Returning in August 1973, General Williams joined newly recommissioned VMA-231 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, where he flew the AV-8A Harrier and served as Operations Officer until March 1975 when he was posted for two years as Officer in Charge of VMA-513 Detachment A with seven Harriers assigned. The primary mission of this detachment was to publicly demonstrate the combat capability of the Harrier. In June 1977 he reported to Landing Force Training Command at Little Creek, Va., as Head, Aviation Section, Supporting Arms Branch.