In Pictures: If it ain’t raining…

“The Wake Island Avengers” joined the “The Dambusters” on board the 65,000-ton carrier as she sailed for exercises with NATO allies in the North Sea

This month’s overarching UK-led Group Exercise will see Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211, 617 Squadron and HMS Queen Elizabeth joined by six Royal Navy destroyers, frigates and auxiliaries.

The state-of-the-art jets will also be joined by warships from the US and the Netherlands, which will accompany HMS Queen Elizabeth on her first global deployment in 2121.

• Wake Island Avengers arrive in the UK
• Taking to the skies alongside our allies: Exercise Point Blank

Here are our favourite photos taken from 1st Lt Zachary Bodner of the US Marine Corps 📸

A Merlin Mk4 assigned to 845 Squadron and flown by 846 Squadron pilots after landing onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth at sea on 23 September 2020.

Marine Lt. Col. Andrew D’Ambrogi taxis an F-35B Lightning II assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211 while an F-35B Lightning II assigned to the United Kingdom’s 617 Squadron “The Dambusters” prepares to land onto the flight deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth at sea on 23 September, 2020.

An F-35B Lightning II assigned to the United Kingdom’s 617 Squadron taxis into position on the flight deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth at sea on 23 September, 2020.

Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 move through the rain on the flight deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth at sea on 23 September, 2020.

An F-35B Lightning II assigned to the United Kingdom’s 617 Squadron “The Dambusters” launches off the deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth at sea on 23 September, 2020.

An F-35B Lightning II assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211 prepares to land on the flight deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth at sea on 23 September, 2020.

An F-35B Lightning II assigned to the United Kingdom’s 617 Squadron taxis into position on the flight deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth at sea on 23 September, 2020.

F -35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 sit in the rain on the flight deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth at sea on 23 September, 2020.

Marine Col. Simon Doran, Senior National Representative to the United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group, lands an F-35B Lightning II assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) in the rain on the flight deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth at sea on 23 September, 2020.

Marine Lt. Col. Andrew D’Ambrogi launches An F-35B Lightning II assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211 off the deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth at sea on 23 September, 2020.

Marine Col. Simon Doran lands an F-35B Lightning II assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211 on the flight deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth at sea on 23 September, 2020

Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 move through the rain on the flight deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth at sea on 23 September, 2020

Marine Col. Simon Doran, Senior National Representative to the United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group, taxis an F-35B Lightning II assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) through the rain on the flight deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth at sea on 23 September, 2020.

Find out where the UK Armed Forces are deployed here: