HMH-361

Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 (HMH-361) is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron consisting of CH-53E Super Stallion transport helicopters. The squadron, known as the "Flying Tigers", is based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 16 (MAG-16) and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (3rd MAW).

Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361
HMH-361 insignia
ActiveFebruary 25, 1952 - present
CountryUnited States
BranchUSMC
TypeMarine Heavy Helicopter Squadron
RoleAssault Support
Part ofMarine Aircraft Group 16
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
Garrison/HQMarine Corps Air Station Miramar
Nickname(s)"Flying Tigers"
Tail CodeYN
EngagementsVietnam War
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Commanders
Current
commander		LtCol T. Savage
Sargeant MajorSgtMaj Daniels

History

Early years

HMH-361 was initially commissioned as Marine Transport Squadron 361 on February 25, 1952 at what was then Marine Corps Air Station Santa Ana, California.[1] The "Flying Tigers" were attached to the only helicopter group in the Marine Corps, Marine Air Group (HR) - 16. At that time, the squadron consisted of only three OY-2 and one HRS-2 helicopters located at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. The original mission of the squadron was to train for and improve upon amphibious ship-to-shore tactics. An additional mission was training replacement pilots for duty in the Korean War.

HMR-361 HRS helicopters over Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii, 1953

Shortly thereafter the squadron undertook its first major operation, to provide support for the atomic test exercise at Desert Rock, Nevada which is still the largest helicopter operation in history. Upon their return, HMR-361 was transferred to the newly established MAG (HR)-36 at MCAF Santa Ana in 1953. On December 31, 1956, the squadron was redesignated HMR(l)-361 and was now flying the HRS-3 helicopter. The Flying Tigers participated in two more atomic bomb testing exercises, beginning in June 1957 and February 1958.

In September 1958, the squadron began flying the H-34 helicopter and in 1960 performed the first West Coast parachute drop for Marine Pathfinders from the H-34. On February 1, 1962, the Flying Tigers were redesignated HMM-361 according to a Marine Corps wide redesignation for all H-34 squadrons. HMM-361 deployed for the Cuban Missile Crisis on October 27, 1962, in support of the 5th Marine Expeditionary Force onboard the USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2).

Vietnam War

In June 1963, the Flying Tigers were deployed to Okinawa, Japan. The one-year deployment was cut short, however, when the squadron was transferred to Da Nang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, as one of the first units in-country, to participate in Operation Shufly. It was there that HMM-361 earned the nickname "Ross's Rice Runners", after their commanding officer, LtCol Tom Ross. On August 12, 1965, the squadron conducted the first nighttime helicopter assault by Marines during the war when they lifted 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines into a landing zone 10 miles northwest of Da Nang during Operation Midnight.[2] On September 3, 1967, HMM-361 had 17 of its aircraft destroyed by enemy artillery while they were parked at Đông Hà Combat Base. This incident would lead to their transfer south to the Marble Mountain Air Facility.[3] The squadron served in Vietnam until being transferred back to the U.S. and attached to Marine Aircraft Group 26 at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina. It was there that the squadron transitioned to the CH-53A Sea Stallion helicopter and was redesignated Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron, HMH-361. They were again ordered to Vietnam with Marine Aircraft Group 36 at Phu Bai Combat Base in 1969 and remained there until their return to the newly redesignated Marine Corps Air Station (H) Santa Ana, CA in 1970 as part of Marine Aircraft Group 16.

Postwar and the 1980s

HMH-361 received their first CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopter in 1977, and on June 1, 1979, made their first squadron to deploy overseas as part of the new Unit Deployment Program, completing the first of twelve, six-month WestPac deployments on December 3, 1979.

In October 1984 the squadron became the first 3rd MAW helicopter squadron to train under the squadron training exercise and employment plan. Finishing this training in May 1985, HMH-361 attained the highest Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation System (MCCRES) grade to date for a rotary wing squadron. During the squadron's ensuing six WestPac deployments under the UDP, HMH-361 accomplished the first overwater flight to NAS Cubi Point, Republic of the Philippines.

