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75-551: Rangers were often regarded as among the most effective units in the war. Part of this was due to the specialized role of these units, given that they had their origins in French-raised Commando Units, the GCMA which were drawn from Viet Minh defectors and Tai-Kadai groups , operating in interdiction and counter-intelligence roles, and were trained specifically for counter-insurgency and rough-terrain warfare in

150-714: A commando school in Nha Trang in 1951. After the American Military Assistance Advisory Group took over the military advisory role, the school was converted to a Ranger school in 1956. In 1960, when the Vietnam War began in earnest, the Vietnamese Rangers were formed. Rangers (Biet Dong Quan [BDQ]) initially organized into separate companies with U.S. Army Rangers were assigned as advisers, initially as members of

225-556: A Ranger Battalion had advanced into Kandal Province , Cambodia to destroy a PAVN base in the first operation of the Cambodian Campaign On 30 April, as part of Operation Toan Thang 42 (Total Victory) three Ranger battalions and other ARVN forces crossed into the Parrot's Beak region of Svay Rieng Province . From 5 January to 30 May 1971 the 74th Ranger Battalion and 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment conducted operations in

300-573: A further 3 days during which time U.S. airpower, including gunships and 16 B-52 strikes, was concentrated on the attacking PAVN. On the night of 7 May the PAVN attempted another assault but were again repulsed suffering 300 killed. On the morning of 9 May the ARVN abandoned the base in the face of a PAVN tank and infantry assault, only 97 ARVN and their dependents reaching safety in Kontum. On 9 May, elements of

375-631: A hamlet west of Phú Thọ Racetrack in Saigon meeting heavy resistance they withdrew and called in air and artillery strikes, on entering the hamlet the next morning they counted over 200 VC dead. On 7 May the 35th Ranger Battalion, who had established a cordon with the National Police north of Cholon , were ordered to attack VC positions to the north. They were met by heavy fire including B-40 rockets described by their US adviser as "coming in like hail". The Rangers withdrew to allow airstrikes against

450-552: A massive all-out infantry and armor assault on An Lộc, suffering severe losses to airstrikes but further squeezing the defenders. Another assault on 12 May failed to take the city. The PAVN launched a final attack on 19 May in honor of Ho Chi Minh 's birthday. The attack was broken up by U.S. air support and an ambush by the Airborne. After the attacks of 11 and 12 May the PAVN directed its main efforts to cutting off any more relief columns. However, by 9 June this proved ineffective, and

525-462: A month later to Marine Corps Air Facility Santa Ana , California to train on their new helicopter, the Sikorsky HRS-1 . Except for the commanding officer, LtCol George Herring, most pilots in the squadron had flown fighters during World War II . In August 1951 the squadron deployed to South Korea and attached to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW), where it operated in the central and

600-487: A red bandana . Groupement de Commandos Mixtes A%C3%A9roport%C3%A9s Too Many Requests If you report this error to the Wikimedia System Administrators, please include the details below. Request from 172.68.168.133 via cp1102 cp1102, Varnish XID 545715688 Upstream caches: cp1102 int Error: 429, Too Many Requests at Thu, 28 Nov 2024 05:46:28 GMT VMM-161#Vietnam War and

675-504: A retreat toward Ranger South, six kilometers away. Only 109 survivors reached Ranger South by nightfall. Although more than 600 PAVN troops were estimated as killed during the action, casualties in the three-day fight totaled 75 percent of the ARVN battalion. PAVN attention then shifted to Ranger South, where 400 ARVN troops, including the 109 survivors of Ranger North, held the outpost for another two days before General Lãm ordered them to fight their way five kilometers southeast to FSB 30. On

750-596: The 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines on the opposite bank killing 80 PAVN with 1 captured for the loss of 7 ARVN dead and 45 wounded. At 20:00 Company H 2/5th Marines ambushed 30 PAVN as they attempted to cross the Song Ky Lam on boats, killing all on board. From 7 December 1968 to 8 March 1969 the 1st Ranger Group participated in Operation Taylor Common with the US 1st Marine Division's Task Force Yankee in

