VMM-364 Purple Foxes MV-22, 20 in Tail Flash Wood Plaque

A hand crafted 20 inch Tailflash plaque of the VMM-364 Purple Foxes Showbird MV-22. Each piece is carved from Mahogany and handpainted to provide a piece you'll love!

Height - 20 inches
Made from Mahogany
US Veteran Owned Business

Features

Crafted from solid mahogany wood
20-inch tail flash display plaque
Authentic VMM-364 Purple Foxes MV-22 markings
Smooth polished finish
Ready for wall mounting or display
Ideal for military and aviation décor

Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364 was originally commissioned as Marine Light Helicopter Squadron 364 on 1 September 1961 at Marine Corps Air Facility Santa Ana, Calif. In November 1961, it received its first Sikorsky H-34 helicopter and in February of 1962, the designation of the squadron was changed to its present title.

In the spring of 1962, the squadron participated in Mid-Pacific operations to assist in recovering instruments that had been used in the atomic test program. In November 1963, the squadron deployed to Okinawa and subsequently to Da Nang, Republic of Vietnam. The squadron served in Vietnam until July of 1964. Eight months later the squadron was back in South Vietnam, this time conducting operations, including operations with the Special Landing Force of the Seventh Fleet. HMM-364 remained in Vietnam until September of 1966. The squadron was then placed in cadre status at Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro, Calif. and consisted of three officers and 12 enlisted Marines. In March of 1967, the squadron was reorganized and began receiving the new Boeing CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters. In October of that year, HMM-364 re-deployed to the Republic of Vietnam, initially at Phu Bai and eventually at Marble Mountain. HMM-364 participated in operations Osceola, Kentucky, Mamaluke Thrust, and Hue City and finally in the evacuation of the embassy in Saigon. For almost half of its short 10-year existence, HMM-364 served in the Republic of Vietnam. It was at this time that the squadron adopted the "Purple Fox" name, partly from the PF unit markings on HMM-364 aircraft, and also on account of a cartoon purple fox mascot called Swifty. During the three tours in Vietnam, the squadron's pilots and crewman flew almost 70,000 hours in combat and combat support missions and were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for meritorious conduct in the performance of duty. As our nation briefly stepped down from its wartime condition in the early 1970s, so did the Foxes. On 22 March 1971, the squadron folded its colors and was decommissioned.

On 28 September 1984, HMM-364 was reactivated at Marine Aircraft Group 24, Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. Throughout the 80s and early 90s, the squadron enjoyed many West Pac deployments. The Foxes participated in Team Spirit '86' and '88 at Pohang, Korea in support of III Marine Amphibious Force. In February 1990, the Purple Foxes deployed to Okinawa, participating in numerous Special Operations Capable (SOC) missions and supported Team Spirit '90' together with six CH-46 detachments. From August 1990 to March 1991, HMM-364 was placed in reserve during Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm, becoming the sole supporting squadron for 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade. In June 1991, the Purple Foxes once again deployed to Okinawa. During the deployment, the squadron supported Marine Air Ground Task Force 4-90 in the Philippines, assisting with the relief efforts following the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo and participating in joint exercises in Korea and Japan. Early the following year, the Purple Foxes headed for the Hawaiian island of Kauai, performing humanitarian relief due to the devastation left by Hurricane Iniki. From January to July 1993, the Purple Foxes once again deployed to Okinawa. The squadron participated in exercise Team Spirit, Korea, as well as serving as the Aviation Combat Element of the 35th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the USS Belleau Wood during Cobra Gold '93.

In August 1995, the Purple Foxes packed up and embarked upon the USS Tarawa to move to MCAS El Toro. That same year, HMM-364 was selected to be the Aviation Command Element for Special Marine Air-Ground Task Force Experimental [SPMAGTF (X)] SEA DRAGON. This very important and high visibility project was an exercise conceived of by the Commandant's Warfighting Laboratory (CWL) to develop and test the methods and techniques of the 21st century battlefield. In February 1996, the Purple Foxes again made headlines by providing Executive Transport for President Clinton and other dignitaries while they toured flood damaged Portland, Oregon. This marked the first time in history that a U.S. President had flown in a Fleet Marine Force helicopter. In July 1998, HMM-364 (Reinforced), 13th MEU ACE, participated in RIMPAC '98 while training to the pre-deployment work-up schedule associated with a MEU(SOC) squadron. On December 5, the squadron embarked aboard the USS BOXER, participating in Operation Southern Watch and various split-ARG operations off the Horn of Africa, as well as supporting exercise Eager Mace, Kuwait.

In June of 1999 the Purple Foxes returned off deployment and moved into their new home at Marine Aircraft Group 39 aboard Marine Corps Air Station, Camp Pendleton, California. The Purple Foxes began training to their new core competency of being part of 3d MAW's "Fly In" echelon for contingency operations. With the new focus of deploying by strategic lift and naval shipping, the Purple Foxes spent much of the next two years supporting Combined Arms Exercises, participating in Combat Readiness Evaluations and supporting Marine training aboard Camp Pendleton. In October 2000, the squadron embarked aboard the USS Peleliu to maintain proficiency in shipboard operations; later in the deployment, the squadron was also a guest of the USS Bonhomme Richard and USS Peleliu in support of Operation Kernel Blitz.

In the August of 2001, having been assigned to support I MEF, HMM-364 was tasked to support exercise RSO&I/FOAL EAGLE'02. As this concept unfolded, a pre-deployment work-up cycle took place at an expeditionary Forward Operating Base at Fort Hunter-Liggett, CA in support of exercise SEAHORSE WIND. Further workup training was conducted in the form of a combined MCCRE with HMLA-369 at NAF El Centro, STRATMOBEX from March ARB to Edwards AFB, and cold-weather training at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center Bridgeport, CA, all while concurrently standing by for immediate tasking resulting from the events of Sept 11th, 2001. The capstone event was the deployment to the Republic of Korea to participate in the annual RSO&I/ FOAL EAGLE Exercise from January to April 2002. HMM-364 was the first Marine Helicopter Squadron to deploy using contract Russian AN-124 aircraft, as well as via USAF C-5 Strategic Lift. The squadron flew missions in support of Special Warfare Command and the Korean Combined Rescue Coordination Center.

VX-1 P-8 Tailflash

Description

Customer Reviews

You may also like