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VMM-161

[[3rd Marine Aircraft Wing]]"},"current_commander":{"wt":"LtCol Ryan Stevens"},"garrison":{"wt":"[[Marine Corps Air Station Miramar]]"},"ceremonial_chief":{"wt":""},"colonel_of_...

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Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 (VMM-161) is a United States Marine Corpstiltrotor squadron that operates the MV-22 Osprey. The squadron, known as the "Greyhawks", 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). The squadron has the distinction of being the first helicopter transport squadron in the world and regularly utilizes the phrase "The First, The Best".[1]

Mission:

Provide assault support transport of combat troops, supplies and equipment during expeditionary, joint or combined operations. Be prepared for short-notice, worldwide employment in support of Marine Air-Ground Task Force operations.

History

Korean War & the early 1960s

The squadron was commissioned on 15 January 1951, at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California, as Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron 161 (HMR-161), Air Fleet Marine Force Pacific.[2] The squadron moved a month later to Marine Corps Air Facility Santa Ana, California to train on their new helicopter, the Sikorsky HRS-1. Except for the commanding officer, LtCol George Herring, most pilots in the squadron had flown fighters during World War II.[3] In August 1951 the squadron deployed to South Korea and attached to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW), where it operated in the central and the western fronts.[4]

HRS-1s of HMR-161 flying from USS Sicily in September 1952.

El HMR-161 voló con éxito desde el USS Sicily  para probar un nuevo concepto de combinación de envolvimiento vertical con asalto anfibio durante la Operación Marlex-5 frente a la costa de Inchon el 1 de septiembre de 1952. Si bien no fue el primer vuelo de helicóptero de barco a tierra con infantes de marina a bordo, ya que el HMR-162 lo había realizado durante la Operación Lex Baker frente a la costa del sur de California en febrero de 1952, fue el primero en aguas extranjeras. Durante el transcurso de la Guerra de Corea, el HMR-161 voló 16.538 horas en 18.607 salidas, lo que representó más de 60.000 movimientos de tropas y el traslado de 7,5 millones de libras de carga. [ 5 ] [ 6 ] El escuadrón participó luego en la defensa de la Zona Desmilitarizada de Corea (DMZ) desde julio de 1953 hasta marzo de 1955. El escuadrón se trasladó ese mes a la Estación Aérea del Cuerpo de Marines de Kaneohe Bay , Hawái , y se adscribió al Grupo Aéreo de Marines 13 (MAG 13). Mientras estaba en Hawái, el HMR-161 fue redesignado el 31 de diciembre de 1956 como Escuadrón de Transporte de Helicópteros de la Infantería de Marina (Ligero) 161 ( HMR(L)-161 ), MAG 13, 1.ª MAW. En mayo de 1960, el Escuadrón recibió el nuevo Sikorsky H-34 Seahorse .

El 1 de febrero de 1962, la unidad fue redesignada como Escuadrón de Helicópteros Medianos de la Infantería de Marina 161 ( HMM-161 ), MAG 13, 1.ª Brigada de Infantería de Marina. El 3 de octubre de 1962, el escuadrón prestó asistencia a la NASA rescatando al astronauta Wally Schirra y su cápsula Sigma Seven del Proyecto Mercury del Pacífico tras un exitoso lanzamiento al espacio.

Durante 1963, el Escuadrón de Helicópteros Medianos de la Infantería de Marina 161 ( HMM-161 ) prestó asistencia en varias pruebas de guerra biológica realizadas en el marco del Proyecto SHAD en Pearl Harbor , la Estación Aeronaval de Kaneohe y en el Océano Pacífico, cerca de Oahu , Hawái.

El resto de principios de la década de 1960 lo dedicaron a realizar entrenamiento antiguerrilla en preparación para su despliegue en Vietnam del Sur .

La guerra de Vietnam y la década de 1980

Un helicóptero del escuadrón HMM-161 esperando para transportar prisioneros al sur de Chu Lai durante la Operación Starlite en 1965.

El HMM-161 partió de Hawái el 15 de marzo de 1965 a bordo del USS Valley Forge  y llegó a la Base Aérea del Cuerpo de Marines de Futema , Okinawa , Japón , el 27 de marzo. El 27 de abril, el escuadrón partió de Okinawa a bordo del USS Princeton  con destino a Vietnam del Sur . El 6 de mayo, el escuadrón desembarcó elementos del 4.º Regimiento de Marines en Chu Lai y el 15 de mayo comenzó a operar desde el USS Iwo Jima  . Finalmente, el 25 de mayo de 1965, el HMM-161 desembarcó en Chu Lai y fue asignado al mando del Grupo Aéreo de Marines 16 (MAG-16) y la 1.ª Ala Aérea de Marines (1.ª MAW). El 12 de junio, el escuadrón se trasladó nuevamente, esta vez a la Base de Combate de Phu Bai . [ 7 ]