825-468: The 3rd Marine Battalion and one squadron of M113 armored personnel carriers to recapture Ba Gia which had been captured the previous day by the VC. The VC first attacked the 2nd Battalion, 51st Infantry and then ambushed the 3rd Marine Battalion as it attempted to support the 2/51st forcing both units to retreat to Phuoc Loc. On the morning of 31 May the VC renewed their attacks capturing Phuoc Loc and attacking

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900-775: The Battle of Hue on 25 February a two Battalion Ranger task force recaptured the Gia Hoi sector ( 16°28′34″N 107°35′20″E  /  16.476°N 107.589°E  / 16.476; 107.589 ) between the east wall of the Huế Citadel and the Perfume River . From 8 April to 31 May 1968 the 5th Ranger Group participated in Operation Toan Thang I to continue pressure on PAVN/VC forces in III Corps after

975-637: The Global War on Terror by sending a small advance party back to Al Taqaddum , Iraq to prepare for the arrival of the Squadron's Main Body on 1 March. The Greyhawks officially resumed their role in Casualty Evacuations and General Support on 9 March 2007. On 24 September, HMM-161 returned from Al Taqaddum , Iraq, with their CASEVAC bell, the symbol of their mission in the area. They took

1050-507: The Las Vegas Strip . After receiving its cargo and aircraft at Ash Shu'aybah Port, Kuwait , the Squadron flew up to Al Taqaddum , Iraq during the first week of March to set up for the relief in place with the 82nd Airborne Brigade. The Squadron made 752 consecutive mission launches in support of I MEF operations during OIF II, logging 3072.8 hours of flight time. The Greyhawks were relieved on 1 September 2004, by HMM-268 with

1125-633: The Silver Star and another eleven awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross By April 1966, the squadron had redeployed to Da Nang , South Vietnam with a move to Phu Bai that June. On 25 September 1966, a UH-34D HUS from HMM-161 was struck by a friendly artillery shell while conducting a medevac mission during Operation Prairie resulting in the death all five Marines on board. It is the only known case of friendly artillery fire shooting down an American helicopter during

1200-589: The Snuol District of Cambodia, culminating in the Battle of Snuol from 25–30 May 1971 resulting in 37 ARVN killed and 74 missing for 1043 PAVN killed. From 8 February to 25 March 1971 the 21st and 39th Battalions of the 1st Ranger Group participated in Operation Lam Son 719 . The two battalions developed firebases north and south of Route 9 in Laos to serve as tripwires for any PAVN advance into

1275-499: The USS ; Valley Forge and arrived at Marine Corps Air Facility Futema , Okinawa , Japan on 27 March. On 27 April the squadron departed Okinawa on board the USS  Princeton headed for South Vietnam . 6 May saw the squadron lifting elements of the 4th Marine Regiment ashore at Chu Lai and on 15 May, the squadron began operating from the USS  Iwo Jima . Finally on 25 May 1965, HMM-161 came ashore at Chu Lai and

1350-597: The "proper use" of the Rangers. At their height in 1975 there were 54 Ranger battalions in 20 Groups. However, only 22 of these battalions, formed in 10 Groups, were actual Rangers while the rest were Border Rangers who were converted over during the Vietnamization from previous CIDG and MIKE Forces . The following Ranger (Biêt Dông Quân) formations existed: Additionally, during the Vietnamization of

1425-470: The 1980s Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 ( VMM-161 ) is a United States Marine Corps tiltrotor squadron that operates the MV-22 Osprey . The squadron, known as the "Greyhawks", is based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar , California and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 16 (MAG-16) and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (3rd MAW). The squadron has the distinction of being

