History VMM-364

1 history

1.1 years
1.2 vietnam war
1.3 1990s
1.4 global war on terror
1.5 notable former members

history
early years

marine medium helicopter squadron 364 commissioned marine light helicopter squadron 364 (hml-364) on september 1, 1961 @ marine corps air facility santa ana, california. in november 1961, received first sikorsky h-34 helicopter , in february 1962, designation of squadron changed present title.

in spring of 1962, squadron participated in mid-pacific operations assist in recovering instruments had been used in atomic test program.

vietnam war

in november 1963, squadron deployed okinawa , subsequently da nang air base, republic of vietnam. squadron served in vietnam until july 1964.

eight months later squadron in south vietnam, time conducting operations, including operations special landing force of seventh fleet. hmm-364 remained in vietnam until september 1966.

the squadron placed in cadre status @ marine corps air station el toro, california , consisted of 3 officers , 12 enlisted marines. in march 1967, squadron reorganized , began receiving new boeing ch-46 sea knight helicopters. in october of year, hmm-364 re-deployed republic of vietnam, @ phu bai , @ marble mountain. during tour hmm-364 participated in operations osceola, kentucky, mamaluke thrust, , hue city , in operation frequent wind, evacuation of saigon. half of short 10-year existence, hmm-364 served in republic of vietnam. during 3 tours there, squadron s pilots , crewmen flew 70,000 hours in combat , combat support missions , squadron awarded presidential unit citation meritorious conduct in performance of duty.

during time period squadron adopted purple fox name cartoon purple fox mascot called swifty. on march 22, 1971, squadron folded colors , decommissioned.

the 1990s

on september 28, 1984, hmm-364 reactivated @ marine aircraft group 24, 1st marine brigade, fleet marine force, marine corps air station kaneohe bay, hawaii. on october 12, 1984, commandant of marine corps, gen. p. x. kelley, publicly reactivated squadron presenting unit colors commanding officer.

in february 1990, purple foxes deployed okinawa, japan. august 1990 march 1991, hmm-364 placed in reserve during operation desert shield , operation desert storm becoming sole supporting squadron 1st marine expeditionary brigade.

in june 1991, purple foxes once again deployed okinawa. during deployment, squadron supported marine air ground task force 4-90 in republic of philippines before, during , after eruption of mount pinatubo , resulting devastation. continuing 1992, purple foxes find on island kauai, operation garden isle, performing humanitarian relief due devastation left hurricane iniki.

in february 1996, purple foxes provided executive transport president clinton , other dignitaries while toured flood damaged portland, oregon. marked first time in history u.s. president had flown in fleet marine force helicopter.

on december 5, 1998, squadron embarked aboard uss boxer (lhd-4) participating in operation southern watch , various split-arg operations off horn of africa.

in june 1999 purple foxes returned off deployment , moved new home @ marine aircraft group 39 aboard marine corps base camp pendleton, california. purple foxes began training new core competency of being part of 3rd marine aircraft wing s fly in echelon contingency operations.

global war on terror

in 2003, hmm-364 tasked preparing possible deployment kuwait in support of 1st marine expeditionary force , operation iraqi freedom.

by end of february, squadron off loaded, , twelve ch-46e helicopters flown ali al salem air base. in conjunction mag-39 , augments, hmm-364 began mission planning , rehearsals combat operations against iraq.

an hmm-364 ch-46 on southern iraq in 2003

operation iraqi freedom commenced on evening of march 20, 2003, following preliminary strikes coalition forces , ground ground missile attacks iraqi forces on ali al salem air base. hmm-364 involved first night, supporting attacks 1st marine division s regimental combat team 7, royal marines s 42 commando. squadron aircrews conducted casualty evacuation (casevac) missions in direct support of rct-7 headquarters duration of war, traveling 1st marine division basra downtown baghdad. hmm-364 aircraft flew logistical support throughout theater, flying on 640 hours in combat , direct combat support per month both march , april.

with end of combat operations in iraq on april 17, hmm-364 continued fly casevac , logistical support marine corps humanitarian aid work underway on behalf of iraqi people. hmm-364 returned mcb camp pendleton in october 2003. during deployment, 1 of squadron s aircraft lost during resupply mission crashing canal. 4 aircrew lost , 1 marine not affiliated squadron drowned in attempted rescue.

the squadron deployed again iraq in months of 2005. third deployment iraq came in summer of 2006 , returned home in 2007. during deployment 1 of squadron s aircraft shot down during casevac mission resulting in death of 4 squadron members, marine unit , 2 navy corpsmen.

the squadron s fourth deployment iraq occurred spring of 2008 until fall of same year.

the squadron s fifth , final deployment iraq came in late 2009. returned safety in 2010 having completed mission.

on october 9, 2014, hmm-364 transitioned mv-22b osprey , redesignated vmm-364.

notable former members

henry w. steadman, lt. col.
eugene r. brady
raymond m. clausen, jr.
roger e. combs
edward p. moore




^ http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/d6cec4fc18f0dbaf852572ae005dab21?opendocument marine corps news
^ http://www.hmm-364.org/pf%20newsletter%20-%20end%20of%20mission.pdf
^ http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/oct/09/marine-helicopter-ch46-osprey-hmm364/