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Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 363
VMM-363 Unit insignia
Active2 June 1952–present
CountryUnited States of America
BranchUnited States Marine Corps
TypeMarine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron
RoleAssault Support
Part ofMarine Aircraft Group 24
1st Marine Aircraft Wing
Garrison/HQMCB Hawaii
Nickname(s)Lucky Red Lions
Tail CodeYZ
Mascot(s)Lucky the Lion
EngagementsVietnam War
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Inherent Resolve
Commanders
Current
commander		LtCol G.T. Blumenfeld

Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 363(VMM-363) is aUnited States Marine Corpstiltrotor squadron consisting ofMV-22B Ospreys.The squadron, known as the "Lucky Red Lions", is based atMCB Hawaiiand falls under the command ofMarine Aircraft Group 24(MAG-24) and the1st Marine Aircraft Wing.

Mission[edit]

Provideassault supportofcombat troops,supplies and equipment duringamphibious operationsand subsequent operations ashore. Routinely, VMM squadrons provide the foundation for an aviation combat element (ACE) of any levelMarine Air-Ground Task Force(MAGTF) mission that may include conventional assault support tasks and special operations.

History[edit]

Early years[edit]

Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron 363 (HMR-363) was activated on 2 June 1952, atMarine Corps Air Station Santa Ana,Californiaas part ofMarine Aircraft Group 36(MAG-36).[1]In 1953, the unit flew theSikorskyHRS-1and during this period took part inOperation Desert Rock,the first atomic test to use ground troops. Soon thereafter, the squadron became the first West Coast helicopter unit to receive theSikorsky H-34helicopter.[2]: 6 In December 1964, adisastrous floodstruckNorthern California,and onChristmas Eve,HMM-363 deployed aboard theUSSBenningtonand rushed northward to the disaster area.

AUH-34Dfrom HMH-363 flying nearMCAS Tustinin 1964.

Vietnam War[edit]

On 11 August 1965 the squadron departed the U.S. onboardUSSPrinceton.[2]: 92 The squadron was deployed toQui Nhon,South Vietnamon 1 September as part of MAG-36.[3]The squadron’s initial troop insert was a combined operation withHMM-161in moving the3rd Battalion 3rd Marinesinto a landing zone south ofDa Nangat Marble Mountain. Close ties between HMM-363 andRepublic of Korea(ROK) forces were developed inOperation Flying Tiger.TheTiger Divisionwas airlifted to Hill 78 in conjunction with the operation, which was viewed as the most successful Korean offensive of the war to date.

At the beginning of 1966 the squadron remained at Qui Nhon under the operational control of the Commanding General, U.S. Field Forces, Vietnam.[4]: 261 In early March the squadron supportedOperation Utah.[4]: 110 On 4 July the squadron became theSpecial Landing Force(SLF) helicopter squadron aboardUSSIwo Jima.[4]: 305 During its time as the SLF squadron it supported Operation Deckhouse II, launched in conjunction withOperation Hastings.[4]: 168 In September the squadron supportedOperation Deckhouse IV.[4]: 188 On 28 September the squadron returned ashore.[4]: 347 

On 19 January 1967 the squadron returned to SLF duty onIwo Jima.[5]: 153 In mid-February the squadron supported Operation Deckhouse VI.[5]: 58 From 20 March the squadron supported Operation Beacon Hill.[5]: 155 On 4 April the squadron was assigned toMarine Aircraft Group 13atChu Lai Base Area.[5]: 281 In September the squadron supportedOperation Swift.[5]: 113 In October the squadron supportedOperation Kingfisher.[5]: 137 By December the squadron was assigned toMarine Aircraft Group 16atMarble Mountain Air Facility.[5]: 317 

On 9 February 1968 the squadron became the SLF Alpha helicopter squadron.[6]: 719 On 26 March following a rocket attack, five squadron members were wounded and requiredmedical evacuation.During the flight up the coast the medevac helicopter lost its engine and crashed killing seven people including the commanding officer. On 15 April the squadron returned ashore under the control of MAG-36.[6]: 719 On 6 September the squadron again became the SLF Alpha helicopter squadron.[6]: 636 On 7 December the squadron returned ashore under MAG-36 atPhu Bai Combat Base.[6]: 639 

On 21 January 1969, the squadron was redeployed back to the U.S..[7]It was redesignatedMarine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 36(HMH-363) after having received the SikorskyCH-53Atransport helicopter.