1500-447: The 1st Battalion on the left of the road and the 11th Rangers on the right. At 13:30 the Rangers walked into an ambush by the VC 70th Battalion which was overrun within 15 minutes, losing a third of their men, the remainder withdrew and established a defensive perimeter 1.2 km northwest and called for air support. The 1st Regiment was prevented from reinforcing the Rangers by intensive small arms and mortar fire and Marine airstrikes hit

1575-609: The 1st Ranger Group conducted Operation Lien Ket 106 with the ARVN 6th Regiment, 2nd Division and in coordination with the US 5th Marine Regiment 's Operation Union II in the Quế Sơn Valley against the PAVN 2nd Division. From 27–31 July 1967 the 44th Ranger Battalion participated in Operation Coronado II with the ARVN 3rd Marine Battalion and the US Mobile Riverine Force against VC units in

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1650-600: The 21st Ranger Battalion together with the 23rd Division fought the Battle of Quang Duc , successfully defeating PAVN efforts to expand their logistical network from Cambodia. From 27 March 1974 the 83rd Ranger battalion held the Đức Huệ camp against attack by the PAVN 5th Division which began the Battle of Svay Rieng . The Rangers successfully defended the camp and the 7th Ranger Group with other ARVN units attacked PAVN base areas in Svay Rieng Province, Cambodia. From 18 July to 7 August 1974 Ranger units fought

1725-415: The 29th, 30th, 33rd, 35th and 38th Ranger Battalions took part in the Battle of Binh Gia with the 30th and 33rd Rangers suffering severe losses. In May 1965 in the Battle of Sông Bé the 34th and 36th Rangers drove out a VC force occupying the town. On 30 May 1965 in the Battle of Ba Gia the 39th Ranger Battalion was part of a task force with ARVN 2nd Battalion, 51st Infantry Regiment, 25th Division ,

1800-441: The 2nd and 6th Ranger Groups deployed along Route 14 north of Kontum were replaced by the 45th and 46th Regiments, 23rd Division . On 21 May the 2nd and 6th Ranger Groups supported by armored cavalry and engineer elements began an operation to clear Route 14 from Pleiku to Kontum which had been blocked by the PAVN 95B Regiment near Chu Pao Mountain. The attack was slowed by multiple PAVN ambushes and roadblocks and ultimately halted by

1875-545: The 38th Rangers continued advancing to the north supported by airstrikes. The VC began to disengage across Saigon and the attack was largely over. The 3/4 Cavalry withdrew from the area and its area of operations was taken over by the Rangers. On 31 August during the Phase III Offensive south of Da Nang the 21st and 37th Ranger Battalions trapped a PAVN unit in a bend of the Song Ky Lam River with

1950-438: The 39th Rangers inflicting heavy casualties. Total South Vietnamese losses were 392 men killed and missing. On the afternoon of 10 June 1965 during the Battle of Đồng Xoài , the 52nd Ranger Battalion was landed by helicopter 3 kilometres south of Đồng Xoài. While the lead company was ambushed by VC suffering heavy losses, the unit pushed on into Đồng Xoài reinforcing the defenders in the camp and repelling several night attacks by

2025-479: The 3rd Ranger Task Force, consisting of the 35th and 36th Ranger Battalions, provided a rapid reaction force supported by 2 155-mm howitzer battalions located on the southeast of Bien Hoa and together with elements of the ARVN 5th Division which had its headquarters there successfully defended the headquarters and other key facilities in the Bien Hoa-Long Binh complex. In the mopping up operations of

2100-416: The 62nd Border Rangers, had been subjected to artillery fire since 24 April, but from midday on 6 May the volume of fire increased dramatically with over 500 rounds systematically destroying the base bunkers and an infantry assault by the PAVN 64th Regiment penetrated the perimeter. At 19:00 the two U.S. advisers at the base were evacuated by helicopter. The attack was repulsed and the ARVN continued to hold for

