HMM-362 becomes first Marine Unit in Mekong Delta during Operation Shufly.
The Ugly Angels hold the proud distinction of having served as the first Marine aircraft unit in the Republic of Vietnam, going ashore on 15 April 1962 as Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron Light HMR (L) 362 with their Sikorsky UH-34s, arriving at Sóc Trăng in the Mekong Delta south of Saigon.[1] under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Archie Clapp. The task unit was called “Shufly” and its first operational employment involved lifting Vietnamese troops into battle on April 22.
The “ugly angels”. Gotta love the name. Anything to give you some comfort as you probably are praying to heaven it can actually fly!
Check out the HMM-362 “Ugly Angels” memorial “Wing” near the parking lot of The Marine Corps Museum. There were 33 members lost between 1962 and 1969. Harry 1371
Flying in a helecopter is inherently dangerous. There is absolutely no aerodynamics. It is literally trying to fall out of the sky. Add combat troops terrible weather unfamiliar terrain no armour protection incoming rounds going right through your plane from an enemy that you can’t see. Everything’s trying to kill you. There’s no easy hop. Every flight may be your last. As “ugly”and ungainly they may appear I imagine the sikorsky UH-34 and crew to look like “angels” from heaven when you’re in desperate need of extraction! God bless HMM362 “Ugly Angels “and their flight crews for their sacrifice and their service. Semper Fidelis and OOORAH!
Well said.
Copy That–BUT THEY ARE SUPPOSE to Auto-Rotate!! NEVER Saw one do it to well tho–HMH 462-Heavy Haulers-Semper Fi
And the Ugly Angels returned in Aug 1965 with Mag-36. First to Ky Ha and then to Phu Bai. Been inside as window gunner during practice auto-rotation but happy never to have done it when it counted.
Dingus HMH-462 Heavy Haulers! New River? Yeah swing with the wing! Helecopters “theoretically” are able to auto rotate under ideal conditions, (i.e. minimum elevation internal/external load, weight,clear LZ pilot skills,etc.) Everythings stacked against our pilots and air crew. God bless the men and women of Natops- Nav/Air! You call-We haul!
do I remember, we relieved 362 at Soc Trang (HMM 163)
later moved up to Danang
my A/C was YP80, the good old times. the Food was good, remembering coming back late from a mission.
mess hall was closed, the MSgt. in charge simply asked “you hungry Marine”
told him yes, very hungry- largest Steak I ever had.
simply the best
semper fi
Proud to be an Ugly. 1969 Phu Bai.
The Ugly Angels also had a detachment of 3 OE-1’s from VMO-2 when the went into Soc Trang.
Was Col Hoyle Barr’s Adjutant in 61. until He was assigned skipper of 362 prep it for Vietnam. He was a great Skipper. Kept in contact after we both later retired to North Texas. I was released from active duty in Aug 61 so I missed out on transfer.
Kapena HMH463
HMHT 301 Santa Ana-LTA–HMH 462 Futema-FMF-PAC(6242/6173)
Dingus-OORAH. Did my OJT at MCAS Tustin, Orange county.LTA. TME 32. Good times. Use to be a platform someone built in the trees directly over the AmTrac railroad. Just outside the base. Did some crazy shit! OORAH!
Kapena-No Screaming Eagle Sh-t! I was at Santa Ana ’70-Boot camp ITR buddy went to El Toro on JP4/5 fuel tankers-A EA school buddy went with me to Santa Ana-but he went to HMHT 302(CH-46s(widow makers)shipped over to the “Rock” 1 month B4 I did with HMM 165- Met him going back stateside when I got there-Already with a purple heart-“Choppers” do not stop a lot of incoming rounds! Lost some good crews and pilots-But also made the BEST Friends any one could ever want- I still keep in touch with my last GySgt widow and daughter-and she is 83 now-Once A Marine-Always A Marine- Semper Fi
Boo-yah! Dingus, small world. Went composite squadron with HMM-165 White Knights on LHA-5 USS PELELIU on her maiden west-pac cruise. 1982. Sqn.Com. Col. Campbell’s brother Lt. Col.Wally Campbell(former adjutant General of the Marine Corps) some 14 years later cross paths with me and offer me a security job which after 24 years am still employed at. And theres no doubt in my mind that being under his brother’s command and our shared brotherhood connection got me my job. Marines always take care of their own. Oh yeah we use to call the CH- 46 Boeing Vertol body bags! They sure do shake a lot! Also trained OJT with HMH462 Heavy Haulers! OOORAH!!
Kapena-’71/’72composite with 462&165(we called it Air Group 627!)and detachment of Huey’s-USS Tripoli/LPH10-It was this cruise that grounded ALL 46’s for awhile-Falling out of sky-rotors out of sync and meshing-Lost 11 pilots and crew-All good Marines-They are REMBERED-Never Forgotten-
Never forgotten. Indeed. Semper Fidelis.