Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362
HMH-362
Ugly Angels
In 1962, HMM-362 became the first Marine Helicopter squadron to serve in Vietnam (Operation "Shufly"), operating from Soc Trang. HMM-362 returned to Vietnam in 1965. Over the next four years, the squadron operated from Hue/Phu Bai, Ky Ha, and Marble Mountain, as well as at sea with the Special Landing Force. August 1969 saw the end of combat operations for HMM-362. The "Ugly Angels" had taken the first UH-34Ds to Vietnam and were the last squadron to fly them in combat. The squadron colors were shifted to New River, NC, and the squadron was redesignated HMH-362.
Over the next two decades HMH-362 took part in numerous exercises and elements deployed with various Marine Expeditionary Units. The squadron was deployed to Saudi Arabia in 1991 and conducted combat flights in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm.
HMH-362 relocated to Kaneohe, Hawaii during 1995 as part of the Marine Corps' consolidation of CH-53D squadrons. In 2002 HMH-362 became the first squadron from MAG-24 to participate in the Unit Deployment Program, deploying to Iwakuni, Japan, in support of 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.
LINEAGE
1952 - 1960
Activated 30 April 1952 at Santa Ana,
California, as Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron 362 and
assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 16, Fleet Marine Force,
Pacific.
Reassigned during June 1952 to Marine Aircraft Group 36, Air,
Fleet Marine Force, Pacific.
Reassigned during January 1953 to Marine Aircraft Group 16, Air,
Fleet Marine Force, Pacific.
Reassigned during July 1953 to Marine Aircraft Group 36, Air,
Fleet Marine Force, Pacific.
Reassigned during September 1955 to the 3d Marine Aircraft Wing,
Fleet Marine Force, Pacific.
Redesignated 31 December 1956 as Marine Helicopter Transport
Squadron (Light) 362.
Deployed during May 1959 to Yokosuka, Japan, and reassigned to
Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.
Redeployed during May 1960 to Futenma, Okinawa.
Relocated during July 1960 to Santa Ana, California, and
reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 36, 3d Marine Aircraft
Wing.
1961 - 2004
Deployed during July 1961 to Futenma, Okinawa,
and reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 16, 1st Marine Aircraft
Wing.
Redesignated 1 February 1962 as Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron
362.
Deployed during April 1962 to the Republic of Vietnam.
Participated in the war in Vietnam, April - July 1962, September
1965 - August 1969, operating from
Soc Trang
Ky Ha
Hue/Phu Bai
Marble Mountain
Relocated during August 1969 to Santa Ana, California, and
reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 36, 3d Marine Aircraft
Wing.
Relocated during August 1969 to New River, North Carolina.
Redesignated 21 August 1969 as Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron
362 and reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 26, 2d Marine
Aircraft Wing.
Participated in numerous training exercises throughout the 1970s
and 1980s.
Participated in Operations Desert Shield and Desert
Storm, January - March 1991.
Relocated during June 1995 to Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, and assigned
to 1st Marine Aircraft Wing Aviation Support Element, Kaneohe
UNIT HONORS
PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION STREAMER with 1
bronze star
Vietnam
1965 - 1967
1967
NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION STREAMER with 1 silver and 1 bronze
star
Vietnam
1962
1965 - 1966
1968
1968
1968
1969
Southwest Asia
1990 - 1991
MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION STREAMER with 1 silver star and 1
bronze star
Vietnam
1966 - 67
1968
1969
1987 - 1988
1993
1994 - 1995
1996 - 1998
NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE STREAMER with 3 bronze stars
SOUTHWEST ASIA SERVICE STREAMER with 2 bronze stars
VIETNAM SERVICE STREAMER with 2 silver and 1 bronze stars
VIETNAM CROSS of GALLANTRY with PALM STREAMER
- Nicknames: "Dunn's Derelicts"; "Archie's Angels"; "Ugly Angels"
- ID Code: HL 1952-56 YL 1956-
- Aircraft: HRS (CH-19E); OY-1; HUS (UH-34D); CH-53A/D
- Squadron Web Page:
HMH-362 (Official site)
HMM-362 Assoc.