2175-633: The An Hoa basin, Quảng Nam Province against the PAVN/VC Base Area 112. ARVN losses were 100 killed and 378 wounded, PAVN/VC losses were 1,398 killed and 29 captured. From 26 May to 7 November 1969 the 37th Ranger Battalion participated in Operation Pipestone Canyon with the 1st and 2nd Battalions, 51st Regiment and the US 1st Marine Division against PAVN/VC base areas on Go Noi Island southwest of Da Nang. On 27 April 1970

2250-579: The CIDG and MIKE Forces, former CIDG units were namely given Ranger status and organized into groups mostly of 3 battalions each, but they were largely local forces without any special forces capabilities. The 3rd, 5th, and 6th Ranger Groups, all operational in the III Corps area, were grouped together into the Third Ranger Command through which the ARVN attempted to form another division, but

2325-544: The Central Highlands, made up of mainly the former Ranger Border Defense Battalions being now consolidated into Ranger Groups of three battalion each: The 81st Ranger Group was a unique unit originally formed as part of the Project DELTA reaction force. Formed on 1 November 1964 as the 91st Airborne Ranger Battalion and consisted of three companies of Montagnards . A fourth company was added in 1965. It

Vietnamese Rangers - Misplaced Pages Continue

2400-530: The LLDB. Ranger courses were established at three training sites in May 1960: Da Nang, Nha Trang, and Song Mao. The original Nha Trang Training course relocated to Dục Mỹ in 1961 and would become the central Ranger-Biêt Dông Quân-Company and Battalion sized unit training was later established at Trung Lap; to ensure a consistently high level of combat readiness, BDQ units regularly rotated through both RTC's. Graduates of

2475-551: The Mekong Delta. On 10 September 1967 the 37th Ranger Battalion encountered a PAVN force north of the Operation Swift area in the Quế Sơn Valley. The Rangers lost 13 killed and 9 missing while the PAVN lost 70 killed. On the evening of 13 September the PAVN attacked the 37th Rangers again and additional ARVN units and 1st Battalion, 5th Marines and 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines were airlifted to support them. By dawn

2550-696: The Mobile Training Teams (MTTs), at Ranger Training Centers (RTC), and later at the unit level as members of the Military Advisory Command Vietnam (MACV). A small number of Vietnamese Ranger officers were selected to attend the U.S. Army Ranger School at Ft. Benning . In 1962, BDQ companies were initially formed into counter-insurgency Special Battalions but by 1963 Ranger units were organized into battalions and their mission evolved from counter-insurgency to light infantry operations. In late December 1964 elements of

2625-419: The PAVN 203rd Armored Regiment assaulted Ben Het which was defended by the 85th Border Rangers and the 1st Squadron, 19th Armored Cavalry Regiment equipped with M41 tanks. The Rangers destroyed the first three PT-76 tanks with BGM-71 TOW missiles, thereby breaking up the attack. The Rangers spent the rest of the day stabilising the perimeter ultimately destroying 11 tanks and killing over 100 PAVN. In early May

2700-576: The PAVN 304th Division in the Battle of Thượng Đức . From 18 July to 4 October 1974 the 78th Ranger Battalion and 12th Ranger Group, together with 3rd Division, fought the Battle of Duc Duc . From 28 August to 10 December 1974 the 15th Ranger Group together with the 3rd and 51st Regiments, 1st Division fought the Battle of Phú Lộc forcing the PAVN back from hills overlooking Highway 1 and from which they could shell Phu Bai Air Base . There were Ranger liaison platoons of 45 to 52 men assigned to each ARVN Corps/CTZ headquarters. They were supposed to ensure

2775-402: The PAVN disengaged leaving 49 dead while the Rangers has lost 15 killed. On 26 January 1968 the 37th Ranger Battalion was flown into Khe Sanh Combat Base to fight alongside the US 26th Marine Regiment in the Battle of Khe Sanh in a move more for political than tactical reasons. In late February, ground sensors detected the PAVN 66th Regiment, 304th Division preparing to mount an attack on

