HMM-264
Encyclopedia
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 264 (VMM-264) is a United States Marine Corps
tiltrotor
squadron consisting of MV-22 Osprey transport aircraft. The squadron, known as the "Black Knights", is based at Marine Corps Air Station New River
, North Carolina
and normally falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 26
(MAG-26) and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
(2nd MAW). They were the last east coast CH-46 Sea Knight
squadron to transition to the Osprey.
of combat troops, supplies and equipment during amphibious operations and subsequent operations ashore.
In the fall of 1961, the squadron was called upon to assist in the evacuation and resupply of victims of Hurricane Hattie, which hit Belize
. This tasking was the first mission in a now long-standing tradition of humanitarian service accomplished by the Black Knights.
On April 28, 1965, HMM-264 conducted the Marine Corp’s first night all helicopter assault into an unsecured landing zone during actual combat conditions in Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic
from the deck of the USS BOXER
during Operation Power Pack
. Between HMM-264 and the LSTs more than 600 civilians were evacuated from the Ambajador Hotel. This event marked the first landing of U.S. Marines on Dominican soil since the early 1930s. It was also the first ship-to-shore heliborne lift over a hostile beach without supporting units ashore. The securing of the American embassy, and the evacuation of over 1,750 American citizens from the war-torn Dominican Republic highlighted the results of this effort.
In May 1965, HMM-264 was the first Marine helicopter squadron to surpass 25,000 mishap free flight hours. Over the next several years, the squadron maintained its demonstrated high standard of professional excellence by logging 30,000, 40,000, and 50,000 mishap free flight hour milestones.
In 1968, the squadron retired the last of its aging fleet of UH-34
helicopters, receiving in its place the venerable, “new” Boeing-Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight aircraft.
HMM-264 served with distinction as part of the Multinational Peacekeeping Force in Beirut
, Lebanon
in 1983. Due in part to the rescue of snow-stranded Lebanese civilians in the Chauf Mountains and an overall sustained level of exemplary performance, the squadron was awarded the Defense Transportation Safety Award, the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal
, the Navy Unit Commendation
, and the 1983 Chief of Naval Operations
Aviation Safety Award.
Throughout the early 1980s, the Black Knights were frequent visitors to the Mediterranean as the Aviation Combat Element (ACE) for deploying east coast Marine Amphibious Units supporting Landing Force Sixth Fleet (LF6F) commitments. During this period, the squadron participated in numerous exercises and contingency operations from Spain
to Lebanon. During April and May 1985, one month after its return from the Mediterranean Sea.
In 1987, HMM-264 became the first ACE to deploy with AV-8B Harriers and elements from the Marine Air Control Group (MACG). Deployed on the USS Nassau (LHA-4)
, the squadron participated in Spanish, Italian, and French PHILBEXs. These additions to the ACE force list have since become the norm for deploying LF6F Marine Expeditionary Units (MEU).
drug summit in Cartagena, Colombia
in February 1990. The Black Knights earned a Joint Meritorious Unit Citation for their superlative efforts during this highly visible operation.
In April 1991, the squadron was diverted from an operation in Sardinia
and sailed to Iskendrun, Turkey
. For 92 days, the Black Knights spearheaded the coalition aviation efforts to provide assistance and security to the Kurdish
refugees in northern Iraq
as part of Operation Provide Comfort
. During the first two weeks of Operation Provide Comfort the Knights flew more than 1000 hour delivering more than 450 tons of relief supplies to the isolated Kurdish camps high in the mountains of Iraq. The squadron was awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation, Humanitarian Service Medal
, Kuwaiti Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia and Kuwait), and the Southwest Asia Service Medal
with Bronze Star device.
