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HMM-161 Greyhawks Patch – Sew On, 4.5″

$12.99

Marines! Enjoy this beautifully embroidered HMM-161 Greyhawks Patch.  You’ll be able to wear this patch proudly.

  • 4.5 inches
  • US Veteran-Owned Business
  • Embroidered/Sew on

17 in stock (can be backordered)

SKU: 840231525084 Categories: , , Tags: ,

Description

HMM-161 Greyhawks Patch

Marines! Enjoy this beautifully embroidered HMM-161 Greyhawks Patch.  You’ll be able to wear this patch proudly.

  • 4.5 inches
  • US Veteran-Owned Business
  • Embroidered/Sew on

undefinedThe squadron was commissioned on January 15, 1951, at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California, as Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron 161 (HMR-161), Air Fleet Marine Force Pacific.[2] The squadron moved a month later to Marine Corps Air Facility Santa Ana, California to train on their new helicopter, the Sikorsky HRS-1. Except for the commanding officer, LtCol George Herring, most pilots in the squadron had flown fighters during World War II.[3] In August 1951 the squadron deployed to South Korea and attached to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW), where it operated in the central and the western fronts.[4]

HRS-1s of HMR-161 flying from USS Sicily in September 1952.
HMR-161 successfully flew from the USS Sicily to test new concept of combining vertical envelopment with amphibious assault during Operation Marlex-5 off the coast of Inchon on September 1, 1952. While not the first ever ship to shore helicopter flight with Marines aboard, that having been done by HMR-162 during Operation Lex Baker off the coast of Southern California in February, 1952, it was the first on foreign shores. During the course of the Korean War, HMR-161 flew 16,538 hours during 18,607 sorties eventually accounting for over 60,000 troop movements and moving 7.5 million pounds of cargo.[5][6] The squadron then participated in the defense of the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) from July 1953 to March 1955. The squadron then relocated that month to Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, and attached to Marine Aircraft Group 13 (MAG 13). While in Hawaii, HMR-161 was redesignated on December 31, 1956, as Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron (Light) 161 (HMR(L)-161), MAG 13, 1st MAW. In May 1960, the Squadron received the new Sikorsky H-34 Seahorse.

On February 1, 1962, the unit was once again re-designated as Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 161 (HMM-161), MAG 13, 1st Marine Brigade. On October 3, 1962, the squadron assisted NASA by recovering astronaut Wally Schirra and his Project Mercury capsule Sigma Seven out of the Pacific after a successful launch into space.

During 1963, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 161 (HMM-161) assisted in several biological warfare tests conducted under Project SHAD at Pearl Harbor, Kaneohe Naval Air Station and in the Pacific Ocean, near Oahu, Hawaii.
Further information: Project 112
The rest of the early 1960s were spent conducting anti-guerrilla training in preparation for deployment to South Vietnam.

Vietnam War and the 1980s

A helicopter from HMM-161 waiting to transport prisoners just south of Chu Lai during Operation Starlite in 1965.
HMM-161 departed Hawaii on March 15, 1965, on board the USS Valley Forge and arrived at Marine Corps Air Facility Futema, Okinawa, Japan on March 27. On April 27 the squadron departed Okinawa on board the USS Princeton headed for South Vietnam. May 6 saw the squadron lifting elements of the 4th Marine Regiment ashore at Chu Lai and on May 15, the squadron began operating from the USS Iwo Jima. Finally on May 25, 1965, HMM-161 came ashore at Chu Lai and was assigned under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 16 (MAG-16), and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW). On June 12 the squadron again relocated, this time to the Phu Bai Combat Base.[7]

On January 4, 1966, HMM-161 was relieved by HMM-163 and redeployed to Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa to receive its new Vertol CH-46 Sea Knights. During this deployment to Vietnam the squadron had one pilot awarded the Silver Star and another eleven awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross[8] By April 1966, the squadron had redeployed to Da Nang, South Vietnam with a move to Phu Bai that June. On September 25, 1966, a UH-34D HUS from HMM-161 was struck by a friendly artillery shell while conducting a medevac mission during Operation Prairie resulting in the death all five Marines on board. It is the only known case of friendly artillery fire shooting down an American helicopter during the war.[9] The squadron relocated once again in November 1966 to Futenma, Okinawa, where it was attached to Marine Aircraft Group 15 (MAG-15), 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade. A month later the squadron returned to CONUS, as they were attached to Marine Aircraft Group 26 (MAG-26), 2d MAW at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina. HMM-161 then redeployed in May 1968 to Quảng Trị Combat Base, South Vietnam and attached to provisional Marine Aircraft Group 39 (MAG-39), 1st MAW. The Squadron finished its Vietnam years with its final deployment to Phu Bai in October 1969 while attached to MAG-16, 1st MAW.

HMM-161 came home in September 1970 and attached to MAG-56, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Fleet Marine Force Pacific. It was reassigned in July 1971 to MAG-16, 3d MAW. Elements of the Squadron participated in the August 1989 cleanup of the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska.

Additional information

Dimensions 4.5 in

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