2850-487: The PAVN finally withdrew. The PAVN, however, were not through with the ARVN troops. Five more attacks against their sector were launched during March. During the Tet Offensive battle of Cholon and Phu Tho Racetrack from 31 January-11 February 1968 the 30th, 33rd and 38th Ranger Battalions were all involved in the fighting. During the Tet Offensive attacks on Bien Hoa and Long Binh from 31 January to 2 February 1968

2925-587: The Pacific after a successful launch into space. During 1963, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 161 ( HMM-161 ) assisted in several biological warfare tests conducted under Project SHAD at Pearl Harbor , Kaneohe Naval Air Station and in the Pacific Ocean, near Oahu , Hawaii. The rest of the early 1960s were spent conducting anti-guerrilla training in preparation for deployment to South Vietnam . HMM-161 departed Hawaii on 15 March 1965, on board

3000-581: The Squadron used its December deployment to Indian Springs, Nevada to train for the conditions that would be faced during OIF II. While at Indian Springs, the Marines of HMM-161 made their mark in Squadron history by surpassing the 40,000 mishap-free flight hours plateau. This climb into the history books began back in August 1995 and culminated with a ground crew appreciation flight over the Hoover Dam and

3075-644: The Squadron, as it won the Edward C. Dyer Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron of the Year for 2001. This followed the 2000 WESTPAC Deployment, which saw the Greyhawks provide humanitarian assistance in East Timor . On 6 January 2003, HMM-161 (Rein) deployed as a part of the 15th MEU for a WESTPAC Float that would end up supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom . The Greyhawks were assigned

Vietnamese Rangers - Misplaced Pages Continue

3150-526: The US 1st Marine Division in fighting the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) 21st Regiment northwest of Quảng Ngãi . From 2–21 June 1966 in Operation Hawthorne the 21st Ranger Battalion participated with the US 101st Airborne Division in relieving the ARVN 42nd Regiment, 22nd Division which was fighting the PAVN 24th Regiment near the village of Toumorong, Kon Tum Province . During 1966,

3225-408: The VC and assaulted again but were again stopped by heavy fire. On 8 May the 38th Ranger Battalion relieved the 35th Rangers and attempted to restart the advance but made little progress until aided by US Cavalry forces. The assault slowly continued on 9 May finding 45 VC dead. On 10 May the 33rd Rangers swept the area around Phú Thọ Racetrack finding 9 VC dead and various weapons and supplies. On 11 May

3300-485: The VC positions. Later that day HMM-161 helicopters flew in the ARVN 6th Regiment, 2nd Division from Tam Kỳ to replace the 11th Rangers. The operation concluded on 20 December, the Marines had lost 45 killed, the ARVN 90 killed and 91 missing and the VC 407 killed and 33 captured. From 5–7 March 1966 in Operation Utah the 37th Ranger Battalion assisted the ARVN 1st and 5th Airborne Battalions and elements of

3375-621: The VC. From 20–21 October 1965 the 22nd and 96th Ranger Battalions assisted in lifting the Siege of Plei Me . On 8 December 1965 the 11th Ranger Battalion participated in Operation Harvest Moon/Lien Ket 18 in the Quế Sơn Valley with the ARVN 1st Battalion, 5th Regiment 2nd Division and the US 3rd Marine Division 's Task Force Delta . On the morning of 8 December the ARVN began their advance along Route 534 with

3450-413: The base. At the start of the Battle of An Lộc on 13 April 1972, An Lộc was defended by the 3rd Ranger Group; the 5th Division (less one battalion); Task Force 52 (2nd Battalion, 52nd Infantry Regiment and the 1st Battalion, 48th Infantry Regiment), 500 men; as well as Binh Long Provincial Regional Force , Popular Forces and People's Self-Defense Forces (PSDF), about 2,000 men. The initial attack on

