VMM-561

Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 561
VMM-561 insignia
Active	31 January, 1967—27 October, 1969 2 December, 2010—present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Type	Medium-lift Tiltrotor Squadron
Role	Assault Support, CASEVAC
Part of	Marine Aircraft Group 16
Garrison/HQ	Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
Nickname	"Pale Horse"
Tail Code	PH
Commanders
Current commander	LtCol Warren J. Curry
Aircraft flown
Multirole helicopter	UH-34 Sea Horse Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey

Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 561 (VMM-561) is a medium-lift squadron of the United States Marine Corps flying the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey. Known as the "Pale Horse", it is part of Marine Aircraft Group 16 and based out of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California. They are scheduled to move to Okinawa in 2012...^[1] The squadron previously served as a training unit during the Vietnam War but was deactivated with the retirement of the HUSS from active service.

History

Squadron logo from the 1960s

Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 561 (HMM-561) was activated on 31 January, 1967,^[2] to provide refresher training to UH-34 Sea Horse pilots and crews heading to Vietnam. The squadron, based at Marine Corps Air Facility Santa Ana, fell under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 56 and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. Undermanned from the start, the unit remained in cadre status until 9 May, 1968 ^[3] when they were formally stood up. In addition to training, the squadron's mission also included conducting local Search and Rescue missions, providing VIP transport, and other commitments as required by local commands.

Starting in January 1969, UH-34 deployments started to slow down as the Marine Corps transitioned its remaining squadrons to the CH-46 Sea Knight. The squadron was decommissioned on 27 October, 1969 and was the last active UH-34 squadron in the Fleet Marine Force.^[4] Squadron members were absorbed by the other helicopter communities or given the Marine Air Reserve Training Detachment (MARTD) of their choice as a next duty station.

The squadron was reactivated as VMM-561 on 2 December, 2010, after 18 months as a cadre unit.^[5]

Unit award

A unit citation or commendation is an award bestowed upon an organization for the action cited. Members of the unit who participated in said actions are allowed to wear on their uniforms the awarded unit citation. VMM-561 was presented with the following awards and campaign streamers:

Streamer	Aaward
	National Defense Service Medal

See also

United States Marine Corps portal

• United States Marine Corps Aviation
• List of inactive United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons
• List of active United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons

References

Notes

1. ^ [1]
2. ^ CG 3d MAW message 242223Z Jan 67
3. ^ HMM-561 Command Chronology (9 May to 30 June, 1968)
4. ^ Fails(1978), p. 127.
5. ^ Posy, Cpl Steven H. (6 December, 2010). "From Huey to Osprey, Marine squadron starts from scratch". the Flight Jacket (MCAS Miramar). United States Marine Corps. http://www.marines.mil/unit/mcasmiramar/Pages/VMM-561activates‘Osprey’squadronatMiramar.aspx. Retrieved 1 January 2011. 

Bibliography

• Fails, William R (1978). Marines and Helicopters 1962-1973. History and Museums Division - Headquarters Marine Corps. ISBN 0-78811-818-8. 

Web

• "Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 561 (HMM-561)". USMC Helicopter/Tiltrotor Squadrons. HMA1369. Archived from the original on 2002-02-21. http://web.archive.org/web/20020221023955/http://www.geocities.com/hma1369/561.html. 
• "HMM-561 NOTAM Board". USMC Combat Helicopter Association. http://www.popasmoke.com/notam2/archive/index.php/t-5510.html. 

External links

• Official website