In June 1994, the Black Knights celebrated the squadron’s 35th anniversary. By August, the squadron had again reinforced and embarked aboard USS WASP
as the ACE for Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force (SPMAGTF) Caribbean and subsequently deployed in support of Operation Support Democracy and Operation Uphold Democracy
in Haiti. On September 20, 1994 HMM-264 participated in a vertical assault of the Cap Haitian Airport and port facilities in order to aid follow-on forces. This historic event marked the first Marine landing in Haiti since the early 1900s. Other operations conducted during these operations included armed cache raids, logistics, humanitarian service flights, and MEDEVAC
support with the squadron returning to MCAS New River on October 18. The squadron received the Humanitarian Service Medal and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
for its support during these operations.
During the spring of 1995, the squadron returned to the Mediterranean as the ACE of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit
(MEU). During this period, HMM-264 participated in support of Operation Deny Flight
and Operation Decisive Endeavor in Bosnia-Herzegovina, flying 99 fixed wing sorties and 36 rotary wing sorties in direct support of these operations.
In June 1996, the Black Knights deployed within 66 hours with SPMAGTF Liberia to conduct embassy reinforcement, security, and resupply operations in the east African city of Monrovia
, Liberia
. HMM-264 deployed four (4) CH-46E and two (2) UH-1N aircraft aboard the USS Ponce (LPD-15)
and set sail across the Atlantic Ocean
. Over a two-month period the Black Knights supported Marines and the U.S. Embassy over long distances in austere, inclement conditions from Freetown
, Sierra Leone
. The squadron received the Humanitarian Service Medal and the Joint Meritorious Commendation Medal for its service.
HMM-264 provided the first NATO TACAIR assets to operate ashore in Bosnia-Herzegovina since the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords. HMM-264 returned from another successful deployment in August 1998 and earned the Armed Forces Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and a Meritorious Unit Commendation. HMM-264 had the distinct honor of being selected as the Marine Corps Aviation Association, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron of the Year for 1998.
In September 1999, the Black Knights conducted a hurricane evacuation in the approach of Hurricane Floyd
. The squadron returned to flood ravaged North Carolina
and provided real world contingency operations in support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
and the citizens of North Carolina. The Black Knights conducted relief missions and provided direct support for congressional members throughout the devastated area. In early December, the squadron provided support to the MV-22 Operational Test Evaluation by conducting the first shipboard interoperability training on board USS Saipan (LHA-2)
.
On March 5 of 2003, the squadron embarked on a planned eight-month deployment on the maiden voyage of the USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7)
. The squadron conducted operations in Northern Iraq
, which started on 14 April 2003 and lasted two weeks. Six CH-46E and six CH-53Es flew over 495 miles (796.6 km) from the Mediterranean Sea
into Irbil and Mosul
Iraq. Historically, this flight is the longest self-deployed flight into land operations by any MEU. In support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the squadron flew reconnaissance and presence flights in the northern area of Iraq. During the squadron’s deployment it was the ready ARG for over a month in the Persian Gulf
in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and exercise Djibouti-Ex in Djibouti
, Africa
. For two months the squadron flew in support of Joint Task Force Liberia
, to stabilize post civil war Liberia until ECOWAS military forces were in place. In October, the Black Knights returned home after nearly eight months on deployment. The squadron was awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal for operations in Liberia and the new Global War on Terrorism (Expeditionary) Medal for Operations in Iraq, the Persian Gulf, and the Horn of Africa.
On February 2005, the squadron departed to Al Asad
, Iraq in support of OIF 04-06. While in Iraq, the Black Knights conducted casevac
, VIP transport, assault support operations and participated in Operation Matador. In late August 2005, the Black Knights returned to New River, only to be tapped for a detachment to assist in the Hurricane Katrina
relief efforts.
The squadron was deployed as the aviation combat element
of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit
in the fall of 2008. Upon their return in April 2009, they were the last east coast squadron to transition to the MV-22 Osprey.