3525-461: The battalions were formed into task forces, and five Ranger Group headquarters were created at Corps level to provide command and control for tactical operations. The Ranger Group structure was maintained until 1970 as U.S. force reduction commenced. The Civilian Irregular Defense Group (CIDG) situated along the Laotian and Cambodian borders, formerly under control of 5th U.S. Special Forces Group,

3600-435: The bell with them instead of leaving it for the next squadron because the mission of CASEVAC had been temporarily turned over to the soldiers of an Army Blackhawk detachment on the same base. At the completion of their deployment, HMM-161 successfully logged a record of over 58,000 class A mishap free flight hours total. This achievement is will remain intact and be unable to be surpassed by any other CH-46E squadron due to

3675-497: The defenders were able to receive the injection of manpower and supplies needed to sweep the surrounding area of PAVN and by 18 June the battle was over. In May 1972 during the Battle of Kontum after overrunning the ARVN bases at Tân Cảnh , Đắk Tô and the Firebases along Rocket Ridge the PAVN turned their attention to Polei Kleng Camp and Ben Het Camp which blocked the avenues for attack on Kontum. Polei Kleng, defended by

3750-412: The defenses at Chu Pao Mountain. In late November the 3rd, 5th and 6th Ranger Groups replaced the 18th Division at An Lộc. During the Battle of Tong Le Chon from 25 March 1973 to 12 April 1974 the 92nd Ranger Battalion at Tonle Cham Camp held out against a prolonged PAVN siege before finally being overrun. The 11th Ranger Group had the responsibility for the defense of Sơn Tịnh District , but it

3825-551: The fact the new MV-22 Osprey will be replacing the CH-46E, and no other squadron has a record close enough to the Greyhawks' that they would be able to beat it. This milestone once again showed why the men and women of the Greyhawks are "The First, The Best". In December 2009, HMM-161 became the first of ten west coast squadrons to transition to the MV-22 Osprey and was redesignated as Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 during

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3900-571: The first helicopter transport squadron in the world and regularly utilizes the phrase "The First, The Best". Mission: Provide assault support transport of combat troops, supplies and equipment during expeditionary, joint or combined operations. Be prepared for short-notice, worldwide employment in support of Marine Air-Ground Task Force operations. The squadron was commissioned on 15 January 1951, at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro , California , as Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron 161 ( HMR-161 ), Air Fleet Marine Force Pacific. The squadron moved

3975-644: The important Cong Hoa Valley approach to Quang Ngai City-in October by an inferior VC unit. After stalling in attempts to retake the hill, it was sent, somewhat as punishment for failure, to an active area south of Chu Lai. There on the night of 17 December, the 95th VC Sapper Company of Bình Sơn District infiltrated the sleeping battalion command post, caused over 50 casualties including the battalion commander and his deputy and carried away an 81-mm. mortar, eight PRC-25 radios, 15 M-16 rifles, five .45-caliber pistols and five binoculars. From 30 October to 10 December 1973

4050-466: The lack of enough heavy weapons prevented this from happening. A further 33 Ranger Border Defense Battalions also existed in 1973. These were the former CIDG units formed by the Americans and totaled 14,365 men. Border Ranger Battalions were smaller than their Ranger counterparts with 465 men versus the 575 to 650 of regular Rangers. In existence by March 1975 were also the following new formations in

4125-492: The main body arriving back at MCAS Miramar on 6 September. Throughout their service during OIF II, the Greyhawks moved 116,480 pounds of cargo and 2,929 passengers, including 328 patients that needed urgent care. In August 2005, the squadron redeployed to Iraq for its third OIF deployment. The Greyhawks provided around-the-clock casualty evacuation and assault support in Al Anbar Province . During this deployment,

