HMH-465

HMH-465, formally Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465, is a United States Marine Corps aviation unit rather than a conventional commercial brand. Known by the callsign and nickname “Warhorse,” it operates CH-53E Super Stallion heavy-lift transport helicopters and is based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California. The squadron is assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 16, which forms part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. The unit was established on 1 December 1981 and became the first West Coast Marine Corps squadron equipped with the CH-53E. This aircraft gave the squadron the ability to move personnel, vehicles, artillery, supplies, and other outsized loads over long distances in support of amphibious and expeditionary operations. Its operational identity has consequently centered on assault support, heavy logistics, tactical mobility, personnel recovery, and emergency response rather than on consumer products or commercial services. HMH-465 first conducted combat operations during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The squadron arrived at Jubail, Saudi Arabia, in September 1990 and provided heavy-lift support to I Marine Expeditionary Force and other joint forces. It lost two aircraft during the deployment and completed the conflict with six helicopters before returning to Marine Corps Air Station Tustin in March 1991. During the 1990s, the Warhorses expanded their expeditionary experience through deployments and exercises in the Pacific and Asian theaters. In October 1991, the squadron moved twelve CH-53Es and its personnel and equipment to Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, for a seven-month unit deployment. In 1995, squadron aircraft participated in the recovery of Navy aircrew after an F-14D collision, an operation for which eleven members received Sikorsky Aircraft Rescue Awards. The squadron also reached 20,000 mishap-free flight hours in January 1998. After the September 2001 attacks, HMH-465 supported the opening phase of Operation Enduring Freedom. Elements attached to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit helped insert forces into Afghanistan and supported the seizure of the location that became Forward Operating Base Rhino. The squadron later participated in numerous Operation Iraqi Freedom deployments. On 1 April 2003, its CH-53E element formed part of Task Force 20, which extracted Army Private First Class Jessica Lynch. A later Iraq deployment began in October 2006, when the squadron operated from Al Asad and supported Marines in Al Anbar Province. On 11 December 2006, one of its helicopters crashed during a landing, killing one person and injuring seventeen others. HMH-465 also performed domestic emergency-response work. In July 2008, following a request from California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the squadron sent three helicopters and approximately forty Marines to support wildfire suppression. The aircraft dropped more than 68,000 gallons of water on the Basin Complex Fire near Big Sur before the detachment moved to the Sacramento area to assist with another wildfire in Mendocino County. The squadron continued preparing and deploying forces for operations in Afghanistan and Iraq through its final combat deployment in early 2011 as part of a composite deployment drawing on East and West Coast heavy-helicopter units. From 2011 through 2015, it supported deployments involving the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, Southern California-based Marine expeditionary elements, and the Marine Corps Unit Deployment Program. A 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit detachment associated with VMM-161 (Reinforced) also conducted operational testing of digital interoperability equipment, contributing to later refinement of the MAGTAB hardware and software system. HMH-465’s public identity therefore combines heavy-lift aviation capability, expeditionary readiness, combat support, rescue, and disaster relief.

Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465 was formed on 1 December 1981 as the first United States Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion squadron on the West Coast. The unit was also the Marine Corps’ second CH-53E squadron and the first such squadron assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 16. Its nickname, Warhorse, reflects the unit’s role as a heavy-lift aviation formation able to transport Marines, equipment, supplies, and outsized loads in expeditionary environments. The squadron entered combat during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. It arrived at Jubail, Saudi Arabia, on 1 September 1990 and supported I Marine Expeditionary Force and other joint forces throughout the Gulf War. Two aircraft were lost during the deployment, leaving six helicopters available for the remainder of the conflict. HMH-465 returned to Marine Corps Air Station Tustin on 15 March 1991. In October 1991, under Lieutenant Colonel Russell L. Llewellyn III, the squadron transported twelve CH-53Es and its complete personnel and equipment package to Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa. This seven-month deployment made HMH-465 the first CH-53E squadron to deploy to Okinawa and enabled support for exercises across the Asian theater. The unit continued Pacific deployments during the following decade, including a seven-month Unit Deployment Program rotation from December 1999 through July 2000 and another Okinawa deployment beginning in March 2001. The squadron’s peacetime record included a major rescue mission on 13 January 1995. Two HMH-465 aircraft assisted in recovering four Navy aircrew members who ejected after an F-14D collision. Eleven squadron members subsequently received Sikorsky Aircraft Rescue Awards. In January 1998, the unit reached 20,000 mishap-free flight hours, marking a significant aviation-safety achievement. Following the beginning of the Global War on Terror, HMH-465 supplied forces for operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Elements attached to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit took part in the initial Afghanistan campaign from October through December 2001. The Warhorses inserted MEU forces to seize the location later designated Forward Operating Base Rhino, helping establish an initial operating position for follow-on forces. The squadron also made repeated deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. On 1 April 2003, its CH-53E aircraft formed the heavy-helicopter component of Task Force 20, which carried out the extraction of Army Private First Class Jessica Lynch. A further Iraq tour began in October 2006, with the squadron operating from Al Asad in support of Marines in Al Anbar Province. On 11 December 2006, one HMH-465 helicopter carrying twenty-one people crashed while landing. The accident caused one death and seventeen injuries. The incident is part of the squadron’s operational history but is not characterized here as a misconduct scandal. HMH-465 also demonstrated its utility outside overseas combat. In July 2008, California requested military assistance during severe wildfires. The squadron sent three aircraft and approximately forty Marines to Naval Air Station Lemoore to provide heavy-lift rotary-wing support to United States Northern Command and the National Fire Center. Over nearly two weeks, the helicopters released more than 68,000 gallons of water on the Basin Complex Fire near Big Sur. The detachment then moved to McClellan Airfield near Sacramento to support firefighters confronting a wildfire in Mendocino County. Operational support for the Global War on Terror continued through training detachments in multiple states and culminated in a final combat deployment in early 2011 as part of a composite HMH-East and HMH-West deployment supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Between 2011 and 2015, HMH-465 supported several 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit deployments, two Southern California Marine expeditionary unit deployments, and a Unit Deployment Program rotation from November 2014 through May 2015. A 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit detachment operating as part of VMM-161 (Reinforced) also tested digital interoperability equipment, helping refine the MAGTAB hardware and software package. The squadron remains associated with Marine Corps heavy-lift aviation and expeditionary assault support at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.

