Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 conducted its first operational F-35B Lighting II flight at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., Feb. 21, 2013. 'This flight not only marks the first local flight of the F-35B in Yuma, it marks the first time a flight was conducted with the Marine Corps, or any service branch, primarily responsible for the maintenance of the aircraft,' said Lt. Col. Jeffrey Scott, VMFA-121 commanding officer and a native of San Jose, Calif. 'The success of the flight is a tribute the Marines of this squadron, their tremendous work getting to this point and to the field training detachment as well as the support from our higher headquarters at MAG-13, 3rd MAW and Headquarters Marine Corps.' As of Friday the Lightning II has been grounded once again, this time by a cracked engine blade discovered at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. on an F-35A.