page_title: VMM-264
section_title: Global War on Terror
hierarchical_section_title: VMM-264 / History / Global War on Terror
caption_attribution_description: English: Two CH-46 "Sea Knights" soar away as they transport Marines injured in a simulated improvised explosive device attack during a level one and level two casualty evacuation exercise performed by en:2nd Medical Battalion, en:2nd Marine Logistics Group, here, Oct. 31. The battalion conducted the exercise to show its life-saving capabilities to the medical officer of the Marine Corps. Photo by: Cpl. Aaron Rooks Photo ID: 20071129460 Submitting Unit: 2nd Marine Logistics Group Photo Date:31/10/2007
context_page_description: Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 264 was a United States Marine Corps tiltrotor squadron consisting of MV-22 Osprey transport aircraft. The squadron, known as the "Black Knights", was based at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, and normally fell under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 26 and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. They were the last east coast CH-46 Sea Knight squadron to transition to the Osprey. VMM-264 was decommissioned on June 24, 2020.
context_section_description: On March 5, 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 (797 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.
  In January 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.
  Since achieving operational status under the MV-22 platform, VMM-264 has performed 2 deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Their first deployment in December 2010 saw a milestone for the V-22 community as an aircraft piloted by the Black Knights on February 10, 2011 broke the 100,000-flight-hour mark for the platform as a whole. The squadron deployed again a second time in January 2013 .
caption: Two CH-46 "Sea Knights" soar away as they transport Marines injured in a simulated improvised explosive device attack during a level one and level two casualty evacuation exercise performed by 2nd Medical Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, at Camp Lejeune on October 31, 2007.
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