Post-Vietnam[edit]

In October 1972, the squadron was the first unit to receive the powerfulCH-53D.In March 1977, the squadron was selected to participate in the operational evaluation of theUSSTarawa,the first of the new large and modern amphibious ships. In early 1983, the squadron was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation.

The Squadron provided relief efforts and humanitarian support in thePhilippinesfollowing a devastating earthquake and flood in 1990. HMH-363 flew countless missions and over 500 flight hours in 3½ weeks, delivering food, clothing, and shelter to inhabitants living in remote areas of the Philippines. The squadron received the Humanitarian Service Medal for its relief effort.

CH-53D Sea Stallions from HMH-363 on the flightline at MCB Hawaii on January 12, 2006.

DuringDesert Shield/Desert Storm,HMH-363 supported the1st Marine Aircraft Wingin Okinawa and returned to California in May 1991, terminating its unit rotations to Okinawa after this eleven-month deployment. In December 1992, the squadron participated inOperation Restore HopeinSomalia,[8]and was awarded theJoint Meritorious Unit CommendationandArmed Forces Expeditionary Medal.The squadron has also supportedJoint Task Force SixatFort Bliss,Texas.During August 1996, the Red Lions relocated toMarine Corps Air Facility Kaneohe Bayand were reassigned to1st Marine Aircraft Wing.

Global War on Terror[edit]

A CH-53D from HMH-363 flying in Iraq.

From late 2006 to early 2007, HMH-363 deployed toIraqin support ofOperation Iraqi Freedom.Based atAl Asad,this was the unit's first deployment in support of theGlobal War on Terror[9][10]During Operation Iraqi Freedom HMH-363 flew 848.8 hours in one month. The squadron deployed again toAl Asadin Summer 2008 to supportOperation Iraqi Freedom.They returned toMCB Hawaiiin February 2009.

HMH-363 was deactivated on 10 May 2012 at Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. The squadron was then re-designated VMM-363 and activated as anMV-22B OspreySquadron aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar as part ofMarine Aircraft Group 16,3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

Upon activating in 3rd MAW VMM-363 would go on to serve three combat deployments in the Central Command Area of Responsibility before moving back to MCB Hawaii.

Four U.S. Marine paratroopers jump from the rear loading ramp of a MV-22 Osprey.
U.S. Marines jump from an Osprey.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Public DomainThis article incorporatespublic domain materialfrom websites or documents of theUnited States Marine Corps.
  1. ^Rawlins, Eugene W. (1976).Marines and Helicopters 1946–1962(PDF).History and Museums Division, Headquarters Marine Corps. p. 52.ISBN9781500102852.Public DomainThis article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
  2. ^abFails, William R. (1978).Marines & Helicopters, 1962 - 1973(PDF).History and Museums Division, Headquarters Marine Corps.ISBN0-7881-1818-8.Public DomainThis article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
  3. ^Shulimson, Jack (1978).U.S. Marines in Vietnam: The Landing and the Buildup(PDF).History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. p. 149.ISBN978-1494287559.Public DomainThis article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
  4. ^abcdefShulimson, Jack (1982).U.S. Marines in Vietnam: An Expanding War 1966(PDF).History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps.ISBN978-1494285159.Public DomainThis article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
  5. ^abcdefgTelfer, Gary (1984).U.S. Marines in Vietnam: Fighting the North Vietnamese 1967.History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps.ISBN978-1494285449.Public DomainThis article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
  6. ^abcdShulimson, Jack; Blasiol, Leonard; Smith, Charles; Dawson, David (1997).U.S. Marines in Vietnam: 1968, the Defining Year(PDF).History and Museums Division, USMC.ISBN0160491258.Public DomainThis article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
  7. ^Smith, Charles (1988).U.S. Marines in Vietnam: High Mobility and Standdown 1969(PDF).History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. p. 344.ISBN978-1494287627.Public DomainThis article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
  8. ^Simmons, Edwin H. (2003).The United States Marines: A History, Fourth Edition.Naval Institute Press. p. 320.ISBN1-59114-790-5.
  9. ^"Delta squadrons exchange aircraft as mission turnover draws near".Marine Corps News.U.S. Marine Corps.
  10. ^"HMH-363 assumes role of assault support in Iraq".Marine Corps News.U.S. Marine Corps.

External links[edit]

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