4200-458: The mission of Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP). Although no TRAP missions were necessary during the OIF, the Squadron did fly Casevac and numerous other missions. The Squadron returned home to MCAS Miramar on 12 July 2003. In November 2003, Marines of HMM-161 were told they would be redeploying to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom II (OIF II). Immediate preparations were begun, and

4275-413: The morning of 3 April 1972 Firebase Delta 25 km northwest of Kontum , defended by one company of Airborne and one of Rangers came under attack by the PAVN 52nd Regiment, the assault was repulsed using intensive tactical airstrikes and the PAVN suffered 353 killed. On 21 April the PAVN launched an assault on Firebase Delta by 3 tanks supported by infantry and by the evening had succeeded in overrunning

4350-418: The positions of the 37th Ranger Battalion on the eastern perimeter of the base. On the night of 28 February, the base unleashed artillery and airstrikes on possible PAVN staging areas and routes of advance. At 21:30, the attack came on, but it was stifled by the small arms of the Rangers, who were supported by thousands of artillery rounds and airstrikes. Two further attacks later in the morning were halted before

4425-617: The region. Ranger Units often had a US Military Adviser attached to these units although operated independently. With improvements in the ARVN from 1969 onward and the growing prestige of the Airborne and Marine Division, depredation had caused the Central Highlands -based Rangers to become manned by deserters, released convicts and Montagnards nevertheless the unit continued to operate in the Easter Offensive and frontier skirmishes in 1973 and 1974. The French established

4500-564: The school earned the Ranger badge with its distinctive crossed swords. Ranger Training Centers conducted tough realistic training that enabled graduates to accomplish the challenging missions assigned to Ranger units. Known as the "steel refinery" of the ARVN, the centers conducted training in both jungle and mountain warfare. The Rangers wore all the uniforms that the ARVN wore, however they were known for their tightly tailored OG-107 's and duck hunter camouflage uniforms. Many rangers also wore

4575-499: The squadron flew 5,199 combat flight hours, transported more than 2,100 wounded personnel and conducted 19 raids and assault support missions that led to the capture of numerous insurgents. The Greyhawks safely completing 2,999 assault support requests without mishap or damage from enemy action. On 8 February 2006, HMM-161 marked their 50,000th flight hour without a Class "A" mishap during their latest deployment to Al Taqaddum , Iraq. During this time period, which began 19 February 1995,

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4650-612: The squadron flew 9,100 combat hours during three combat deployments. The squadron returned from its third OIF deployment on 4 March 2006. Following the deployment the squadron was awarded its fourth consecutive Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award and the Marine Corps Aviation Association's 2006 Commandant's Aviation Award in recognition as the year's best overall performance by a Marine squadron. On 3 February 2007, HMM-161 embarked upon its fourth combat deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and

4725-524: The successful Operation Quyet Thang . The operation involved nearly every combat unit in III Corps. The operation was a success with allied forces claiming 7645 VC/PAVN killed, however the operation did not prevent the PAVN/VC from launching their May Offensive attacks against Saigon. On 6 May 1968 during the May Offensive the 30th and 33rd Ranger Battalions joined with US Cavalry forces to attack

4800-433: The town was repulsed by airpower and skillful use of M72 LAW rockets against PAVN tanks. The second assault on 15 April was also repulsed and the defenders were reinforced by the arrival of the 1st Airborne Brigade and 81st Ranger Group. The PAVN bombarded the town and gradually reduced the defensive line, while all the time being battered by US and South Vietnamese airstrikes. On 11 May the PAVN 5th and 9th Divisions launched

4875-864: The war. 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 squadron 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 Quảng Trị Combat Base , South 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. HMM-161 came home in September 1970 and attached to MAG-56, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing , Fleet Marine Force Pacific. It

4950-489: The western fronts. HMR-161 successfully flew from the USS  Sicily to test new concept of combining vertical envelopment with amphibious assault during Operation Marlex-5 off the coast of Inchon on 1 September 1952. While not the first ever ship to shore helicopter flight with Marines aboard, that having been done by HMR-162 during Operation Lex Baker off the coast of Southern California in February, 1952, it