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
tiltrotor
Tiltrotor
A tiltrotor is an aircraft which uses a pair or more of powered rotors mounted on rotating shafts or nacelles at the end of a fixed wing for lift and propulsion, and combines the vertical lift capability of a helicopter with the speed and range of a conventional fixed-wing aircraft...
squadron consisting of MV-22 Osprey transport aircraft. The squadron, known as the "Black Knights", is based at Marine Corps Air Station New River
Marine Corps Air Station New River
Marine Corps Air Station New River is a United States Marine Corps helicopter base in Jacksonville, North Carolina, in the eastern part of the state. In 1972, the airfield was named McCutcheon Field for Brigadier General Keith B. McCutcheon, one of the fathers of Marine Corps helicopter aviation...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and normally falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 26
Marine Aircraft Group 26
Marine Aircraft Group 26 is a United States Marine Corps aviation unit based at Marine Corps Air Station New River that is currently composed of seven MV-22 Osprey squadrons one of which is the Fleet Replacement Squadron and one aviation logistics squadron...
(MAG-26) and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
The 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing is the major east coast aviation unit of the United States Marine Corps and is based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina...
(2nd MAW). They were the last east coast CH-46 Sea Knight
CH-46 Sea Knight
The Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight is a medium-lift tandem rotor transport helicopter, used by the United States Marine Corps to provide all-weather, day-or-night assault transport of combat troops, supplies and equipment. Assault Support is its primary function, and the movement of supplies and...
squadron to transition to the Osprey.
Mission
Provide assault supportAssault Support
Assault Support is one of the six functions of United States Marine Corps aviation and comprises those actions required to airlift personnel, supplies or equipment into or within a battle area by helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft. It provides the Marine Air-Ground Task Force commander the...
of combat troops, supplies and equipment during amphibious operations and subsequent operations ashore.
Early years
The Black Knights of HMM-264 were activated on June 30, 1959. Originally designated as Marine Medium Transportation Squadron Light 264, it was later re-designated to its present title, Marine Medium Helicopter 264, in February 1962.In the fall of 1961, the squadron was called upon to assist in the evacuation and resupply of victims of Hurricane Hattie, which hit Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
. This tasking was the first mission in a now long-standing tradition of humanitarian service accomplished by the Black Knights.
On April 28, 1965, HMM-264 conducted the Marine Corp’s first night all helicopter assault into an unsecured landing zone during actual combat conditions in Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
from the deck of the USS BOXER
USS Boxer (CV-21)
USS Boxer was one of 24 s built during World War II for the United States Navy. She was the fifth US Navy ship to bear the name, and was named for a British ship captured by the Americans during the War of 1812...
during Operation Power Pack
Operation Power Pack
The second United States occupation of the Dominican Republic began when the United States Marines Corps entered Santo Domingo on April 28, 1965. They were later joined by most of the United States Army's 82nd Airborne Division and its parent XVIIIth Airborne Corps...
. Between HMM-264 and the LSTs more than 600 civilians were evacuated from the Ambajador Hotel. This event marked the first landing of U.S. Marines on Dominican soil since the early 1930s. It was also the first ship-to-shore heliborne lift over a hostile beach without supporting units ashore. The securing of the American embassy, and the evacuation of over 1,750 American citizens from the war-torn Dominican Republic highlighted the results of this effort.
In May 1965, HMM-264 was the first Marine helicopter squadron to surpass 25,000 mishap free flight hours. Over the next several years, the squadron maintained its demonstrated high standard of professional excellence by logging 30,000, 40,000, and 50,000 mishap free flight hour milestones.
In 1968, the squadron retired the last of its aging fleet of UH-34
H-34 Choctaw
The Sikorsky H-34 Choctaw was a piston-engined military helicopter originally designed by American aircraft manufacturer Sikorsky for the United States Navy for service in the anti-submarine warfare role....
helicopters, receiving in its place the venerable, “new” Boeing-Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight aircraft.
The 1970s and 1980s
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
in 1983. Due in part to the rescue of snow-stranded Lebanese civilians in the Chauf Mountains and an overall sustained level of exemplary performance, the squadron was awarded the Defense Transportation Safety Award, the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal
Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal
The Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal is a decoration of the United States Marine Corps which was first created on 8 May 1919. Originally known as the Marine Corps Expeditionary Ribbon, a full-sized medal was authorized in July 1921 by Presidential Order of Warren G. Harding...
