Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462
HMH-462
"Heavy Haulers"
HMH-462 traces its history back to VMF-461, a WW2 fighter
squadron, which was deactivated shortly after the war's end.
In 1957, the squadron was reactivated as HMR(M)-462 and equipped
with the HR2S. After redesignating as HMH-462, the squadron was
re-equipped with the CH-53A, which it operated during its service
in Vietnam (1968-69, 1975). HMH-462 currently operates the CH-53E
"Super Stallion, and is based at MCAS Miramar, CA, with
MAG-16
LINEAGE
1944 - 1945
Activated 15 September 1944 at El Centro,
California, as Marine Fighting Squadron 462, and assigned to
Marine Base Defense Air Group 43, Marine Fleet Air West
Coast.
Relocated during October 1944 to El Toro, California and
reassigned to Marine Base Defense Air Group 46.
Deactivated 10 September 1945.
1957 - 1967
Reactivated 1 September 1958 at Santa Ana,
California as Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron (Medium) 462
and assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 36, 3d Marine Aircraft
Wing, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific.
Redesignated 1 February 1962 as Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron
462.
Reassigned during August 1965 to Marine Wing Service Group
37.
1968 - 1974
Deployed during August 1968 to Phu Bai,
Republic of Vietnam, and reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 36,
1st Marine Aircraft Wing.
Participated in the war in Vietnam, August 1968 - October 1969,
operating from
Hue/Phu Bai
Redeployed during October 1969 to Futenma, Okinawa and reassigned
to Marine Aircraft Group 15, 9th Marine Expeditionary
Brigade.
Reassigned during November 1969 to Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st
Marine Aircraft Wing.
1974 - 2006
Participated in the Southeast Asia evacuations
in support of Marine Aircraft Group 36, the 31st Marine
Expeditionary Unit, and the 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade,
January - June 1975.
Participated in various training exercises throughout the
1970s.
Relocated to Tustin, California and reassigned to Marine Aircraft
Group 16, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing.
Participated in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, August
1990 - April 1991.
Relocated to Miramar, California.
Participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom (Mar-Apr 2003).
UNIT HONORS
PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION STREAMER
IRAQ
Mar-Apr 2003
NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION STREAMER with 1 bronze star
Southeast Asia Evacuations
1975
Southwest Asia
1990 - 1991
MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION STREAMER with 2 bronze stars
Vietnam
1968
1975
1992 - 1994
1996 - 1998
AMERICAN CAMPAIGN STREAMER
WORLD WAR II VICTORY STREAMER
NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE STREAMER with 2 bronze stars
VIETNAM SERVICE STREAMER with four bronze stars
SOUTHWEST ASIA SERVICE STREAMER with two bronze stars
GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM EXPEDITIONARY STREAMER
VIETNAM CROSS of GALLANTRY with PALM STREAMER
VIETNAM MERITORIOUS UNIT CITATION CIVIL ACTIONS STREAMER