical failures. Because the Harrier is a single-engine aircraft, in-flight mechanical issues can be life-threatening and the ejection seat is the last resort during an emergency. While I sometimes miss the structure and sense of pride that came with being a Marine, what I miss most are the people. The camaraderie, the unwavering support, the willingness to drop everything and be there for each other. It’s a bond unlike any other, impossible to fully describe. They made every day enjoyable and unforgettable. I chose to continue my career in aviation life support, and I now serve as a Logistics Lead for the Department of the Navy’s Aircrew Escape and Crashworthy Systems Fleet Support Team. My responsibility is to manage all Navy and Marine Corps ejection seats, parachute systems, and crash attenuating seats (helicopter Pilot, Co-Pilot, and Troop seats), ensuring that our aircrews have reliable life-saving equipment ready when they need it most.”
History of the Harrier
The Harrier is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, also known as a “Jump Jet". The Harrier dates back to the 1960’s, when British aircraft manufacturer Hawker Siddeley started testing VTOL, and was purchased by the United States Marine Corps in the 1970s. The aircraft can hover like a helicopter; it can fly sideways, go backwards, and even stop in midair and turn. The aircraft can hover for approximately 90 seconds and can take off and land vertically. This is possible due to the jet engine providing a stream of fast-moving air through four nozzles attached to the side of the engine. The aircraft needs a lot of water to keep the engine cool, about 150 gallons in order to hover for 90 seconds, and injects that water directly into the turbine engine. The Harrier became crucial to the Marine Corps due to their ability to take off on shorter runways. This gave the Marines the ability for amphibious attacks from small ships during time of war, as they do not require the long runways and propulsion systems such as those on large aircraft carriers. The Harrier has been an iconic piece of the United States Marine Corps for over 5 decades and has set the standard for what Marine Corps Aviation is today.
Timeline: Aircraft BUNO 165002
(The aircraft at Tillamook Air Museum)
Timeline: Aircraft BUNO 165002
Apr 3, 1995: Delivered to VMA-231 (Ace of Spades), Cherry Point, NC
Aug 20, 1996 - Jun 18, 1997: Deployed aboard USS Nassau with HMM-365 (Blue Knights)
Jun 19, 1997 - Jan 14, 1999: Reattached to Cherry Point, NC
Jan 15, 1999 - Oct 7, 1999: Deployed aboard USS Kearsarge with HMM-365 (Blue Knights)
Oct 8, 1999 - Jun 4, 2003: Reattached to Cherry Point, NC
Jun 5, 2003 - Aug 31, 2003: Deployed to Iwakuni, Japan with VMA-231
Sept 1, 2003 - Nov 18, 2003: Deployed aboard USS Essex with HMM-265 (Dragons) from Japan
Nov 19, 2003 - Dec 15, 2003: Returned to Iwakuni, Japan
Dec 16, 2003 - May 19, 2006: Reattached to Cherry Point, NC
May 20, 2006 - May 21, 2010: Transferred to Yuma, AZ, cycled through VMA-211 (Wake Island Avengers), VMA-513 (Nightmares), VMA-214 (Black Sheep), and VMA-311 (Tomcats)
May 22, 2010 - Dec 15, 2010: Deployed aboard USS Peleliu with HMM-165 (White Knights)
Dec 16, 2010 - Dec 8, 2015: Reattached to Yuma, AZ
Dec 9, 2015 - Sep 7, 2016: Deployed aboard USS Boxer with VMM-166 (Sea Elks)
Sep 8, 2016 - Jul 8, 2017: Reattached to Yuma, AZ
Jul 9, 2017 - Feb 7, 2018: Deployed aboard USS America with VMM-161 (Grey hawks)
Feb 8, 2018 - May 14, 2019: Reattached to Yuma, AZ
May 15, 2019 - Oct 13, 2019: Deployed to the Middle East as part of Special Purpose Marine Air- Ground Task Force (MAGTF)
Oct 14, 2019 - Sept 26, 2020: Reattached to Yuma, AZ
Sept 27, 2020 - Aug 4, 2025: Transferred to China Lake with VX-31 (Dust Devils) for test and
evaluation.
Currently: Located at Tillamook Air Museum
“This aircraft boasts a distinguished service record, including deployments on six aircraft carriers, a tour in Japan, and operations in the Middle East. Though there is now a static display at the Tillamook Air Museum, it carries with it a rich history. The AV-8B Harrier represents not just a fighter jet, but a piece of aviation history that continues to resonate with all the men and woman that served the aircraft.” - Mr. Stephen Holmes
References
Admin, A. (2019, September 26). How does a Harrier fly? WisdomAnswer. https://wisdomanswer.com/how-does-a-harrier-fly/
Moony, P. (2025, July 29). USMC RETIRES AV-8B HARRIER: END OF VTOL ERA. Veteran Life. https://veteranlife.com/information/harrier-jet
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