, the Navy Unit Commendation
Navy Unit Commendation
The Navy Unit Commendation of the United States Navy is an award that was established by order of the Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal on 18 December 1944...
, and the 1983 Chief of Naval Operations
Chief of Naval Operations
The Chief of Naval Operations is a statutory office held by a four-star admiral in the United States Navy, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Navy. The office is a military adviser and deputy to the Secretary of the Navy...
Aviation Safety Award.
Throughout the early 1980s, the Black Knights were frequent visitors to the Mediterranean as the Aviation Combat Element (ACE) for deploying east coast Marine Amphibious Units supporting Landing Force Sixth Fleet (LF6F) commitments. During this period, the squadron participated in numerous exercises and contingency operations from Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
to Lebanon. During April and May 1985, one month after its return from the Mediterranean Sea.
In 1987, HMM-264 became the first ACE to deploy with AV-8B Harriers and elements from the Marine Air Control Group (MACG). Deployed on the USS Nassau (LHA-4)
USS Nassau (LHA-4)
USS Nassau was a Tarawa-class amphibious assault ship. She was capable of transporting more than 3,000 US United States Navy and United States Marine Corps personnel. Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, laid the ship's keel on August 13, 1973, she was commissioned on July 28, 1979...
, the squadron participated in Spanish, Italian, and French PHILBEXs. These additions to the ACE force list have since become the norm for deploying LF6F Marine Expeditionary Units (MEU).
The 1990s
In January 1990 (conflicting reports also say May 1989), upon returning from LF6F 2-90, HMM-264 was tasked to provide support as the ACE for Operation Top Kick off the coast of Colombia. The squadron provided flawless support during this event, which culminated in the PresidentialPresident of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
drug summit in Cartagena, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
in February 1990. The Black Knights earned a Joint Meritorious Unit Citation for their superlative efforts during this highly visible operation.
In April 1991, the squadron was diverted from an operation in Sardinia
Sardinia
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...
and sailed to Iskendrun, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. For 92 days, the Black Knights spearheaded the coalition aviation efforts to provide assistance and security to the Kurdish
Kurdish people
The Kurdish people, or Kurds , are an Iranian people native to the Middle East, mostly inhabiting a region known as Kurdistan, which includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey...
refugees in northern Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
as part of Operation Provide Comfort
Operation Provide Comfort
Operation Provide Comfort and Provide Comfort II were military operations by the United States and some of its Gulf War allies, starting in April 1991, to defend Kurds fleeing their homes in northern Iraq in the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War and deliver humanitarian aid to them.-Operation...
. During the first two weeks of Operation Provide Comfort the Knights flew more than 1000 hour delivering more than 450 tons of relief supplies to the isolated Kurdish camps high in the mountains of Iraq. The squadron was awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation, Humanitarian Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
The Humanitarian Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States armed forces which was created on January 19, 1977 by President Gerald Ford under...
, Kuwaiti Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia and Kuwait), and the Southwest Asia Service Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal
The Southwest Asia Service Medal is a military award of the United States armed forces which was created by order of President George H.W. Bush on March 12, 1991. The award is intended to recognize those military service members who performed duty during the years of the Persian Gulf War...
with Bronze Star device.
In June 1994, the Black Knights celebrated the squadron’s 35th anniversary. By August, the squadron had again reinforced and embarked aboard USS WASP
USS Wasp (LHD-1)
USS Wasp is a U.S. Navy multipurpose amphibious assault ship, the tenth to bear the name, the flagship of the Second Fleet and the lead ship of her class. She was built by the Ingalls Shipbuilding division of Litton in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The Navy-Marine Corps team's newest amphibious warship...
as the ACE for Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force (SPMAGTF) Caribbean and subsequently deployed in support of Operation Support Democracy and Operation Uphold Democracy
Operation Uphold Democracy
Operation Uphold Democracy was an intervention designed to remove the military regime installed by the 1991 Haitian coup d'état that overthrew the elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide...
