Description
Computer made/mounted on velcro 4.0 inch-100mm
MARINE MEDIUM TILTROTOR 161 (VMM-161)
The squadron was commissioned on 15 Jan 1951 at MCAS El Toro, CA, as Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron 161 (HMR-161), Air Fleet Marine Force Pacific. The squadron moved a month later to MCAF Santa Ana, CA, to train on their new helicopter, the Sikorsky HRS-1. In Aug 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.
After the Korean War, HMR-161 successfully flew from the USS Sicily to test new concept of combining vertical envelopment with amphibious assault during Operation Marlex-5 off the coast of Inchon on 1 Sep 1952. While not the first ever ship to shore helicopter flight with Marines aboard, that having been done by HMR-162 during Operation Lex Baker off the coast of Southern California in Feb, 1952, it was the first on foreign shores. During the course of the Korean War, HMR-161 flew 16,538 hours during 18,607 sorties eventually accounting for over 60,000 troop movements and moving 7.5 million pounds of cargo. The squadron then participated in the defense of the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) from Jul 1953-Mar 1955. The squadron then relocated that month to MCAS Kaneohe Bay, HI, and attached to Marine Aircraft Group 13 (MAG 13). While in Hawaii, HMR-161 was redesignated on 31 Dec 1956 as Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron (Light) 161 (HMR(L)-161), MAG 13, 1st MAW. In May 1960, the Squadron received the new Sikorsky H-34 Seahorse.
On 1 Feb 1962, the unit was once again re-designated as Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 161 (HMM-161), MAG 13, 1st Marine Brigade. On 3 Oct 1962 the squadron assisted NASA by recovering astronaut Wally Schirra and his Project Mercury capsule Sigma Seven out of the Pacific after a successful launch into space.
During 1963, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 161 (HMM-161) assisted in several biological warfare tests conducted under Project SHAD at Pearl Harbor, Kaneohe Naval Air Station and in the Pacific Ocean, near Oahu, HI.
The rest of the early 1960s were spent conducting anti-guerrilla training in preparation for deployment to South Vietnam.
HMM-161 deployed in May 1965 to Phu Bai Combat Base, South Vietnam and attached to MAG-16, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. It then relocated in Jan 1966 to MCAS Futenma, Okinawa, Japan to receive its new Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight. By Apr 1966, the squadron had redeployed to Da Nang, South Vietnam with a move to Phu Bai that Jun. On 25 Sep 1966 a UH-34D HUS from HMM-161 was struck by a friendly artillery shell while conducting a medevac mission during Operation Prairie resulting in the death all five Marines on board. It is the only known case of friendly artillery fire shooting down an American helicopter during the war. The squadron relocated once again in Nov 1966 to Futenma, Okinawa, where it was attached to Marine Aircraft Group 15 (MAG-15), 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade. A month later the squadron returned to CONUS, as they were attached to Marine Aircraft Group 26 (MAG-26), 2nd MAW at MCAS New River, NC. HMM-161 then redeployed in May 1968 to Quảng Trị Combat Base, South Vietnam and attached to provisional Marine Aircraft Group 39 (MAG-39), 1st MAW. The Squadron finished its Vietnam years with its final deployment to Phu Bai in October 1969 while attached to MAG-16, 1st MAW.
HMM-161 came home in Sep 1970 and attached to MAG-56, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Fleet Marine Force Pacific. It was reassigned in Jul 1971 to MAG-16, 3rd MAW. Elements of the Squadron participated in the Aug 1989 cleanup of the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound, AK.
In 1990 they deployed on 17 Aug 17 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, CA. In 1997, the Greyhawks deployed in Mar 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 Feb 1999, HMM-161 moved from MCAS El Toro to MCAS Miramar, CA.
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 Jan 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, CA, on 12 Jul 2003.
In Nov 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 Aug 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 SSep 2004 by HMM-268 with the main body arriving back at MCAS Miramar on September 6. 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.
On 3 Feb 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 Mar 2007. The Greyhawks officially resumed their role in Casualty Evacuations and General Support on 9 Mar 2007.
On 24 Sep 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 Army Blackhawk detachment on the same base.
As of the end of the deployment, the squadron is at a record of over 58,000 class A mishap free flight hours total. This achievement is 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.
In Dec 2009, HMM-161 became the first of ten west coast squadrons to transition to the MV-22 Osprey and changed their name to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 during the change of command.
In Aug 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 Feb 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 Feb 1995, the squadron flew 9,100 combat hours during three combat deployments.
The squadron returned from its third OIF deployment on 4 Mar 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.
On 3 Feb 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 Mar. The Greyhawks officially resumed their role in Casualty Evacuations and General Support on 9 Mar 2007.
On Sep 24, 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 Army Blackhawk detachment on the same base.
As of the end of the deployment, the squadron is at a record of over 58,000 class A mishap free flight hours total. This achievement is 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.
In Dec 2009, HMM-161 became the first of ten west coast squadrons to transition to the MV-22 Osprey and changed their name to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 during the change of command.