5025-725: The withdrawal of United Nations Forces from Somalia . By the end of the year, the unit had relocated to MCAS El Toro , California . In 1997, the Greyhawks deployed in March aboard the USS Boxer to the WESTPAC and Persian Gulf as the ACE for the 15th MEU(SOC), where they flew missions in support of Operation Southern Watch in Iraq . In February 1999, HMM-161 moved from MCAS El Toro to MCAS Miramar , California. The new millennium began well for

5100-444: The zone of the ARVN incursion. On 18 February PAVN forces began attacks by fire on bases Ranger North and South. On 19 February the attacks commenced against Ranger North conducted by the 102nd Regiment, 308th Division supported by Soviet-built PT-76 and T-54 tanks. The ARVN held on tenaciously throughout the night. By the afternoon of the 20th, the 39th Ranger Battalion had been reduced from 500 to 323 men and its commander ordered

5175-433: Was assigned under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 16 (MAG-16), and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW). On 12 June the squadron again relocated, this time to the Phu Bai Combat Base . On 4 January 1966, HMM-161 was relieved by HMM-163 and redeployed to Marine Corps Air Station Futenma , Okinawa to receive its new Vertol CH-46 Sea Knights . During this deployment to Vietnam the squadron had one pilot awarded

5250-499: Was integrated into the Ranger command. Thus, the Rangers assumed an expanded role of border defense. The conversion of CIDG camps to 37 combat battalions with 14,534 men, more than doubled the Ranger force size. From June to 15 December 1967 in Operation Fairfax the 5th Ranger Group participated with the US 199th Infantry Brigade in joint counterinsurgency/pacification operations in Gia Định Province , near Saigon. Total VC losses were over 1200 killed or captured. From 26–30 May 1967

5325-408: Was probably among the least effective units of this kind. With battalions that could muster only 225-300 men for operations, its performance was desultory at best. The Group's 68th Battalion typified the general lack of combat efficiency characteristic of the other two battalions, and for that matter, most of the 12 RF battalions in Quang Ngai. The 68th was driven from its dug-in positions on Hill 252 in

5400-878: Was reassigned in July 1971 to MAG-16, 3d MAW. Elements of the Squadron participated in the August 1989 cleanup of the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound , Alaska . In 1990 they deployed on 17 August to Saudi Arabia as part of MAG-70, 7th Marine Expeditionary Brigade in support of Operation Desert Shield . The squadron would eventually participate in Operation Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait . In 1995, they participated in Operation United Shield ,

5475-478: Was redesignated on 31 December 1956, as Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron (Light) 161 ( HMR(L)-161 ), MAG 13, 1st MAW. In May 1960, the Squadron received the new Sikorsky H-34 Seahorse . On 1 February 1962, the unit was once again re-designated as Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 161 ( HMM-161 ), MAG 13, 1st Marine Brigade. On 3 October 1962, the squadron assisted NASA by recovering astronaut Wally Schirra and his Project Mercury capsule Sigma Seven out of

5550-499: Was reorganized in 1966 as the 81st Ranger Battalion by the "purging of non-Vietnamese" (transferred to Border Rangers or Regional Forces) to make it more "effective". The 81st consisted of six all-Vietnamese companies. It was officially under Army of the Republic of Vietnam Special Forces (LLDB) command and not that of Ranger Command. It was actually under the direct control of Project DELTA although two companies were made available to

5625-690: Was the first on foreign shores. During the course of the Korean War, HMR-161 flew 16,538 hours during 18,607 sorties eventually accounting for over 60,000 troop movements and moving 7.5 million pounds of cargo. The squadron then participated in the defense of the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) from July 1953 to March 1955. The squadron then relocated that month to Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay , Hawaii , and attached to Marine Aircraft Group 13 (MAG 13). While in Hawaii, HMR-161

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