Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465
HMH-465
"Warhorse"
Since activating in 1981, HMH-465 has been home-based with MAG-16. During Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm The "Warhorses" were based at Ras al Ghar, Saudi Arabia. The squadron lost two CH-53Es in accidents prior to the start of the ground war.
In October 1991, the squadron left for Okinawa to begin the first WestPac Unit Deployment by a CH-53E squadron. Throughout the 1990s HMH-465 deployed detachments to 29 Palms Air-Ground Combat Center, MCAS Yuma, and the Mountain Warfare Training Center at Bridgeport, CA. The squadron also augmented the West Coast Marine Expeditionary Units' WestPac deployments.
HMH-465 was deployed to Iraq in 2003 and flew troop and cargo lifts in support Marine forces.
Lineage
Activated 1 December 1981 at Tustin,
California, as Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465, and assigned
to Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing, Fleet
Marine Force, Pacific.
Participated in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm,
Southwest Asia, September 1990 - March 1991.
Participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003).
Unit Honors
PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION STREAMER
Iraq 2003
NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION STREAMER with one bronze star
Southwest Asia
1990 - 1991
2001
NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE STREAMER with 1 bronze star
SOUTHWEST ASIA SERVICE STREAMER with two bronze stars
GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM EXPEDITIONARY STREAMER
- Nicknames: "Warhorse"
- ID Code: YJ 1981-
- Aircraft:CH-53E
- Squadron Web Page: HMH-465 (Official site)