VMM-268
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Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268 | |
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Commanders | |
Current commander | LtCol B.S. "Jammer" Pope |
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268 (VMM-268) is a
Mission
Provide assault support to the landing force in the ship to shore movement and in subsequent operations ashore.
History
Early years
Marine Light Helicopter Squadron 268 (HML-268) was activated on 15 September 1972 at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina. HML-268 was deactivated on 30 September 1977.
Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (HMM-268) was activated on 1 March 1979 at Marine Corps Air Station Tustin, California. The squadron was designated for medium lift and equipped with CH-46 helicopters. The squadron returned to MCAS Tustin on 31 August 1980. A high tempo of operations was maintained through the 10,000-accident free flight hour milestone, which the squadron attained on 18 September 1981. Additionally, during this period, the Red Dragons were the recipients of the Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award for 1981.
Upon returning to the United States, the squadron was officially designated as the 3rd MAW's "Night Assault Squadron". Within 90 days of designation, the "Night Raiders" of HMM-268 implemented an aggressive
Between May 1989 and November 1990 the Red Dragons participated in numerous exercises including MAGTF 89-3 deployed aboard USS Ogden, in support of the Exxon Valdez oil spill cleanup. During this period, HMM-268 passed the 20,000 mishap-free flight hour milestone.
In April 2014 HMM-268 stood down and stood up again on the same day as VMM-268. All the squadron's CH-46E aircraft have been replaced with MV-22 "Ospreys."
The Gulf War
On 1 December 1990, while assigned as the
During
In April 1991, the squadron re-embarked aboard New Orleans, as the ACE for the 11th MEU (SOC) and continued its
The 1990s
In September 1993, the Red Dragons again deployed to the Western Pacific and were directed to
In February 1998, as the ACE for the 11th MEU (SOC), HMM-268 (REIN) was tasked to deploy ahead of schedule in response to Iraq's disregard of United Nations decree. The squadron took part in Operation Southern Watch and Operation Safe Departure, in which over 170 American citizens were evacuated from war torn Eritrea. During this deployment, HMM-268 received its fourth consecutive Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award. The squadron returned from this deployment on 6 August 1998.
The Red Dragons moved from Marine Corps Air Station El Toro to Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton in February 1999, and departed on 14 March 2001 as MAG-39's first Aviation Combat Element (ACE) for the 11th MEU (SOC).
The squadron supported Humanitarian Operations in East Timor lifting several hundred tons of needed goods to the people of East Timor.
Global War on Terror
In January 2003, HMM-268 began the long process of deployment to Kuwait in support of
In August 2004, HMM-268 deployed again to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. For seven months the Red Dragons provided CASEVAC support for
The Red Dragons are the Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award winners for 2004. The award signifies commitment to aviation safety, professionalism, solid leadership, and effective operations and readiness.
The squadron redeployed to Iraq in early 2006, and from 25 February, were responsible for casualty evacuation and assault support in the area around Al Taqaddum Airfield where they were based.[1]
On 28 June 2008, HMM-268 deployed to Naval Air Station Lemoore after California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger requested military assistance to fight raging wildfires. The helicopters provided medium lift rotary wing support to United States Northern Command and the National Fire Center.[2]
In March 2009 the Squadron again deployed to Iraq in support of 2d MAW (FWD) operations for stabilization of Anbar Provence.
In November 2011, HMM-268(REIN) embarked for its first shipboard deployment in over a decade aboard USS Makin Island and USS New Orleans as the ACE for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. While deployed, the Red Dragons participated in seven Theater Security Cooperation (TSC) exercises in Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Oman, as well as supported several national tasking missions. Upon return from the MEU deployment, HMM-268 was designated to transition from the CH-46E to the MV-22B Osprey. This marked the beginning of a new chapter in the Red Dragons’ history as the squadron continued to maintain readiness while preparing for transition.[3]
Operation Inherent Resolve
See also
- United States Marine Corps Aviation
- Organization of the United States Marine Corps
- List of active United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons
References
- This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
- ^ Teslevich, Jonathan K. (27 November 2007). "HMM-268 takes over CASEVAC and aviation support missions from HMM-161". 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, U.S. Marine Corps. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- ^ Roach, Cpl. Brandon. "Wing aids firefighting efforts". Miramar News. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 9 July 2008. [dead link]
- ^ "Back to Business - HMM-268 and the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit". Global Aviation Resource. 20 September 2010. Retrieved 14 February 2015.