VMM-365
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 (REIN) | |
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Commanders | |
Current commander | LtCol Cory J. Jobst |
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 (VMM-365) is a
Mission
Provide
History
Vietnam War
Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 365 was established on 1 July 1963 at
On 11 October, the newly arrived Marine pilots and aircrews were involved in their first firefight when 8 UH-34Ds drew
Meanwhile, other squadron members were modifying three helicopters to carry a new weapons system. The TK-1, an externally mounted combination of M-60 machine guns and 2.75-inch (70 mm) rocket launchers, that was first used in support of a Tiger Flight mission conducted just south of the Song Thu Bon, about 17 miles (27 km) from Da Nang. Two armed UH-34Ds expended 90 rockets and 500 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition on enemy positions during pre-landing strikes. The squadron executed similar operations the following day.
The squadron remained at Da Nang until February 1965. They embarked aboard the
In 1966, the squadron conducted relief operations in the Dominican Republic and Haiti following Hurricane Inez. In March 1967, HMM-365 received its first CH-46 Sea Knight . The transition was complete by late June. In January 1970, the squadron received eight new CH-46D aircraft in preparation for its upcoming deployment to the Caribbean. That June, the squadron flew disaster relief operations in Peru following an earthquake. On 1 March 1971, HMM-365 was deactivated.
1980s
HMM-365 was reactivated on 13 June 1980 and equipped with the new CH-46E helicopter. In May 1983 the squadron was reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 29. In 1984, HMM-365 became the first tactical helicopter squadron to achieve 75,000 mishap-free flight hours. In April 1989, HMM-365 began its second deployment as the Aviation Combat Element for the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. .
1990s
Four months later, after the
While deployed in 1992, the Amphibious Ready Group moved into the Adriatic Sea to support Operation Provide Promise. On 3 September, while on station near the coast, the Blue Knights launched a Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and personnel (TRAP) mission into Yugoslavia following the downing of an Italian cargo aircraft carrying relief supplies into Sarajevo.
In April 1994, the squadron deployed aboard the USS Guam as the ACE for the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit. During this deployment, the squadron participated in the 50th anniversary commemoration of D-Day in the English Channel. President Clinton was flown on squadron aircraft, as well as the Commandant of the Marine Corps, during the ceremonies. The squadron was later used for stand-by in the area near Somalia as American troops were withdrawn. The squadron then supported operations in the Adriatic Sea.
In 1995, the squadron was presented with the Marine Corps Aviation Association (MCAA) Edward C. Dyer Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron of the Year Award.
The squadron departed for its 1997 deployment aboard the
In 1999, the Blue Knights supported
The Global War on Terror
Following the
In January 2003, the Blue Knights prepared for deployment to Ali Al Salem Airbase, Kuwait in support of
On 7 August 2004, HMM-365's main body departed New River, NC for
On 25 November, the Blue Knights flew the
In August 2005, in the wake of the devastation caused by
In May 2006, the squadron deployed aboard the USS Iwo Jima as the ACE for the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. While conducting training operations in Jordan, the squadron was ordered to the coast of Beirut for Non-Combatant Evacuation operations at the American Embassy in Beirut. Also during this deployment, the squadron conducted training in Kuwait for two weeks. Squadron aircraft also supported operations in the Horn of Africa.
In April 2008, HMM-365(REIN) deployed as the
The squadron was redesignated as Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 on 15 January 2009 after completing their conversion to the
In January 2012, only eleven months after returning from a successful deployment to Afghanistan, VMM-365 returned to Camp Bastion to conduct combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. During the month of April, the squadron conducted 35 Named Operations and increased that number to 39 in May and 42 in June. VMM-365 flew in support of 193 Named Operations over the course of the seven-month deployment. By comparison, the squadron conducted just 10 Named Operations during OEF 10.2. In addition to successfully supporting an average of one Named Operation per day, the squadron moved 36,047 passengers and 769,102 pounds of cargo across the battle space while conducting General Support missions.
The squadron expanded the accepted capabilities of the MV-22 by operating across the spectrum of Assault Support and displaying wide-ranging and flexible skill sets. Centering on the primary mission of a VMM, the Blue Knights conducted conventional insertion/extraction operations, narcotic raids, Aerial Reaction Forces, and Aerial Interdiction. On 25 March 2012, a flight of six Blue Knight Ospreys conducted the largest tiltrotor-borne insert in history by inserting 594 coalition personnel in support of Operation JAWS. VMM-365 also launched flights of three or more aircraft on 48 different occasions, to include 17 flights of five or more aircraft. Conducting long-range Casualty Evacuation missions within the critical "Golden Hour," leaflet drops in support of psychological operations, battlefield illumination missions for other MV-22s, and developing & operating as a Command and Control platform during three battalion-level operations are examples of some of the wide-ranging and innovative operations the Blue Knights successfully executed.
The maintenance department's Emergency Reclamation Team was tested on several occasions; to include, 27 June 2012 when two separate aircraft received significant battle damage after inserting 1st Reconnaissance Battalion Marines to a tactical landing zone. One of these aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing to a nearby FOB after taking 12 enemy medium machine gun rounds. Less than 18 hours later, VMM-365 fixed the damaged aircraft and flew safely back to Camp Bastion. Throughout the deployment, the Blue Knights were engaged by enemy fire 26 times, returned fire 12 times, and sustained battle damage to five aircraft.
Six of the squadron's MV-22Bs self-deployed to Morón Air Base on 27 April 2013, as part of the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force–Crisis Response.[4]
On 27 May 2014 VMM-365 went composite with HMLA-269, HMH-461, MWSS-272, MACG-28, MALS-26 and MALS-29 and was redesignated VMM-365(REIN) in support of 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Three months later, VMA-231 and MALS-14 joined the ACE resulting in more than 500 Marines and sailors attached to VMM-365(REIN). Of the 29 aircraft assigned, the ACE can employ (12) MV-22B, (4) CH-53E, (4) AH-1W, (3) UH-1Y, and (6) AV-8B. Additionally the ACE can employ multiple Low Altitude Air Defense teams and aircraft controllers. On 12 December 2014 VMM-365(REIN) deployed with 24 MEU, Amphibious Squadron 8 and the USS Iwo Jima Amphibious Readiness Group.
On 16 July 2015 VMM-365(REIN) returned from deployment with 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The Blue Knights expertly stood the alert, ready to respond. The ACE supported multiple bilateral exercises in 6th and 5th Fleet areas of responsibility, conducted combat missions in Iraq in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE, assisted with the evacuation of US Embassies in Yemen in both Sana'a and Aden, supported multiple US Ambassador visits to Aden, Yemen, and served as an airborne deterrence force against surface ships delivering lethal weapons to Huthi rebels in Yemen. In the seven-month deployment, the squadron flew more than 3,500 hours and maintained the highest overall aircraft readiness rate of any Aviation Combat Element since deploying with the MV-22B Osprey.
See also
Notes
- ^ Fuentes, Gidget (23 August 2008). "End nears for CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter". Marine Corps Times. Retrieved 23 August 2008.
- ^ Major Frushour, Kelly (16 August 2008). "HMM-365 (REIN) aces Afghanistan test". United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 22 August 2008. Retrieved 20 August 2008.
- ^ ‘Blue Knights’ take on new mission with new CO
- ^ Schulz, Lauren (1 May 2013). "MV-22B Ospreys Make Historic Flight". Marine Corps News. Military Advantage. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
References
- This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
- Bibliography
- Web
External links
- VMM-365's official website
- Squadron trains during workups for the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit