HMH-361
Corporate brand
UnclaimedHMH-361 is a United States Marine Corps heavy-lift helicopter squadron known as the Flying Tigers.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, commonly identified as HMH-361 and nicknamed the Flying Tigers, is a United States Marine Corps aviation unit based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California. It operates within Marine Aircraft Group 16 of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. The squadron’s principal role is assault support and heavy-lift transport using CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters, enabling the movement of Marines, equipment, supplies, and other loads in expeditionary and combat environments. The unit was established on 25 February 1952 as Marine Transport Squadron 361 at what was then Marine Corps Air Station Santa Ana. Its first aircraft were a small group of OY-2 and HRS-2 helicopters, and its initial responsibilities centered on developing amphibious ship-to-shore procedures and preparing replacement pilots for the Korean War. In its early years, the squadron also supported large-scale atomic test exercises at Desert Rock, Nevada, and later participated in additional nuclear-weapons testing exercises. It changed designations several times as Marine Corps helicopter organizations and aircraft types evolved. During the 1950s and early 1960s, the squadron transitioned through the HRS-3 and H-34 helicopter families. It conducted parachute and pathfinder training and was redesignated HMM-361 in 1962. The unit supported the Cuban Missile Crisis and subsequently became heavily involved in the Vietnam War. Its Vietnam-era assignments included Operation Shufly and later assault-support missions from Da Nang, Marble Mountain, Phu Bai, and other locations. The squadron supported operations including Starlite, Harvest Moon, Colorado, Hastings, Golden Fleece, Rio Blanco, and Union II. Its wartime record included major troop lifts, medical evacuations, combat sorties, and significant aircraft losses. After returning to the United States in 1968, the squadron moved to Marine Corps Air Station New River and transitioned to the CH-53D Sea Stallion. It adopted the HMH-361 designation during this period. Beginning in 1979, it became a recurring participant in the Marine Corps Unit Deployment Program, carrying out West Pacific deployments to Okinawa and supporting exercises and contingency operations across the region. The squadron developed expertise in night-vision operations, rapid ground refueling, overwater movement, and expeditionary support for Marine air-ground task forces. HMH-361 began converting to the CH-53E Super Stallion in 1990. In 1992 it formed the aviation core of a composite Marine Expeditionary Unit aviation combat element, an arrangement described as the first CH-53E-centered composite squadron of its kind. During the 1990s it supported multiple Marine Expeditionary Units, Operation United Shield, contingency forces, and presidential-support movements. Following the closure and realignment of its former Southern California facilities, it moved to MCAS Miramar in 1999. The squadron has also been associated with long-range expeditionary experimentation. During its 2000–2001 deployment cycle, it helped develop the Southeast Asian Air-Bridge, known as Fish Hook, and self-deployed CH-53Es through the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand while supporting Balikatan, LF CARAT, and other regional exercises. It later supported the Global War on Terror, including operations in Iraq. The unit’s history includes both operational achievements and fatal training and combat-related accidents, reflecting the hazards of heavy-helicopter aviation. The available reference material identifies HMH-361 as a Marine Corps squadron rather than a commercial consumer brand.
History
HMH-361 traces its lineage to Marine Transport Squadron 361, commissioned on 25 February 1952 at Marine Corps Air Station Santa Ana. Initially equipped with OY-2 and HRS-2 helicopters, it trained for amphibious ship-to-shore operations and replacement-pilot duties connected with the Korean War. Its early operational history included participation in Desert Rock and later atomic test exercises in Nevada. The squadron subsequently served under different Marine helicopter-group organizations and received successive designations as its equipment and mission developed. The unit operated HRS-3 helicopters by the mid-1950s and began flying the H-34 in 1958. It conducted a West Coast parachute drop for Marine pathfinders in 1960 and became HMM-361 in 1962. During the Cuban Missile Crisis it deployed aboard USS Iwo Jima in support of the 5th Marine Expeditionary Force. In 1963 it moved from Okinawa to Da Nang, South Vietnam, for Operation Shufly. The deployment involved extensive combat and search-and-rescue activity, including a fatal accident involving two aircraft and a subsequent UH-34 shootdown without casualties. HMM-361 returned to Vietnam in 1965 and supported operations such as Starlite, Midnight, and Harvest Moon. A later seven-month deployment included Operations Colorado, Hastings, Golden Fleece, and Rio Blanco. The squadron reported tens of thousands of sorties, more than ten thousand flight hours, thousands of medical evacuations, and the movement of tens of thousands of personnel during this period. In 1967 it supported Union II, suffered the destruction of 17 helicopters at Dong Ha, and later operated as the helicopter component of Special Landing Force Alpha. During the 1968 battle for Khe Sanh, it lifted Marine battalions to Camp Evans and Khe Sanh Combat Base. After leaving Vietnam in 1968, the squadron moved to MCAS New River and transitioned to the CH-53D. It was redesignated HMH-361 and later returned to Southern California. From 1979 onward, the unit completed recurring six-month West Pacific deployments under the Unit Deployment Program. Its training portfolio expanded to include night-vision goggles, rapid ground refueling, overwater flights, expeditionary detachments, and support to Marine air-ground task forces. The 1980s included both high readiness achievements and fatal accidents, including the 1984 Team Spirit crash in South Korea and a 1985 CH-53D accident involving a logging cable. The squadron began converting to the CH-53E Super Stallion in 1990. In 1992 it formed the nucleus of a CH-53E-based composite aviation combat element for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. During the 1990s it supported Marine Expeditionary Units, Operation United Shield, contingency forces, and presidential-support movements. It relocated to MCAS Miramar in 1999 after the closure and realignment of its former bases, but that year also saw the loss of four crew members in a CH-53E training crash off Okinawa. In 2000–2001, HMH-361 helped restore CH-53E operational capability after a fleet grounding related to main-rotor-bearing concerns. It developed and executed the Fish Hook long-range deployment concept, moving aircraft through the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand and supporting Balikatan, LF CARAT, and other regional exercises. The squadron subsequently served in the Global War on Terror, including an Iraq deployment in 2005 and another to Al Anbar Province in 2008. The supplied reference material ends during the 2008 Iraq deployment, so later command history, aircraft changes, awards, and current operational details are not included here.
- 2001
Completes Fish Hook regional deployment
[1]The squadron demonstrated long-range self-deployment through Southeast Asia while supporting regional exercises.
- 1999
Relocates to MCAS Miramar
[1]Base realignment led to the transfer of the squadron’s Southern California home station to Miramar.
- 1992
Forms CH-53E composite aviation squadron
[1]The unit became the nucleus of a composite aviation combat element for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.
- 1990
Begins CH-53E conversion
[1]HMH-361 started replacing CH-53D Sea Stallions with CH-53E Super Stallions.
- 1979
Begins Unit Deployment Program rotations
[1]The squadron began recurring six-month West Pacific deployments to Okinawa and surrounding operating areas.
- 1968
Becomes HMH-361
[1]After transitioning to CH-53D helicopters at MCAS New River, the squadron adopted its current heavy-helicopter designation.
- 1962
Redesignated HMM-361
[1]The squadron received the HMM-361 designation during the Marine Corps-wide transition to H-34 helicopter squadrons.
- 1952
Commissioned as Marine Transport Squadron 361
[1]The unit was established at MCAS Santa Ana with OY-2 and HRS-2 helicopters.
Products and positioning
An expeditionary United States Marine Corps heavy-lift aviation unit focused on assault support, troop and cargo movement, and rapid deployment in support of Marine air-ground task forces.
Heavy-lift helicopter · 1990
CH-53E Super Stallion
The CH-53E Super Stallion is HMH-361’s principal aircraft in the supplied reference material. The squadron uses the type for Marine air-ground task force assault support, troop movement, cargo transport, medical evacuation, expeditionary deployment, and long-range regional exercises. The aircraft’s heavy-lift capacity makes it suitable for moving personnel and equipment between ships, forward bases, and austere landing zones.
