HMT-301
Encyclopedia
Marine Helicopter Training Squadron 301 (HMT-301), was a United States Marine Corps
helicopter training squadron stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii
. Known as the Windwalkers, HMT-301 was part of Marine Aircraft Group 24
(MAG-24) and 1st Marine Aircraft Wing
.
HMT-301 was deactivated by general order in 2005.
as HMMT-301, the squadron has a long track record of producing fleet ready aviators in aircraft ranging from the UH-34 to the current CH-53D. Aircrew trained at HMT-301 have utilized the core skills learned to serve the United States
in conflicts from Vietnam
to the present-day global war against terrorism
.
Originally flying the UH-34 Sea Horse, HMMT-301 was assigned the mission of providing fleet helicopter training to newly designated naval aviators, transition training for fixed wing pilots, and on the job training for enlisted flight crewmembers. By mid-1967, in response to the need for trained helicopter crews for combat duty in Southeast Asia
, the number grew to ninety officers and over two hundred enlisted.
January 25, 1968 marked the arrival of the Sikorsky CH-53A Sea Stallion helicopter, a heavy-lift capable helicopter, and the redisignation of HMMT-301 as HMHT-301, the Marine Heavy Training Squadron 301. The UH-34 type helicopter retired shortly afterward, once again making the squadron a one-aircraft unit.
Restructuring of Marine Aviation led to the emergence of Marine Helicopter Training Squadron 301 (HMT-301) on March 31, 1972. The newly designated squadron flew both the CH-46 and CH-53A aircraft.
The squadron produced fleet ready aviators in these aircraft for the next ten years. In 1982 the CH-46 D/F models were replaced by the upgraded CH-46E. On December 13, 1983, HMT-301 took delivery of the first of the new Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters. With the activation of the new table of organization, which reflected the addition of the CH-53E and the Fleet Readiness Aviation Maintenance Personnel (FRAMP) program, HMT-301 officially became the largest squadron in the Marine Corps.
HMT-301’s sister squadron, HMT-302, was reactivated in November 1987, and 301’s CH-53A and CH-53E assets were transferred to HMT-302. HMT-301 was reduced from the largest squadron in the Marine Corps to a relatively small squadron with 10 CH-46E aircraft and 200 personnel. HMT-301 was deactivated at Marine Corps Air Station in Tustin, California
. The squadron had successfully trained over 2500 Naval Aircrew, flying four different aircraft for over 130,000 hours.
Two years later, on August 24, 1995, HMT-301 returned to the rolls of Marine Corps Aviation, making a new home at its current duty station of Kaneohe Bay. Since its reactivation, the Windwalkers have continued to carry out their assigned mission of training first tour, refresher, conversion, and transition aviators for the CH-53D helicopter community. The squadron has also been tasked to provide support for tactical operations, troop movements, emergency medevac
s, VIP transport and static displays.
On June 3, 2005, HMT-301 was deactivated for the second time. From its formation in 1966 to its last flight in 2005, HMT-301 has flown over 144,000 hours, trained over 2800 aircrew, and been awarded the CNO safety award 7 times.
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...
helicopter training squadron stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii
Marine Corps Base Hawaii
Marine Corps Base Hawaii , formerly Marine Corps Air Station, Kaneohe Bay and originally Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay, is a U.S. Marine Corps base facility and air station located on the Mokapu Peninsula of windward O'ahu in the City & County of Honolulu. As of the 2000 Census, the base had a...
. Known as the Windwalkers, HMT-301 was part of Marine Aircraft Group 24
Marine Aircraft Group 24
Marine Aircraft Group 24 is a United States Marine Corps aviation unit based at Marine Corps Air Facility Kaneohe Bay that is currently composed of three CH-53D Sea Stallion squadrons, a personnel support detachment and a maintenance and logistics squadron...
(MAG-24) and 1st Marine Aircraft Wing
1st Marine Aircraft Wing
The 1st Marine Aircraft Wing is an aviation unit of the United States Marine Corps that serves as the Aviation Combat Element of the III Marine Expeditionary Force. The wing is headquartered at Camp Foster on the island of Okinawa, Japan...
.
HMT-301 was deactivated by general order in 2005.
History
HMT-301 traces its roots back to April 1, 1966. First activated at MCAS(H) Santa Ana, CaliforniaSanta Ana, California
Santa Ana is the county seat and second most populous city in Orange County, California, and with a population of 324,528 at the 2010 census, Santa Ana is the 57th-most populous city in the United States....
as HMMT-301, the squadron has a long track record of producing fleet ready aviators in aircraft ranging from the UH-34 to the current CH-53D. Aircrew trained at HMT-301 have utilized the core skills learned to serve the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in conflicts from Vietnam
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
to the present-day global war against terrorism
War on Terrorism
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
.
Originally flying the UH-34 Sea Horse, HMMT-301 was assigned the mission of providing fleet helicopter training to newly designated naval aviators, transition training for fixed wing pilots, and on the job training for enlisted flight crewmembers. By mid-1967, in response to the need for trained helicopter crews for combat duty in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
, the number grew to ninety officers and over two hundred enlisted.
January 25, 1968 marked the arrival of the Sikorsky CH-53A Sea Stallion helicopter, a heavy-lift capable helicopter, and the redisignation of HMMT-301 as HMHT-301, the Marine Heavy Training Squadron 301. The UH-34 type helicopter retired shortly afterward, once again making the squadron a one-aircraft unit.
Restructuring of Marine Aviation led to the emergence of Marine Helicopter Training Squadron 301 (HMT-301) on March 31, 1972. The newly designated squadron flew both the CH-46 and CH-53A aircraft.
The squadron produced fleet ready aviators in these aircraft for the next ten years. In 1982 the CH-46 D/F models were replaced by the upgraded CH-46E. On December 13, 1983, HMT-301 took delivery of the first of the new Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters. With the activation of the new table of organization, which reflected the addition of the CH-53E and the Fleet Readiness Aviation Maintenance Personnel (FRAMP) program, HMT-301 officially became the largest squadron in the Marine Corps.
HMT-301’s sister squadron, HMT-302, was reactivated in November 1987, and 301’s CH-53A and CH-53E assets were transferred to HMT-302. HMT-301 was reduced from the largest squadron in the Marine Corps to a relatively small squadron with 10 CH-46E aircraft and 200 personnel. HMT-301 was deactivated at Marine Corps Air Station in Tustin, California
Tustin, California
-Top employers:According to the City's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Tustin had a population of 75,540. The population density was 6,816.7 people per square mile...
. The squadron had successfully trained over 2500 Naval Aircrew, flying four different aircraft for over 130,000 hours.
Two years later, on August 24, 1995, HMT-301 returned to the rolls of Marine Corps Aviation, making a new home at its current duty station of Kaneohe Bay. Since its reactivation, the Windwalkers have continued to carry out their assigned mission of training first tour, refresher, conversion, and transition aviators for the CH-53D helicopter community. The squadron has also been tasked to provide support for tactical operations, troop movements, emergency 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...
s, VIP transport and static displays.
On June 3, 2005, HMT-301 was deactivated for the second time. From its formation in 1966 to its last flight in 2005, HMT-301 has flown over 144,000 hours, trained over 2800 aircrew, and been awarded the CNO safety award 7 times.
See also
- List of inactive 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....