El 4 de enero de 1966, el HMM-161 fue relevado por el HMM-163 y redesplegado a la Estación Aérea del Cuerpo de Marines de Futenma , Okinawa , para recibir sus nuevos Vertol CH-46 Sea Knights . Durante este despliegue en Vietnam, el escuadrón tuvo un piloto condecorado con la Estrella de Plata y otros once con la Cruz de Vuelo Distinguido [ 8 ]. En abril de 1966, el escuadrón se había redesplegado a Da Nang , Vietnam del Sur, con un traslado a Phu Bai en junio de ese año. El 25 de septiembre de 1966, un UH-34D HUS del HMM-161 fue alcanzado por un proyectil de artillería amigo mientras realizaba una misión de evacuación médica durante la Operación Prairie , lo que resultó en la muerte de los cinco marines a bordo. Es el único caso conocido de fuego de artillería amigo que derribó un helicóptero estadounidense durante la guerra. [ 9 ] El escuadrón se trasladó una vez más en noviembre de 1966 a Futenma, Okinawa, donde fue asignado al Grupo Aéreo de Infantería de Marina 15 (MAG-15), 9.ª Brigada Anfibia de Infantería de Marina. Un mes después, el escuadrón regresó a CONUS, ya que fue asignado al Grupo Aéreo de Infantería de Marina 26 (MAG-26), 2.ª MAW en la Estación Aérea del Cuerpo de Marines New River , Carolina del Norte . HMM-161 luego se redesplegó en mayo de 1968 a la Base de Combate Quảng Trị , Vietnam del Sur y asignado al Grupo Aéreo de Infantería de Marina provisional 39 (MAG-39), 1.ª MAW. El escuadrón terminó sus años en Vietnam con su despliegue final a Phu Bai en octubre de 1969 mientras estaba asignado al MAG-16, 1.ª MAW.

HMM-161 came home in September 1970 and attached to MAG-56, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Fleet Marine Force Pacific. It was reassigned in July 1971 to MAG-16, 3d MAW. Elements of the Squadron participated in the August 1989 cleanup of the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska.

CH-46E

The Gulf War and the 1990s

Old HMM-161 insignia.

In 1990 they deployed on 17 August to Saudi Arabia as part of MAG-70, 7th Marine Expeditionary Brigade in support of Operation Desert Shield. The squadron would eventually participate in Operation Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. In 1995, they participated in Operation United Shield, the withdrawal of United Nations Forces from Somalia. By the end of the year, the unit had relocated to MCAS El Toro, California. In 1997, the Greyhawks deployed in March aboard the USS Boxer to the WESTPAC and Persian Gulf as the ACE for the 15th MEU(SOC), where they flew missions in support of Operation Southern Watch in Iraq. In February 1999, HMM-161 moved from MCAS El Toro to MCAS Miramar, California.

Global war on terror

The new millennium began well for the Squadron, as it won the Edward C. Dyer Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron of the Year for 2001. This followed the 2000 WESTPAC Deployment, which saw the Greyhawks provide humanitarian assistance in East Timor. On 6 January 2003, HMM-161 (Rein) deployed as a part of the 15th MEU for a WESTPAC Float that would end up supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Greyhawks were assigned the mission of Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP). Although no TRAP missions were necessary during the OIF, the Squadron did fly Casevac and numerous other missions. The Squadron returned home to MCAS Miramar on 12 July 2003.

In November 2003, Marines of HMM-161 were told they would be redeploying to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom II (OIF II). Immediate preparations were begun, and the Squadron used its December deployment to Indian Springs, Nevada to train for the conditions that would be faced during OIF II. While at Indian Springs, the Marines of HMM-161 made their mark in Squadron history by surpassing the 40,000 mishap-free flight hours plateau. This climb into the history books began back in August 1995 and culminated with a ground crew appreciation flight over the Hoover Dam and the Las Vegas Strip.

After receiving its cargo and aircraft at Ash Shu'aybah Port, Kuwait, the Squadron flew up to Al Taqaddum, Iraq during the first week of March to set up for the relief in place with the 82nd Airborne Brigade. The Squadron made 752 consecutive mission launches in support of I MEF operations during OIF II, logging 3072.8 hours of flight time. The Greyhawks were relieved on 1 September 2004, by HMM-268 with the main body arriving back at MCAS Miramar on 6 September. Throughout their service during OIF II, the Greyhawks moved 116,480 pounds of cargo and 2,929 passengers, including 328 patients that needed urgent care.

HMM-161 Phrog painted for squadron's 55th Anniversary celebrated in Iraq on 15 January 2006.

In August 2005, the squadron redeployed to Iraq for its third OIF deployment. The Greyhawks provided around-the-clock casualty evacuation and assault support in Al Anbar Province. During this deployment, the squadron flew 5,199 combat flight hours, transported more than 2,100 wounded personnel and conducted 19 raids and assault support missions that led to the capture of numerous insurgents. The Greyhawks safely completing 2,999 assault support requests without mishap or damage from enemy action.