in Haiti. On September 20, 1994 HMM-264 participated in a vertical assault of the Cap Haitian Airport and port facilities in order to aid follow-on forces. This historic event marked the first Marine landing in Haiti since the early 1900s. Other operations conducted during these operations included armed cache raids, logistics, humanitarian service flights, and MEDEVAC
MEDEVAC
Medical evacuation, often termed Medevac or Medivac, is the timely and efficient movement and en route care provided by medical personnel to the wounded being evacuated from the battlefield or to injured patients being evacuated from the scene of an accident to receiving medical facilities using...
support with the squadron returning to MCAS New River on October 18. The squadron received the Humanitarian Service Medal and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is a military award of the United States military, which was first created in 1961 by Executive Order of President John Kennedy...
for its support during these operations.
During the spring of 1995, the squadron returned to the Mediterranean as the ACE of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit
26th Marine Expeditionary Unit
The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit is one of seven Marine Expeditionary Units currently in existence in the United States Marine Corps. The Marine Expeditionary Unit is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force with a strength of about 2,200 personnel. The MEU consists of four major parts: a command element,...
(MEU). During this period, HMM-264 participated in support of Operation Deny Flight
Operation Deny Flight
Operation Deny Flight was a North Atlantic Treaty Organization operation that began on April 12, 1993 as the enforcement of a United Nations no-fly zone over Bosnia and Herzegovina...
and Operation Decisive Endeavor in Bosnia-Herzegovina, flying 99 fixed wing sorties and 36 rotary wing sorties in direct support of these operations.
Monrovia
Monrovia is the capital city of the West African nation of Liberia. Located on the Atlantic Coast at Cape Mesurado, it lies geographically within Montserrado County, but is administered separately...
, Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
. HMM-264 deployed four (4) CH-46E and two (2) UH-1N aircraft aboard the USS Ponce (LPD-15)
USS Ponce (LPD-15)
USS Ponce , an Austin-class amphibious transport dock, is the only ship of the United States Navy that is named for Ponce in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, which in turn was named after the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon, the first governor of Puerto Rico and European discoverer of...
and set sail across the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
. Over a two-month period the Black Knights supported Marines and the U.S. Embassy over long distances in austere, inclement conditions from Freetown
Freetown
Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
, Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
. The squadron received the Humanitarian Service Medal and the Joint Meritorious Commendation Medal for its service.
HMM-264 provided the first NATO TACAIR assets to operate ashore in Bosnia-Herzegovina since the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords. HMM-264 returned from another successful deployment in August 1998 and earned the Armed Forces Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and a Meritorious Unit Commendation. HMM-264 had the distinct honor of being selected as the Marine Corps Aviation Association, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron of the Year for 1998.
In September 1999, the Black Knights conducted a hurricane evacuation in the approach of Hurricane Floyd
Hurricane Floyd
Hurricane Floyd was the sixth named storm, fourth hurricane, and third major hurricane in the 1999 Atlantic hurricane season. Floyd triggered the third largest evacuation in US history when 2.6 million coastal residents of five states were ordered from their homes as it approached...
. The squadron returned to flood ravaged North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and provided real world contingency operations in support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
Federal Emergency Management Agency
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, initially created by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1978 and implemented by two Executive Orders...
and the citizens of North Carolina. The Black Knights conducted relief missions and provided direct support for congressional members throughout the devastated area. In early December, the squadron provided support to the MV-22 Operational Test Evaluation by conducting the first shipboard interoperability training on board USS Saipan (LHA-2)
USS Saipan (LHA-2)
USS Saipan is a , the second United States Navy ship named in honor of the World War II Battle of Saipan.-History:Saipan was laid down on July 21, 1972 by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Division, Litton Industries, Pascagoula, Mississippi; launched on July 20, 1974; sponsored by Mrs. J...
.
Global War on Terror
USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7)
USS Iwo Jima is a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship.Fabrication work for Iwo Jima began at Ingalls shipyard on 3 September 1996, and the ship's keel was laid on 12 December 1997. She was launched on 4 February 2000. USS Iwo Jima was christened by her sponsor, Mrs. Zandra Krulak, wife of General...
