After 321 Days, the Black Knights Have Returned Home to MCAS Miramar

After 321 Days, the Black Knights Have Returned Home to MCAS Miramar

Story by Matthew Dawson

@mattdawson.photography

Published by Matthew Dawson October 13th, 2026

Photographs by Matthew Dawson Unless stated otherwise

After 321 Days, the Black Knights have returned home to MCAS Miramar.

Families gathered at Hangar 1 at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar holding handmade signs, American flags, and children. The anticipation was strong on the flightline after having a short delay waiting for the buses to arrive back to MCAS Miramar from the ship.

Some of the signs showed just how much the families had been waiting for this moment. The attention to detail with these signs was amazing. One read, “Outta my way, my Dad is home today.” Others said, “Welcome Home” and “We Love Our Heroes.”

Kids were also holding signs for their parent or other family members. Some families carried flowers, ready to give to their loved ones. As families were waiting, an F-35B from VMFAT-502 started its engines. Families rushed to the hangar walls to see the F-35B start its engine and prepare for its subsequent flight.

Families put their signs in the air as the media moved left to right to film the families. This didn't last for long though.

Attention turned back towards the road. The buses were rounding the corner. The families cheered louder than I’ve ever heard at a homecoming. This moment meant a lot for these families and was a long time coming.

As the buses arrived and started parking the emotions went further than the roof of the hangar people cried, smiled, cheered, and held their signs high.

The families already knew which bus their loved ones were on, making it easier to know where to look as the Marines began walking off the bus. As soon as the buses opened, the world paused for a moment for these families. Their world is back.

Some families had smiles that could light up the sun. Some families cried together. Some families hugged for a while. This is a moment of emotion that families experience in different ways and experiences. There can be so much said for the homecoming of VMFA-314 but I will leave this at that. For the Marines of VMFA-314, the long wait was finally over.

The return of the Black Knights marked the end of a 321-day deployment aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72).

The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group departed San Diego on November 21, 2025. The carrier returned to San Diego on October 8, 2026. Completing a deployment that lasted 321 days.

During the deployment, Abraham Lincoln spent 265 consecutive days at sea without a port call. The carrier also traveled more than 93,000 nautical miles and conducted 72 replenishments at sea. VMFA-314 is apart of Carrier Air Wing 9. CVW-9 brought together both Navy and Marine Corps squadrons operating on the Abraham Lincoln, including the Black Knights and their F-35C’s.

More Than 321 Days

A deployment can be measured in the days that someone is gone. But for the families it can be measured by all the important milestones missed.

While I was documenting the homecoming I had come across Grace Medrano, LMFT. She gives military & family life counseling to Marines and families at MCAS Miramar. She is that shining star for those who need it most during the most difficult times. It's important to acknowledge her presense at this homecoming because it truly shows she is present, she is aware, and she is always there for those who need it most.

Numbers cannot show what Marines and families actually went through. It’s important to acknowledge that. 

A number cannot show a child waiting for their parent to come home.

It cannot show the signs made by families waiting inside Hangar 1.

It cannot show the flowers being held for someone who had been away for almost a year.

It cannot show the tears, the smiles, or the hugs when the buses finally arrived.

Those are the parts of a deployment that numbers cannot explain.

The Black Knights are home.