TOKYO, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- The commander of one of the U.S. Marine Corps two MV-22 Osprey squadrons based in Japan's southernmost prefecture of Okinawa has been fired owing to a loss of trust in his ability to command, local media reported Friday.
Marine Lt. Col. Bryan Swenson was removed from his position commanding the Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 on Jan. 26, the U.S. Marine Corps was quoted as saying in reports on Friday.
Swenson's high-profile removal comes six months after a fatal crash of one of the squadron's MV-22 Ospreys off Australia's eastern coast in which three crew members were killed.
Swenson was in commanded of the squadron when the accident-prone tilt-rotor airplane crashed.
According to a statement from the Marines, Swenson was removed from his post because of a "loss of trust and confidence in his ability to lead his command."
The squadron is based at the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station, a source of rising tension among local residents and prefectural officials in Okinawa.
Okinawa hosts 74 percent of all U.S. bases in Japan and fears in Okinawa and on Japan's mainland about the Ospreys have been growing due to the plane's checkered safety history.
