HMLA-267

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267


caption= HMLA-267 Insignia
dates= February 15, 1944 - January 31, 1946
December 15, 1966 - present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= USMC
type= Light/Attack squadron
role= Close Air Support
size=
command_structure= Marine Aircraft Group 39
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
current_commander= LtCol Kevin M. Hudson
garrison= Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= Stingers
patron=
motto= "Anytime Anywhere"
colors=UV
colors_label=Tail Code
march=
mascot=
battles= World War II
* Battle of Iwo Jima
Vietnam War
Operation Restore Hope
Operation Iraqi Freedom
* 2003 invasion of Iraq
anniversaries=

Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 (HMLA-267) is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron consisting of AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopters and UH-1N Huey utility helicopters. The squadron is based at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 39 (MAG-39) and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (3rd MAW).

Mission

Provide utility and attack combat support to landing forces and operations ashore. Tasks include re-supply, troop insertions/extractions, parachute operations, spectial insertion techniques, medical evacuations, sensor drops, airborne radio relay, courier, command and control, VIP transport, close air support, escort, and forward air control.

History

Origins during World War II

HMLA-267 was first activated as Marine Observation Squadron 5, VMO-5, at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, Virginia on February 15, 1944. In August 1944 came its first deployment to Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Hawaii under the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing to participate in the Pacific theater. The squadron saw action during the Battle of Iwo Jima, and under the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing participated in the occupation of Japan in Sasebo from September 1945 through January 1946, at which time the squadron returned to San Diego and was deactivated on January 31, 1946.

Vietnam

With a looming major conflict in Vietnam, VMO-5 was reactivated on December 15, 1966, under the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton with a complement of UH-1E "Huey"s and OV-10 "Bronco"s. In March 1968, the squadron was redesignated HML-267 and remained at alert status for the rest of the war. In 1971, reorganization left the squadron with only UH-1E helicopters, and by the end of 1976 only UH-1N aircraft were flown.

Post Vietnam

Every six months HML-267 rotated one-third of its assets to Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on Okinawa, Japan. The Hueys were joined by another aircraft in 1982 as the new AH-1J "Cobra"s were deployed. As part of the Unit Deployment Program (UDP) starting in 1983, HML-267 began a regular cycle of six months in Okinawa, 18 months on Camp Pendleton. During which the squadron participated in numerous training exercises including detachments to Korea, Guam, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Iwo Jima, and Australia. Redesignated HMLA-267 in 1987, the squadron received its first complement of AH-1 Cobra "SuperCobra"s. In 1988, the squadron split into three groups: A detachment on land in Okinawa, A detachment on a West Pac, and A detachment aboard the USS "Dubuque".

The USS "Dubuque" was part of the Joint Task Force in the Persian Gulf and Operation Earnest Will. On July 3 1988, the USS "Vincennes" - also a part of Operation Earnest Will - shot down an Iranian commercial Airbus A300B2-202 (Iran Air Flight 655) after mistaking it for an Iranian F-14. The total of 290 dead civilian passengers, included 66 children.

In 1990, HMLA-267 split into two groups: A detachment on land in Okinawa and another attached to HMM-164. The group attached to HMM-164 boarded the USS "Okinawa" on a routine West Pac deployment. The USS "Okinawa" eventually ended up in the Persian Gulf for Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, spending a total of 354 days away from their home port for this deployment.

In 1992, HMLA-267 split into two groups: A detachment on land in Okinawa and another attached to HMM-164. The group attached to HMM-164 boarded the USS "Tripoli" on a routine West Pac. The USS "Tripoli" went back to the Persian Gulf for Operation Desert Sweep. The next stop for the USS "Tripoli" was Mogadishu, Somalia and was part of the original insertion of Marines (primarily those from HMLA-267) and the beginning of Operation Restore Hope.

Global War on Terror

HMLA-267 deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While originally scheduled to deploy to Okinawa they instead went to the Persian Gulf and participated in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. HMLA-267's aircraft were involved in many major firefight of the war.

Unit awards

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. HMLA-267 has been presented with the following awards:

ee also

* List of United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons
* United States Marine Corps Aviation

References

;Notes:Marine Corps

;Bibliography
*cite book
title=U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle - Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War, 1939 - 1945.’’
author=Rottman, Gordon L.
date=2002
publisher=Greenwood Press
id=ISBN 0-313-31906-5
*cite book
last = Sherrod
first = Robert
authorlink =
coauthors =
year = 1952
chapter =
title = History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II
publisher = Combat Forces Press
location = Washington, D.C.
id =

External links

* [http://www.3maw.usmc.mil/mag39/hmla267/default.asp HMLA-267's official website]