 After three months of being away from Homeport, patrolling the 7th Fleet Area of Responsibility, USS Bonhomme Richard and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit sent two V-22 Ospreys to Sassabo for the first time. It's the inaugural fight of the V-22 to Sassabo and also it's a proof of concept in that we can bring parts and people from ship to shore without requiring a runway on either end. It was also a chance to flex the capabilities of the aircraft. We take off like a helicopter from the BHR and then transition to airplane mode, gain altitude, we flew at 9,000 feet on the way here, arriving here with less than two hours and not required an airport, just a helo pad I just see behind me to land. With the addition of the Ospreys, the BHR has expanded its capabilities over the last two years. Seamen Christina Coffee, Fleet Activities, Sassabo, Japan.