Category: MAW

HM2

I am looking for some help identifying which HMM squadron was assigned to MAG 36 at MCAS Futema in 1978 and 1979.  I am unable to confirm which squadron was operating there based on the squadrons web sites.  I have a feeling that the squadrons may have rotated during that period of time.  I was one the Senior SAR Corpsman assigned to the 1st MAW from June of '78 to November '79.  I would appreciate any assistance on this information or a source that I can go to and confirm the information that I need.  Thanks. read more

Area 13 Barrack’s Tree

This group of Marines was destined to spend the next two years together in VMA-212, MAG-13, 1st. Marine Brigade at Kaneohe Bay Hawaii. It would be a nine day voyage on the USS George Clymer from San Diego to Pearl Harbor, but first we had to spend a month or so at Area 13, Camp Pendleton, a staging Battalion for over 600 Marines waiting to be shipped out to Pacific duty stations. It was April, 1961, and Area 13 was hilly, hot, and dry. In order to keep all these young Marines busy the Officers and NCOs had us run up and down those brown hills several times a day whenever we weren't field daying the barracks. read more

Nice Big Red Helmet

This is in reference to the story from your Oct 4, 2012 issue (I think) from M/Sgt Howard J. Fuller.

I was in HMLA-269 Gun Runners New River, NC, from '83 – '86. We deployed on a NATO Med. cruise from Feb. 84 – Aug. 84, our final destination was to support and cover the final withdrawal from Beirut. At that time, there were no COMBAT AIRCREW wings but a few friends and I had thought there should be something for those flying missions that weren't actual aircrew and whom did not rate Aircrew Wings. read more

Not A Happy Marine

In August 1966 we were with the advance party HMM-165 sent to Ky
Ha, Vietnam; the rest of the squadron came over on a carrier
with the aircraft and equipment.

Our flight crews flew with HMM-364 for combat familiarization.
HMM-364 were flying the Dogs, UH-34D. Our first wounded was hit
in the gluteus maximus making a perfect clean shot through one
side. The aircraft dropped him a "B" Med. before landing at the
fuel pits. read more

Not A Happy Marine

In August 1966 we were with the advance party HMM-165 sent to Ky
Ha, Vietnam; the rest of the squadron came over on a carrier
with the aircraft and equipment.

Our flight crews flew with HMM-364 for combat familiarization.
HMM-364 were flying the Dogs, UH-34D. Our first wounded was hit
in the gluteus maximus making a perfect clean shot through one
side. The aircraft dropped him a "B" Med. before landing at the
fuel pits. read more

Fine Dining

Grit,
In your Sept 19 issue Don Harkness wrote about "fine dining" through his time in our Corps. A fine item as far as it went, but he didn't address the "fine dining" experiences between hops or at the end of the day when one returns after dark with all his body parts in the same condition they were when he launched at zero dark thirty that morning. read more

Final approach, gear down and locked, full flaps…

I was a crew chief on the R4D-8 (C117) both in Japan and at MCAS Quantico. I was a Sergeant, drew flight pay, and got to wear a leather flight jacket. Life was good.

But…the hours were long. I would sometimes arrive at the flight line at about 0500 to inspect the aircraft, run up both engines, and get everything squared away to have the R4D ready for the pilots at 0600 for the flight. I might be gone for two hours, or a week, depending on the flight schedule. There were often mechanical problems on the flight and I hoped that I knew enough to fix what ever the problem was. read more

Recent Helicopter Photos

Dear Sgt. Grit,

The past few newsletters featured some helicopter interest. Here are some more recent pictures that were sent me by my son, LCpl Tim Urquhart USMC (2002-2006), all from his 2003 Iraq deployment. They are, USS Siapan flight deck loaded with AH-1W Super Cobras headed for Iraq, the Squadron Iraq flight line sign, flight line and a Cobra and Huey. read more