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VMM-262

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Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262
VMM-262 (REIN) Insignia
ActiveSeptember, 1951 - September, 2013[1]
CountryUnited States
AllegianceUnited States of America
BranchUnited States Marine Corps
TypeMedium Lift Tiltrotor Squadron
RoleConduct air operations in support of theFleet Marine Forces
Part ofMarine Aircraft Group 36
1st Marine Aircraft Wing
Garrison/HQMarine Corps Air Station Futenma
Nickname(s)"Flying Tigers"
Tail CodeET
EngagementsOperation Powerpack
Vietnam War
*Battle of Khe Sahn
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Commanders
Commanding OfficerLtCol. Adrian R. Evangelista

Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262(VMM-262) is aUnited States Marine Corpstiltrotor squadron consisting ofMV-22B Ospreytiltrotor aircraft. The squadron, known as the "Flying Tigers", is based atMarine Corps Air Station Futenma,Okinawa,Japanand falls under the command ofMarine Aircraft Group 36(MAG-36) and the1st Marine Aircraft Wing(1st MAW).

Mission

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Provideassault supporttransport of combat troops, supplies, and equipment during expeditionary, joint, or combined operations. Be prepared for short-notice, worldwide employment in support ofMarine Air-Ground Task Forceoperations.[2]

History

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Early years

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A green helicopter hovers low over the water, with the Mercury capsule suspended below. The helicopter has "Marines" written on it, and the number "44"
Marine CorpsHUS-1helicopter from HMR-262 retrievesFreedom 7from the Atlantic

Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 was activated in September 1951 atMarine Corps Air Station Cherry Point,North Carolina and designatedMarine Helicopter Transport Squadron 262(HMR-262). Although activated during theKorean War,the squadron remained on theU.S. east coastproviding helicopter support for theFleet Marine Forceunits of that area. In February 1952, the Squadron was assigned toMarine Aircraft Group 26.During July 1954, the Squadron was relocated toMarine Corps Air Station New River,North Carolina where it remained until 1966.

On 1 February 1962, the Squadron's designation was changed to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 and, in April through June 1965, HMM-262 participated inOperation Powerpackin theDominican Republic.

Vietnam War

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The squadron, equipped with 24CH-46A Sea Knightswas deployed toSouth Vietnamon 4 December 1966 and assigned toMarine Aircraft Group 36(MAG-36),1st Marine Aircraft WingatKỳ Hà.[3]

HMM-262 CH-46A atLanding Zone Stud.

In late January 1967 the squadron supportedOperation Desoto.[4]: 57 On 23 August the squadron flew onboardUSSTripolito serve as theSpecial Landing Force(SLF) Bravo helicopter squadron.[4]: 169 In September with the grounding of all CH-46s due to structural failure the squadron was detached from the SLF to assist in the modification of CH-46s on Okinawa while a detachment remained onUSSValley Forge.[4]: 211 In late December the squadron participated in SLF Bravo'sOperation Badger Tooth.[4]: 176 

On 10 January 1968 the squadron returned ashore, rejoining MAG-36 atQuảng Trị Combat Base.[5]: 463 The squadron was extensively involved in supporting marine forces in theBattle of Khe Sanh.On 15 April the squadron, together with other MAG-36 units at Quảng Trị were transferred to ProvisionalMarine Aircraft Group 39.[5]: 526 On 21 September 1969, the squadron was transferred back to MAG-36.[5]: 720 

On 16 October 1969 the squadron, now based atPhu Bai Combat Basewas transferred toMarine Aircraft Group 16.[6]

On 7 May 1971 the squadron was stood down atMarble Mountain Air Facility.[7]

Post Vietnam

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With the withdrawal of troops from Vietnam, HMM-262 relocated toMCAS Kaneohe Bay,Hawaii during 1971 and was assigned toMarine Aircraft Group 24.

While stationed at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, HMM-262 provided helicopter support to the 1st Marine Amphibious Brigade, FMF. In December 1976, HMM-262 was designated as the first Hawaii-based helicopter squadron to deploy to the western Pacific as a composite squadron. The squadron deployed aboard USSTripolion 17 November and remained the "Cutting Edge" of the 31st MAU for the next eight months.

The Flying Tigers boardedUSSBelleau Woodin March 1990 to become the first Hawaii-based helicopter squadron to deploy aboard ship since 1985. In August 1990, HMM-262 deployed to Okinawa, Japan on UDP (Unit Deployment Plan) and re-positioned its flag in September 1990 toNAS Cubi Point,Republic of the Philippines,to become the ACE (air combat element) in support of Marine Air-Ground Task Force 4-90 (MAGTF 4-90). The squadron participated in emergency flood/earthquake relief efforts and was extended overseas due toOperation Desert Shield/Stormand returned to Hawaii on 4 June 1991.

In September 1992, the Flying Tigers once again embarked aboard USSBelleau Woodand participated inHurricane Inikirelief efforts on the island ofKauai.On 27 September 1992, the Squadron transferred its home base to MCAS Futenma, MAG-36, 1st MAW, Okinawa. This effectively transitioned the Flying Tigers to become the first permanently assigned HMM squadron in the region since 1978.

Since 2000

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In October 2001, HMM-262 (REIN) sent a detachment of personnel and aircraft aboardUSSHarpers Ferryto the new nation ofEast Timorfor humanitarian assistance operations. As all Unit Deployment Program personnel were frozen in December 2001, the squadron concluded the year with a "Be Prepared To" order to remain the ACE for the31st Marine Expeditionary Unit(MEU) and to prepare for potential contingency operations. After 18 months as the ACE of the 31st MEU, the Squadron was again reassigned toMAG-36and was named a Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Safety Award winner for calendar year 2002.