Heavy-lift helicopter · 1968
CH-53D Sea Stallion
The CH-53D was the squadron’s principal post-Vietnam heavy-lift aircraft before its conversion to the CH-53E. HMH-361 used the type for Unit Deployment Program rotations, night-vision training, overwater operations, rapid-refueling exercises, and expeditionary support in the Western Pacific during the 1970s and 1980s.
Medium transport helicopter · 1958
H-34 / UH-34D
The H-34 family supported the squadron’s early Vietnam-era transport, assault-support, search-and-rescue, and medical-evacuation missions. The unit used the aircraft during Operation Shufly and subsequent combat deployments before transitioning to the CH-53 family.
Marketing campaigns
- 2001Fish Hook 2001
Philippines · Malaysia · Singapore · Thailand · Indonesia · Guam
The squadron demonstrated a long-range Southeast Asian air bridge by self-deploying CH-53Es from Okinawa through the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, while supporting Balikatan, LF CARAT, and later movement to Guam.
Outcome. The deployment demonstrated regional self-deployment capability and supported the U.S. Pacific Command theater-engagement plan.
- 1967Operation Union II
South Vietnam
HMH-361 supported Marine operations in late May and later operated from locations south of Dong Ha after artillery destroyed aircraft at the combat base.
- 1966Vietnam operations
South Vietnam
During a seven-month deployment, the squadron supported Operations Colorado, Hastings, Golden Fleece, and Rio Blanco, conducting assault transport and medical evacuation missions.
Outcome. The supplied figures record 31,959 sorties, 10,774 flight hours, 2,312 medical evacuations, and 37,209 personnel lifted.
- 1965Operation Starlite
South Vietnam
The squadron provided helicopter assault support during the Marine operation near Da Nang.
- 1965Operation Midnight
South Vietnam
The squadron conducted a nighttime helicopter assault, lifting 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines into a landing zone northwest of Da Nang.
Outcome. The operation is described in the reference as the first nighttime Marine helicopter assault of the Vietnam War.
- 1963Operation Shufly
South Vietnam
HMH-361 deployed to Da Nang as a helicopter squadron supporting South Vietnamese and Marine operations. It flew thousands of combat sorties and more than four thousand combat flight hours during the assignment.
Outcome. The squadron completed its Shufly assignment on 1 February 1964.
Brand decisions
2001
Develops the Southeast Asian Air-BridgeStrategyBackground
The squadron was asked to assess whether long-range regional rotary-wing deployment could be supported by KC-130 aerial refueling.
Action taken
Working with VMGR-152, HMH-361 developed and executed the Fish Hook route through Southeast Asia.
Aftermath
The mission demonstrated a self-deployment concept covering more than 9,000 nautical miles and supported several multinational exercises.
2000
Adopts main-rotor-bearing monitoring technologyOtherBackground
The Marine Corps grounded its CH-53E fleet after a main-rotor-bearing defect was identified following an MH-53E mishap.
Action taken
HMH-361 volunteered for early installation of the new monitoring-system kits and installed six systems at MCAS Miramar.
Aftermath
The squadron became the first CH-53E unit to return to flight status and remained positioned for its planned 2000–2001 deployment cycle.
1990
Conversion to CH-53E Super StallionGeneration changeBackground
The Marine Corps required the squadron to move from the older CH-53D platform to the larger and more capable CH-53E.
Action taken
HMH-361 began conversion to CH-53E aircraft.
Aftermath
The squadron subsequently became the core of a CH-53E-centered composite aviation combat element and conducted long-range expeditionary operations.
1968
Transition from H-34 to CH-53DGeneration changeBackground
After returning from Vietnam, the squadron was attached to Marine Aircraft Group 26 at MCAS New River and required a heavier helicopter platform.
Action taken
The squadron transitioned to the CH-53D Sea Stallion and was redesignated HMH-361.
Aftermath
The change established the unit’s heavy-helicopter identity and supported later West Pacific deployments.
Sources2 sources
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