. The squadron conducted operations in Northern Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, which started on 14 April 2003 and lasted two weeks. Six CH-46E and six CH-53Es flew over 495 miles (796.6 km) from the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
into Irbil and Mosul
Mosul
Mosul , is a city in northern Iraq and the capital of the Ninawa Governorate, some northwest of Baghdad. The original city stands on the west bank of the Tigris River, opposite the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh on the east bank, but the metropolitan area has now grown to encompass substantial...
Iraq. Historically, this flight is the longest self-deployed flight into land operations by any MEU. In support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the squadron flew reconnaissance and presence flights in the northern area of Iraq. During the squadron’s deployment it was the ready ARG for over a month in the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and exercise Djibouti-Ex in Djibouti
Djibouti
Djibouti , officially the Republic of Djibouti , is a country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at the east...
, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. For two months the squadron flew in support of Joint Task Force Liberia
Joint Task Force Liberia
Joint Task Force Liberia was a joint task force formed from August to October 2003 in response to the crisis that developed during the Second Liberian Civil War. The on-going civil war destabilized the area and created a large number of refugees as rebel forces closed in on Monrovia and took over...
, to stabilize post civil war Liberia until ECOWAS military forces were in place. In October, the Black Knights returned home after nearly eight months on deployment. The squadron was awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal for operations in Liberia and the new Global War on Terrorism (Expeditionary) Medal for Operations in Iraq, the Persian Gulf, and the Horn of Africa.
On February 2005, the squadron departed to Al Asad
Al Asad
Al Asad Airbase is the second largest US military airbase in Iraq and is located in the largely Sunni western Province of Iraq Al Anbar. It was formerly the home of the II Marine Expeditionary Force until January 2010...
, Iraq in support of OIF 04-06. While in Iraq, the Black Knights conducted casevac
CASEVAC
Casualty evacuation, also known as CASEVAC or by the callsign Dustoff, is a military term for the emergency patient evacuation of casualties from a combat zone. Casevac can be done by both ground and air...
, VIP transport, assault support operations and participated in Operation Matador. In late August 2005, the Black Knights returned to New River, only to be tapped for a detachment to assist in the Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
relief efforts.
The squadron was deployed as the aviation combat element
Aviation combat element
In the United States Marine Corps, the aviation combat element or air combat element is the air arm of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force . It provides rotary-wing, tiltrotor, and fixed-wing aircraft, support equipment, pilots, maintenance personnel, as well as command and control assets to the...
of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit
26th Marine Expeditionary Unit
The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit is one of seven Marine Expeditionary Units currently in existence in the United States Marine Corps. The Marine Expeditionary Unit is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force with a strength of about 2,200 personnel. The MEU consists of four major parts: a command element,...
in the fall of 2008. Upon their return in April 2009, they were the last east coast squadron to transition to the MV-22 Osprey.
See also
- List of active United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons
- United States Marine Corps AviationUnited States Marine Corps AviationUnited States Marine Corps Aviation is the air component of the United States Marine Corps. Marine aviation has a very different mission and operation than its ground counterpart, and thus, has many of its own histories, traditions, terms, and procedures....
- VMFA-314VMFA-314Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 is a United States Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet squadron. The squadron, known as the "Black Knights", is based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 11 and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing...
US Marine Corp Fighter attack squadron of the same namesake - VFA-154VFA-154Strike Fighter Squadron 154 , also known as "City Dump" throughout the Vietnam War, is a United States Navy strike fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Lemoore. The "Dumpers" petitioned to have their call sign changed in the late 1970s to the Black Knights, and were granted the change. ...
US Navy Fighter attack squadron of the same namesake - RSAF Black KnightsRSAF Black KnightsThe Black Knights is the official aerobatics team of the Republic of Singapore Air Force featuring six F-16C Fighting Falcons in formation flight...
Republic of Singapore Air Force precision aerobatic team of the same namesake