In December 2004, HMM-262 deployed to thePhilippinesas part of Joint Task Force-535 in support of its Humanitarian Aid/Disaster Relief (HA/DR) mission. In only nine days of flying, the Squadron delivered over 204,800 pounds (92,900 kg) of food, water, and supplies to an isolated area that had been devastated by flooding and mudslides resulting from a succession of typhoons.

A CH-46 from HMM-262 takes off from a field inLeyteas part of the humanitarian operations following the2006 mudslides

From January through March 2005, HMM-262 deployed aboardUSSFort McHenryandUSSEssexas part of Joint Task Force-536 in support ofOperation Unified Assistance,the HA/DR effort following the2004 Indian Ocean earthquake/tsunami. Operating off the northwestern coast ofSumatra,Indonesia,HMM-262 supported the effort by delivering aid and supplies to the victims of the massive tsunamis. During the period from 14 January to 9 February, the Squadron delivered over 493,755 pounds (223,964 kg) of food, water, and other supplies to an area that spanned over 120 miles (190 km) of coastline. At the conclusion of this effort the squadron was selected to provide helicopter lift on 19 & 20 February 2005 for former PresidentsBill ClintonandGeorge H. W. Bushduring their tour of the tsunami-devastated areas ofThailandandIndonesia.

In February 2006, the squadron was again on board USSEssexas part of the 31st MEU when called to provide humanitarian assistance to those affected by the2006 Southern Leyte mudslide.[8]

In January 2007, HMM-262 deployed toIraqin support ofOperation Iraqi Freedom.This marked the first combat deployment of the squadron since the Vietnam War.[9]The squadron was based atAl Taqaddum Air Baseand their mission was to provide assault support forII Marine Expeditionary Force(II MEF) units inAl Anbar Province.From February to May 2007 the squadron flew 1,574 sorties totaling 2,532 flight hours. They also had one Marine killed in action[10]

On 30 September 2013, the CH-46E Sea Knights from HMM-262 made their final flight fromMarine Corps Air Station Futenma,and were retired to make way for theMV-22B Ospreys.HMM-262's CH-46Es were the last of their type inOkinawa,and the Pacific. The unit was re-designated as Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 (VMM-262).[1]

In November 2013,Typhoon Haiyan,the strongest recorded typhoon in history, struck the Philippines. VMM-262 deployed a detachment of four Ospreys in support ofOperation Damayan,carrying supplies and personnel throughout the damaged areas. The vast size of the affected area plus the lack of runways for traditional fixed wing aircraft made the Osprey the perfect platform for disaster relief.[11]

When a 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked the inland country Nepal in May 2015, VMM-262 self-deployed a detachment of MV-22B Ospreys from Okinawa to Kathmandu in order to support aid operations duringOperation SAHAYOGI HAAT.Along with Joint Task Force 505, the Tigers delivered shelter material and food to disaster-stricken areas throughout the Himalayan mountains.[12][13]

While attached to the31st Marine Expeditionary Unitin the fall of 2018, VMM-262 Reinforced responded toGuamand theNorthern Mariana IslandsfollowingSuper Typhoon Yutu.V-22s and CH-53s from the Flying Tigers carried FEMA personnel, supplies, and Marines ashore to help provide relief to the stricken islands.[14]

In February 2020, VMM-262 was tasked with supporting the Singapore Air Show. The 10 hour transit, piloted by Major Scott Wood, Capts John Brown, James Nardi, and Christopher Syrowik and supported by a KC-130 ofVMGR-152,was the longest duration flight flown in the MV-22.[15]

The ManaTiger

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A mythical beast, the pilots of HMM-262 and now VMM-262 rub the ManaTiger for good luck before each flight.

VMM-262's mascot is the "ManaTiger", a combination of a tiger and a manatee. It is a play on the unit's motto of "Every Man a Tiger".[citation needed]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ab"Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron-262 [HMM-262]".globalsecurity.org.Retrieved15 November2013.
  2. ^"1st Marine Aircraft Wing > Subordinate Units > Marine Aircraft Group 36".
  3. ^Shulimson, Jack (1982).U.S. Marines in Vietnam: An Expanding War 1966(PDF).History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. p. 347.ISBN978-1494285159.Public DomainThis article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
  4. ^abcdTelfer, 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.
  5. ^abcShulimson, 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.
  6. ^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.
  7. ^Cosmas, Graham (1986).US Marines in Vietnam Vietnamization and Redeployment 1970-1971.History and Museums Division Headquarters United States Marine Corps. p. 244.ISBN9781494287498.Public DomainThis article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
  8. ^LCpl McKnight, Erin."U.S. aids in Philippine mudslide relief effort".US Marines in Japan.USMC. Archived fromthe originalon 10 March 2007.Retrieved22 November2007.
  9. ^LCpl Alfonso, Juan."HMM-262 Marines deploy to first combat tour since Vietnam".Marine Corps News.USMC.Retrieved22 November2007.[dead link]
  10. ^Captain Benjamin Taggert (2007)."HMM-262: From RVN to Iraq"(PDF).Marine Corps Aviation Association.Retrieved22 November2007.[dead link]
  11. ^"Flying Tigers Engage in Support of the Philippine Rescue Effort".17 November 2013.
  12. ^"Joint personnel, U.S. Marines fly critical supplies to Nepal earthquake survivors".
  13. ^Robson, Seth (2 May 2015)."US troops, aircraft heading to Nepal delayed a day".stripes.Stars and Stripes.Retrieved2 May2015.
  14. ^"31st MEU takes lead on Tinian".4 November 2018.
  15. ^"VMM-262 Flies out to 2020 Singapore Airshow".

References

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Public DomainThis article incorporatespublic domain materialfrom websites or documents of theUnited States Marine Corps.
Bibliography
Web
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