J where were you at the time? HMM-262 got to Ky Ha in Dec of 66, we were a CH-46 squadron; the only one there then. I don't remember a Dennis Wilson but that doesn't mean he wasn't with us.
S/F
Tim

Re: Crs

We were at Marble Mt Air strip. Should have stated that in the beginning. We didn't go to Ky Ha until later.
Jim

Mmaf 1966

I believe that HMM-164 debarked from the Valley Forge in October of 1966 and stayed there (MMAF) for a time. HMM-165 was also at Ky Ha but I believe they relieved HMM-262 when 262 went to Quang Tri about OCtober 1966. HMM-165 left Ky HA when HMM-362 did in late 1967 and went to Phu Bai when Ky Ha became an Army facility. I arrived Phu Bai in October 1967 and reported when HMM-165 was just getting there.
Hope this helps.

Jim,

The squadron was probably HMM-265. They were the first Phrog squadon, with the CH-46A models, in Vietnam, arriving on May 22, 1966. They were based at Marble Mountain until they deployed with the 6th FLeet - SLF in July 1967.

I don't wish to contradict my Brother Tim, but HMM-165 (White Knights) had arrived in KY Ha in September 1966. We (HMM-262) arrived in-country on Dec. 5, 1966 and went straight to KY Ha.

(Source: Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page )

My first combat flight in Vietnam was on an OJT flight, during the second week of December 1966. That was famous the flight when the Skipper (with his revolver, and a left-handed shot) killed an enemy soldier shooting at us in the LZ as we flared to land. I was on the Port gun and witnessed the event.

Jake I know HMM-265 our New River sister squadron was in country before us and so was HMM-164. What I was stating is that we were the only 46 squadron at Ky Ha when we got there. I can only remember VMO and 34 squadrons there at the time, but there are cobwebs in my old brain.
S/F
Tim

HMM-165 was the first 46 squadron at Ky Ha. The advanced party for 165 arrived in Ky Ha in Aug '66. Our planes arrived in Sept. I think. We replaced HMM-364 which was a 34 squadron at the time. We had been operating out of Ky Ha several months before HMM-262 arrived.

Jim...The 1st CH-46 Sqd in Vietnam was HMM 164. We arrived in Marble Mt during the 2nd week of March 1966, and there they remained for the rest of our tour.
PS....During the first day of the offload we external-ed approximately 50 refrigerators/ice machines for the squadron hooch's/office tents. We had "appropriated" them from the USAF storage warehouse at Norton AFB prior to leaving CONUS. That first evening in country all the lights at the Marble Mountain Air Facility blew out as the sun set in the west. I'm sure that the OIC of the MABS utilities section who was responsible for providing the base electricity had some bad words to say about "Watson's Warriors" for the next week or so. Sorry... couldn't resist telling that war sorry. Hope that helps