Why don’t i read any stories about Marine Aviation. I went to Jacksonville Fla. for aviation fundamentals 1957 then to Memphis Tenn. for helicopter maintenance school spent 4 years fixing & flying in those recip helicopters remember doing auto rotations & when pilot pulled up on the collective I would bend over & kiss my — goodbye in the hope we would pull out of the auto rotation loved working & flying around on the helicopters it gave me experience that i spent 30+years as a licensed airline mechanic @ SFO went to school after i was discharged March 1962 for my federal A & P License. My biggest disappointment with the USMC is when i went from Corporal E3 to Corporal E4 instead of Sargent E4 but my discharge papers said i was recommended for promotion to Sargent E5. Missed Vietnam couldn’t believe my squadron went over there in those decrepit recip helicopters HMR 462 before that HMR 163 “cheap Opama [Japan] Marines” Semper Fi troops keep them flying!
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I don’t know how long you have been reading “The Grit” but, there have been many post on Marine Aviation.Just search the archives under “MAW” Semper Fi Harry
Marine air Base Squadron 24 MCAS Cherry Point N.C. 1955-1959, I can not find a single thing about this anywhere, not a decal or a patch or pin even a mention about the unit I was attached to for 4 years. i made Sgt. in 22 months, all meritorious promotions, and was offered $1500 and a rocker to staff Sgt. to stay for 4 more. I had a good job waiting at home, and was discharged march 10 1959 as a coporal E-4 not a Sgt. E-4 I served as for 26 months. Not happy about that. Proud Sgt.USMC Semper Fi.
I’ve Read a few Post on Marine Aviation Units on Sgt.Grit… I spent Most of my time in the 3rd Maw Out of Tustin Ca. with CH-53 Squadrons HMHT-301 and HMH-363… I AgreeThose AUTO-ROTATIONS were Hard to get Use TOO…I Also Spent some time in the 1st Maw VMFA-115 Out of Danang Airbase 70/71
Spent some fun, and hard, filled times with HMH-363, the Red Lions (Dropped the Lucky part of Red Lions and changed it to Mighty after a few mishaps). Did a couple of pumps (UDPs) to Okinawa; 89, 90, 91. Will always love CH-53s, but miss the Marines most. Semper Fi.
Were you on the princton lph5 back in the early 60s
RM Dinwiddie(69-73)Aftr Boot,MCRDSD-AE”A” school Jax Fl; ThenHMHT301 when it was still @LTA Santa Ana; Then 462 @Futema,TAD to 31st MEW off the USS Tripoli; NATOPS crew chief /gunner even tho I was 6242-Avionics Electrician;BUT I LOVED the 53’s!! Sorry I got out B4 the 53 SuperStallion came into play;but my last duty station was NAS South Weymouth Mass,working on A4 Skyhawks.Loved every minute of it. Went to Hawaii 2x and finally talked my wife into a Helicopter tour She about s–t as these were small choppers But I still love the rush!! Semper Fi SGT USMC (2219704)