hmm-162

Was in HMM-162 at New River in Aug-Oct 66 just out of flight school to get H2P certified prior to going WestPac. Patch was an eagle with searchlight-like beam from one eye and stretcher slung from claw. Name [ at that time to the best of a feeble memory ] was Golden Eagles. Joined HMM-263 [ Blue Eagles ] Nov 66 at Marble. Hope this helps. Joe H.

Correctin - Just need HMM162

My bad.

HMM161 in the 34 days is "Pineapples"

HMM162 is the last squadron I need a name for... Is it "War Eagles?"

HMM 161 and 2

I believe traditional 161 is Ridge Runners from Korea

re: Squadron Names

I believe traditional 161 is Ridge Runners from Korea

I believe you are mistaken Bob, "The Ridge Runners" were 163.

Pretty sure HMM-162 as an H-34 squadron was the "GOLDEN EAGLES".

re: HMM-162

You are correct Wally:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMM-162

Re: Squadron Nick Names

Bill,

If you want to double check all your information, try Wikipedia and I should apologize, but perhaps you might use "The Greyhawks" for 161 but I believe that those that went into country May of 1965 would stick with "The Pineapple Squadron"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMM-161

hope this doesn't mess up your list of information.

You're correct Brook, My Bad

To my knowledge, 161 did not have a nickname until 1965 when it deployed to Viet Nam. In Hawaii we called ourselves the "Pineapples" and when we deployed a pineapple was painted on the nose of each aircraft (and on almost anything else). When we flew ashore from the Princeton and later the Iwo Jima, pineapples were painted all over the ships. Other aircraft that landed at Phu Bai also were subject to have a pineapple painted somewhere.

HMM162 1962-63 were known as Cheif LEU'S [ Col Leu] Indians. Everyone's helmet had a Indian Head dress painted on it with one feather. That is the only nickname I remember being used.

Chief Leu

Never was in those units, always back than HTL-3 or H19 & HO5S. mostly VMOs & HMR 363 However always remember Capt Chief Leu & Capt Armstrong back at HMX-1 1950. LtCol Keith B. McCutheon was CO at that time. Brings back great group of Marine Helicopter Pioneers!! Semper Fidelis PM

161

In 1968-69 161 had Pineapples painted on the forward transmission/blade cowl.
I'm trying to remember what 262 had painted. Something was there---trying to jog my memory.

Quote from Wikipedia
"HMM-161 deployed in May 1965 to Phu Bai, Republic of Vietnam[6] and attached to MAG-16, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. It then relocated in January 1966 to Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa to receive its new Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight. By April 1966, the Greyhawks had redeployed to Da Nang, Republic of Vietnam with a move to Phu Bai that June. The Squadron relocated once again in November 1966 to Futenma, Okinawa, where it was attached to Marine Aircraft Group 15(MAG-15), 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade. A month later the Greyhawks returned to CONUS, as they were attached to Marine Aircraft Group 26(MAG-26), 2d MAW at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina. HMM-161 then redeployed in May 1968 to Quang Tri, Republic of Vietnam and attached to provisional Marine Aircraft Group 39(MAG-39), 1st MAW. The Squadron finished its Vietnam Years with its final deployment to Phu Bai in October 1969 while attached to MAG-16, 1st MAW."
I believe they are off by a year--I was assigned to HMM-161 from 7-66 to 10-66 at Phu Bai flying H-34s, then went to VMO-2.

Tom Knowles

Hmm-161

Tom ... You are correct on your timeline of the UH-34D. I joined 161 at Marble Mountain in April of '66. We (HMM-161) then moved to Phu Bai, and remained there until the squadron rotated to Futema, in November of '66, all the while flying the 34's.

pineapples

i remember the squadron being called the pineapple squadron in '65. my aircraft was "graced" with a one of those friggin spraypainted pineapples. our squadron immediately made up a decal of our famous koler klown that somehow found its way onto gen krulak's aircraft.

HMM161 and HMM162

HMM161 was located at Hue-Phu Bai on 3 Aug 1966 when I joined; the squadron was flying the H-34 at the time. On 30 Oct. 1966 the squadron loaded aboard LPH Iwo Jima off the coast of Phu Bai; on 1 Nov 1966 the squadron offloaded from Iwo Jima to DaNang for the night and on 2 Nov. 1966 loaded aboard the Valley Forge; on 8 Nov. 1966 the squadron went ashore at MCAS Futenma, Okinawa where we remained until 16 Dec. 1966 when the squadron personnel were disbanded and the squadron returned to MCAF New River; almost all of us were sent, however, back to Vietnam to finish our tours.
The squadron call sign, until returning to the US, was BARRELHOUSE.

When I joined HMM-162 at MCAF New River in September, 1967, the callsign was HAIRCUT, and was flying the H-46.