• 2011

  Final combat deployment

  [1]HMH-465en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron participated in a composite heavy-helicopter deployment supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

• 2008

  California wildfire assistance

  [1]HMH-465en.wikipedia.org

  HMH-465 provided CH-53E aircraft for California wildfire suppression and dropped more than 68,000 gallons of water on the Basin Complex Fire.

• 2003

  Jessica Lynch extraction

  [1]HMH-465en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron’s CH-53E element supported Task Force 20 during the extraction of Army PFC Jessica Lynch in Iraq.

• 2001

  Afghanistan operations begin

  [1]HMH-465en.wikipedia.org

  Elements of HMH-465 attached to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit supported the initial invasion of Afghanistan and the seizure of Forward Operating Base Rhino.

• 1998

  20,000 mishap-free flight hours

  [1]HMH-465en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron reached 20,000 mishap-free flight hours.

• 1995

  Aircrew recovery mission

  [1]HMH-465en.wikipedia.org

  HMH-465 aircraft assisted in recovering four Navy aircrew members after an F-14D collision.

• 1991

  First CH-53E deployment to Okinawa

  [1]HMH-465en.wikipedia.org

  The squadron conducted a seven-month deployment to Marine Corps Air Station Futenma with twelve CH-53E aircraft.

• 1990

  First combat deployment

  [1]HMH-465en.wikipedia.org

  The Warhorses deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm and provided heavy-lift support to I Marine Expeditionary Force.

• 1981

  Squadron established

  [1]HMH-465en.wikipedia.org

  HMH-465 was established on 1 December as the first West Coast Marine Corps squadron equipped with the CH-53E Super Stallion.

A Marine Corps heavy-lift aviation unit positioned around expeditionary mobility, assault support, combat logistics, personnel recovery, and emergency response.

• Heavy-lift transport helicopter

  CH-53E Super Stallion

  The CH-53E Super Stallion is HMH-465’s principal aircraft type. The squadron uses this heavy-lift helicopter for assault support, movement of personnel and equipment, external-load transport, logistics, recovery missions, and selected disaster-response tasks.

• 2008California wildfire response

  California, United States

  The squadron deployed three CH-53E helicopters and Marines to conduct aerial water drops and heavy-lift support during major California wildfires.

  Outcome. The aircraft dropped more than 68,000 gallons of water on the Basin Complex Fire before supporting firefighting near Sacramento.

  Source
• 2003Task Force 20 and Jessica Lynch extraction

  Iraq

  HMH-465 supplied the CH-53E component of the special operations force that extracted Army PFC Jessica Lynch.

  Outcome. The extraction was completed on 1 April 2003.

  Source
• 2001Operation Enduring Freedom

  Afghanistan

  Elements attached to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit inserted forces during the opening phase of the Afghanistan campaign and supported the seizure of Forward Operating Base Rhino.

  Outcome. The operation helped establish an initial operating position for follow-on forces.

  Source
• 1990Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm

  Saudi Arabia · Kuwait theater

  HMH-465 provided heavy-lift support to I Marine Expeditionary Force and joint forces during the Gulf War.

  Outcome. The squadron completed the deployment and returned to California in March 1991, despite losing two aircraft.

  Source

1. 1HMH-465en.wikipedia.org
2. 2HMH-465 official Marine Corps unit page3rdmaw.marines.mil