HMH-464

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464


caption= HMH-464 Unit insignia
dates= April 15, 1944 - March 10, 1946
March 1, 1981 - Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= USMC
type= Heavy Helicopter Squadron
role= Assault support
size=
command_structure= Marine Aircraft Group 29
2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
current_commander=
garrison= Marine Corps Air Station New River
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= Condors
Spanish Flies (WWII)
patron=
motto=
colors=EN
colors_label=Tail Code
march=
mascot=
battles= Operation Desert Storm
Operation Iraqi Freedom
* 2003 invasion of Iraq
Operation Enduring Freedom
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=

Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464 (HMH-464) is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron consisting of CH-53E Super Stallion transport helicopters. The squadron, known as the "Condors" and is based at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina. They fall under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 29 (MAG-29) and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (2nd MAW).

History

World War II

Marine Scout Bomber Squadron 464 (VMSB-464) was activated on April 15, 1944 at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California to train personnel. Their status changed in October of that year as they were designated a replacement training squadron. They were redesignated Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 464 (VMTB-464) on June 1, 1945. Following the surrender of Japan the squadron was deactivated as part of the general draw down of all US forces on March 10, 1946.

1980s

Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464 (HMH-464) was reactivated at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina on March 1, 1981. In 1983, four of the squadrons CH-53E aircraft along with pilots and supporting ground crew, deployed as part of the 24th Marine Amphibious Unit aboard the USS "Iwo Jima" to Beirut, Lebanon. This was the first shipboard deployment of the new aircraft. While in theater, the aircraft provided heavy lift support during the deployment, and provided critical support during the aftermath of the tragic October 23rd bombing of the Marine barracks.

The 10,000 mishap-free flight hour mark was attained in September 1984. Following Combined Arms Exercise 6/7, HMH-464 attained another first by flying non-stop from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona to MCAS New River, utilizing aerial refueling to cover a distance of convert|1870|mi|km. The squadron was proud to be honored by the Marine Corps Aviation Association as the recipient of the Commandant's Aviation Efficiency Trophy for 1987.

The Gulf War & the 1990s

After Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, HMH-464 provided eight CH-53Es and 84 Marines for the initial deployment to the Persian Gulf on August 16, 1990. Upon arrival in Saudi Arabia, the squadron played a key role in providing assault support to the 1st Marine Division as it prepared to liberate Kuwait. The Condors flew 304 combat sorties during Operation Desert Storm, delivering 2,167,150 pounds of cargo and transporting 1,686 passengers. The squadron returned from Southwest Asia in May 1991 and soon surpassed the 15,000-hour mishap free milestone.

In February 1993, HMH-464 was awarded the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Commanding General's Trophy, recognizing the squadron as the finest in the Wing. In October, the Condors surpassed the 20,000 mishap free flight hours milestone.

During the month of March 1994, the Condors assisted with the loading of ships for the Haiti crisis, enabling the forces to deploy on time. At the end of July 1994, HMH-464 detached four aircraft and 50 personnel to HMM-264 for the on-going contingency operations in Haiti. While participating as part of the Special Marine Air Ground Task Force Caribbean (SPMAGTF CARRIB), the CH-53E detachment took part in numerous exercises in preparation for Operation Uphold Democracy and Operation Support Democracy.

In June 1995, HMH-464's detachment attached to HMM-263 (Rein), 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (24th MEU), executed a successful Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP) mission that rescued the downed United States Air Force pilot Captain Scott O'Grady from war-torn Bosnia. During 1995, HMH-464 simultaneously supported all three East Coast Marine Expeditionary Units with detachments, a first by a Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron.

In 1999, the HMH-464 detachment assigned to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (26th MEU), participated in a 45 day TRAP standby during Operation Allied Force, a non-combatant evacuation operation in Albania in support of Operation Shining Hope, peace enforcement operations in Macedonia and Kosovo in support of Operation Joint Guardian and humanitarian assistance in Turkey in support of Operation Avid Response.

During March, the Condors received a prepare to deploy order in support of the Department of Justice (DOJ) operations in Vieques, Puerto Rico. This time they deployed on the USS "Bataan" with SPMAGTF Vieques in support of Operation Eastern Access. The CH-53Es transported 1,565 passengers and carried 249,300 pounds of cargo. The squadron was a recipient of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Safety Award in June and was also awarded the Marine Corps Aviation Association “HMH Squadron of the Year” during July.

Global War on Terror

Elements of HMH-464 deployed to Afghanistan in 2002 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

In January 2003, the Condors were joined by Marines from HMH-461, HMT-302, and MAWTS-1 and deployed to Kuwait as part of Marine Aircraft Group 29 which was the Aviation Combat Element of Task Force Tarawa and the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade all in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Over the course of the operation, HMH-464 flew over 2300 hours, transported 4,695,950 pounds of cargo and 6,751 passengers, and had flown 1086 combat sorties in three months. Additionally, the squadron had deployed to Forward Operating Base, Jalibah in Southern Iraq, and supported a Forward Arming and Refueling Point (FARP) in Al Kut, Iraq.

On their return home, HMH-464 was tasked to bypass the scheduled liberty port in Malta and proceed to the African countries of Mauritania and Liberia to conduct Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations (NEO) and the Liberian Embassy reinforcement Operation Shining Light. After being stood down from this contingency, the squadron returned home in late June, 2003.

Within ninety days of returning to CONUS, the squadron was tasked with sending a combined seventy-eight Marine team for a 4-plane detachment to Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA). The detachment deployed two CH-53E's to Djibouti.

On February 17, 2006, two CH-53E helicopters from HMH-464 crashed into each other off the north coast of Djibouti killing 8 Marines (two pilots and 6 crew members) from the squadron and 2 Air Force Airmen that were on board. Two Marine pilots survived the crash with injuries. HMH-464 was scheduled to leave a month after the crash, but HMH-461 volunteered to relieve them a month early. Marines and replacement helicopters from HMH-461 were in route less than 5 days later so the Marines from HMH-464 could return home.

Awards

The Squadron's honors include the Navy Unit Commendation Streamer for Southwest Asia 1990-91, the American Campaign Streamer, the World War II Victory Streamer, the National Defense Service Streamer, the Southwest Asia Service Streamer with three Bronze Stars, and the Presidential Unit Citation.

See also

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

References

:Marine Corps;Notes

;Bibliography

External links

* [http://www.2maw.usmc.mil/MAG29/HMH464/default.asp HMH-464's official website]