MARINE MEDIUM TILTROTOR
SQUADRON 162
VMM-162
"Wombats"
Since its activation in 1951, VMM-162 has served the Nation in Vietnam (3 tours), the Gulf War, and numerous deployments and exercises. On 31 October, 2006, was redesignated VMM-162, and became the second non-training MV-22 squadron in the Marine Corps.
LINEAGE
1951 - 1961
Activated 30 June 1951 at Santa Ana,
California, as Marine Helicopter Squadron 162 and assigned to
Air, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific.
Reassigned during March 1952 to Marine Aircraft Group 16, Air,
Fleet Marine Force, Pacific.
Deployed during August 1953 to Asaka, Japan, and reassigned to
Marine Aircraft Group 16, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.
Deployed during March 1954 to Oppama, Japan.
Redesignated 31 December 1956 as Marine Helicopter Squadron
(Light) 162.
Relocated during February 1959 to New River, North Carolina, 2d
Marine Aircraft Wing.
Deployed during April 1960 to Futenma, Okinawa, and reassigned to
Marine Aircraft Group 16, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.
Relocated during July 1961 to New River, North Carolina, and
reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 26, 2d Marine Aircraft
Wing.
1962 - 1969
Reassigned 1 February 1962 as Marine Medium
Helicopter Squadron 162.
Deployed during June 1962 to Futenma, Okinawa and reassigned to
Marine Aircraft Group 16, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.
Temporarily stationed in Thailand during June - July 1962 for
Laotian Crisis.
Redeployed during January 1963 to the Republic of Vietnam.
Participated in the war in Vietnam, January - June 1963, June -
October 1964, and March - May 1965, operating from Da Nang - Nha
Trang.
Relocated during June 1963 to New River, North Carolina, and
reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 26, 2d Marine Aircraft
Wing.
Deployed during May 1964 to Futenma, Okinawa, and reassigned to
Marine Aircraft Group 16, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.
Redeployed during June 1964 to the Republic of Vietnam.
Redeployed during October 1964 to Futenma, Okinawa.
Afloat onboard USS Princeton in the Eastern Pacific, October 1964
- March 1965.
Redeployed during March 1965 to the Republic of Vietnam.
Redeployed during May 1965 to Futenma, Okinawa.
Relocated during June 1965 to New River, North Carolina, and
reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 26, 2d Marine Aircraft
Wing.
1970 - 2006
Deployed at various times during the 1970s and
1980s to the Mediterranean, North Atlantic, Caribbean, and Indian
Ocean areas.
Participated in deployment to the Indian Ocean, October -
December 1980.
Reassigned during January 1983 to Marine Aircraft Group 29.
Participated as part of the Multinational Peace-Keeping Force in
Lebanon, May - November 1982.
Participated in Operation Sharp Edge, Liberia, August 1990 -
January 1991.
Participated in support of Operation Provide Comfort, Iraq, July
1991.
Participated in support of Operation Restore Hope, Somalia,
November 1993.
Participated in support of Operations Provide Promise and Deny
Flight, Bosnia, January 1994.
Participated in Operation Assured Response, Liberia, April - June
1996.
Participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003).
HMM-162 placed in cadre status - October 2005.
VMM-162 activated 31 August 2006 at New River.
UNIT HONORS
PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION STREAMER with one
bronze star
Vietnam
1965
Iraq
2003)
NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION STREAMER with three bronze stars
Vietnam
1963 - 1964
Lebanon
1983
1983
MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION with 3 bronze stars
1974
1979
1986 - 1987
1998
MARINE CORPS EXPEDITIONARY STREAMER with 3 bronze stars
NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE STREAMER with 3 bronze stars
KOREAN SERVICE STREAMER
ARMED FORCES EXPEDITIONARY STREAMER
VIETNAM SERVICE STREAMER with 2 bronze stars
SOUTHWEST ASIA SERVICE STREAMER with 1 bronze star
GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM EXPEDITIONARY STREAMER
VIETNAM CROSS of GALLANTRY with PALM STREAMER
- Nicknames: "Doughboys"; "Golden Eagles"; "Wombats"
- ID Code: HS 1951-56; YS 1956-
- Aircraft: HRS-1(CH-19E); HUS (UH-34D); CH-46A/D/F/E
- Squadron Web Pages:
Official site: HMM-162
Unofficial site: HMM-162.org