On 8 February 2006, HMM-161 marked their 50,000th flight hour without a Class "A" mishap during their latest deployment to Al Taqaddum, Iraq. During this time period, which began 19 February 1995, the squadron flew 9,100 combat hours during three combat deployments.[10]

The squadron returned from its third OIF deployment on 4 March 2006. Following the deployment the squadron was awarded its fourth consecutive Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award and the Marine Corps Aviation Association's 2006 Commandant's Aviation Award in recognition as the year's best overall performance by a Marine squadron.

Conducting Fastrope operation on MCAS Camp Pendleton in 2016

On 3 February 2007, HMM-161 embarked upon its fourth combat deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Global War on Terror by sending a small advance party back to Al Taqaddum, Iraq to prepare for the arrival of the Squadron's Main Body on 1 March. The Greyhawks officially resumed their role in Casualty Evacuations and General Support on 9 March 2007.

On 24 September, HMM-161 returned from Al Taqaddum, Iraq, with their CASEVAC bell, the symbol of their mission in the area. They took the bell with them instead of leaving it for the next squadron because the mission of CASEVAC had been temporarily turned over to the soldiers of an ArmyBlackhawk detachment on the same base.[10]

At the completion of their deployment, HMM-161 successfully logged a record of over 58,000 class A mishap free flight hours total. This achievement is will remain intact and be unable to be surpassed by any other CH-46E squadron due to the fact the new MV-22 Osprey will be replacing the CH-46E, and no other squadron has a record close enough to the Greyhawks' that they would be able to beat it. This milestone once again showed why the men and women of the Greyhawks are "The First, The Best".

In December 2009, HMM-161 became the first of ten west coast squadrons to transition to the MV-22 Osprey and was redesignated as Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 during the change of command.[11][12]

VMM-161 completed its operational training requirements to the MV-22 Osprey and became a fully capable, combat ready tiltrotor squadron in April 2011. Shortly thereafter, in July 2012, the Greyhawks deployed to Afghanistan to support Operation Enduring Freedom as the first combat deployment for the MV-22. The squadron completed the deployment and subsequently returned safely to MCAS Miramar in January 2013, having flown more than 2,200 hours, supporting more than 100 named operations, and suffering zero mishaps.

See also

Citations

  1. ↑Kristy, "Museum Preserves 60 Years of Marine Corps Rotary Wing Aviation", Fortitudine, 2007.
  2. ↑Rawlins 1976, pp. 105.
  3. ↑Dorr 2005, pp. 139.
  4. ↑Simmons 2003, pp. 209.
  5. ↑Dorr 2005, pp. 150.
  6. ↑Hearn 2003, pp. 254.
  7. ↑Fails 1978, pp. 92.
  8. ↑Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 161 Cruisebook (1965-1966 - Okinawa/Vietnam)
  9. ↑Coan 2004, pp. 49.
  10. 12Hammel, "HMM-161 flies 50,000th safe hour in Iraq", Marine Corps News, 2006.
  11. ↑Fuentes, Gidget (17 December 2009). "First West Coast-based Osprey arrives". Marine Corps Times. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  12. ↑‘Greyhawks’ celebrate history

References

Public Domain 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.
  • Dorr, Robert F. (2005). Marine Air - The History of the Flying Leathernecks in Words and Photos. Penguin Group. ISBN 0-42520-725-0.
  • Fails, William R. (1978). Marines & Helicopters, 1962 - 1973. Washington D.C.: History and Museums Division, Headquarters Marine Corps. ISBN 0-7881-1818-8.
  • Hearn, Chester G. (2003). The Illustrated Directory of the United States Marine Corps. Salamander Books. ISBN 1-84065-513-5. OCLC 59372577.
  • Hamel, CPL James D, 2nd MAW (8 February 2006). "HMM-161 flies 50,000th safe hour in Iraq". Marine Corps News. United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 21 November 2007.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • Kristy, Ben (2007). "Museum Preserves 60 Years of Marine Corps Rotary Wing Aviation". Fortitudine. 32 (4). Quantico, Virginia: Marine Corps History Division: 15–16.
  • Montross, Lynn. Cavalry of the Sky - The Story of U.S. Marine Combat Helicopters. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1954.
  • Rawlins, Eugene W. (1976). Marines and Helicopters 1946–1962(PDF). Washington, D.C.: History and Museums Division, Headquarters Marine Corps.
  • Simmons, Edwin H. (2003). The United States Marines: A History, Fourth Edition. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-790-5. OCLC 50503539.
  • Parker, Lieutenant Colonel Gary W. (1978). A History of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 161. Washington D.C.: United States Marine Corps Historical Division. PCN 19000307800. Retrieved 12 December 2008.
  • Official website
  • USMC Sikorsky HRS Database
  • HMM161 (Rein): Aviation Combat Eelement at the Ready - Naval Aviation News (May–June 2003)