Marine landing signals new mission Published June 25, 2010 By Wayne Crenshaw 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- As dozens of people stood in front of a new hangar Friday, a distant "thump, thump, thump" sound reverberated across the sky, heralding a change coming to Robins. The sound was made by two Marine helicopters inbound from Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Atlanta to their new home in the 116th Air Control Wing area. The choppers, an AH-1W Super Cobra and a UH-1N Huey, were the first to arrive as part of the relocation of Marine Light Attack Squadron 773. Col. Lee-Ann Perkins, 78th Mission Support Group commander, greeted the crews after they landed in front of their new hangar. Lt. Col. Tom Nemeth, commander of the active-duty personnel in the squadron, piloted the AH-1W and spoke to media after landing. He said the unit is happy with its new facilities here. "Absolutely beautiful," is how he described the new hangar. "It's probably some of the best facilities of any Marine helicopter squadron." He said when the move is completed in early July, 120 active-duty Marines will be transferred here full time and another 200 reservists from around the country will come here one weekend per month. Additional choppers moved here Monday and Wednesday, for a total of seven Super Cobras and four Hueys. Nemeth said the unit will fly two to four sorties per day in daylight hours and once every week or two at night. The unit's mission is to provide support to ground units in combat. Nemeth will relinquish command of Marine Aircraft Group 49, Detachment A to Lt. Col. Michael Johnson during a change of command ceremony Thursday at 10 a.m. in the new hangar in Bldg. 2071. A welcome ceremony will follow at Horizons.