Sundown CeremonyThe final flight was followed by a sundown ceremony in VX-31’s hangar. Further highlighting the importance of the Harrier II in the USMC, Coppersmith said “It’s the most successful attack aircraft in Marine Corps history. VMA-223 has also received the final two pilots graduated from the AV-8B Harrier II Fleet Replacement Detachment (FRD) in early 2024. The flight was a low-altitude close air support training sortie that allowed the pilots to receive the 7509 Military Occupational Specialty (MOS), which is reserved for AV-8B Harrier II qualified pilots. “For members of the public, members of the aviation community, members of the Marine community, and especially members of the Harrier pilot community, it’s bittersweet.