The 1990s
A CH-53 from HMH-361 training in Okinawa in 1995.

Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 began conversion to the CH-53E Super Stallion on August 23, 1990. On November 5, 1992, the Flying Tigers deployed to Okinawa as the Aviation Combat Element (ACE) of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, the first MEU to utilize a CH-53E squadron as the nucleus. Here they were joined by detachments of CH-46E's from HMM-262, AH-1W's, and UH-1N's from HMLA-267, and AV-8B's from VMA-311 to become HMH-361 (REIN), the first CH-53E composite squadron in history.

A CH-53E Super Stallion from HMH-361 flying off the coast o Camp Pendleton, California.

The Flying Tigers again made history in November 1994 when they were quadruple sited while on their tenth deployment to Okinawa. Detachments were sent to the 13th and 31st MEU's, the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground task force in support of Operation United Shield while the main body remained on Okinawa.

In August 1995, the Flying Tigers were awarded the Marine Corps Aviation Association's Keith B McCutcheon award as Marine Heavy Helicopter squadron of the year and in June 1996 were awarded the 1995 CNO Aviation Association Safety Award.

After returning from Okinawa and reintegrating its MEU detachments in May 1997, HMH-361 assumed the Alert Contingency Marine air-ground task force (ACM) status. Once again the Flying Tigers were awarded the Marine Corps Aviation Association's Keith B McCutcheon award as Marine Heavy Helicopter squadron of the year. The squadron also supported HMX-1 and the President of the United States, transporting three CH-53E's to San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, aboard Air Force C-5 Galaxy aircraft.

Global War on Terror

On January 26, 2005, a CH-53E Super Stallion from the unit crashed near Ar Rutbah, Iraq killing all 31 service members on board.[4]

In October 2008 HMH-361 deployed to the Al Anbar Province, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Based out of Al Asad Air Base, the squadron was responsible for multiple assault support missions and sorties, as well as delivery of troops, supplies, weapons support, and even delivery of troop mail. The squadron also carried out Angel Flight missions and (QRF) or Quick Reaction Force. The squadron maintained a combat readiness above 95% during the deployment and was later awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation for its distinguished efforts while in the theater. The unit returned home to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California in late May 2008 (advanced party) and early June 2008 (main body).

In February 2009, HMH-361 deployed to the Al Anbar Province, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Operating out of Al Asad Air Base, the squadron was responsible for multiple assault support missions and sorties, as well as delivery of troops, supplies, weapons support, and even delivery of troop mail. The squadron also carried out Angel Flight missions, MAGTF Support/Raid Missions, and (QRF) or Quick Reaction Force. The squadron maintained a combat readiness above 93% during the deployment and was later awarded another Meritorious Unit Citation for its distinguished efforts while in the theater. The unit returned home to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, CA in late July 2009 (advanced party) and early September 2009 (main body).

In August 2010 HMH-361 deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. They are based at Camp Leatherneck and returned to the States in early 2011.

In August 2012 HMH-361 again deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, where they took part in fending off a Taliban attack on the British Camp Bastion airfield on 14 September 2012. The squadron returned to the United States in February 2013.

In April 2013, upon return from their deployment to Afghanistan, HMH-361 was announced as the recipient of the Keith B McCutcheon Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron of the year award.

See also

Citations
  1. Rawlins 1976, pp. 105.
  2. "The Marines in Vietnam 1965: The Landing and the Buildup". The Ohio State University. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
  3. Coan 2004, pp. 172.
  4. "Incident Date 050126 HMH-361 CH-53E - BuNo unknown - incident not yet classified - near Ar Rutbah, Iraq". Marine Corps Combat Helicopter Association. Retrieved 2007-11-20.

References
 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
Bibliography
  • Coan, James P. (2004). Con Thien - Hill of Angels. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: The University of Alabama Press. ISBN 0-8173-1414-8.
  • Rawlins, Eugene W. (1976). Marines and Helicopters 1946–1962 (PDF). Washington, D.C.: History and Museums Division, Headquarters Marine Corps.
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