page_title: HMH-361
section_title: The 1990s
hierarchical_section_title: HMH-361 / History / The 1990s
context_page_description: Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron consisting of CH-53E Super Stallion transport helicopters. The squadron, known as the "Flying Tigers", is based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 16 and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.
context_section_description: Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 began conversion to the CH-53E Super Stallion on August 23, 1990. On November 5, 1992, the Flying Tigers deployed to Okinawa as the Aviation Combat Element (ACE) of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, the first MEU to utilize a CH-53E squadron as the nucleus. Here they were joined by detachments of CH-46E's from HMM-262, AH-1W's, and UH-1N's from HMLA-267, and AV-8B's from VMA-311 to become HMH-361 (REIN), the first CH-53E composite squadron in history.
  The Flying Tigers again made history in November 1994 when they were quadruple sited while on their tenth deployment to Okinawa. Detachments were sent to the 13th and 31st MEU's, the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground task force in support of Operation United Shield while the main body remained on Okinawa.
  In August 1995, the Flying Tigers were awarded the Marine Corps Aviation Association's Keith B McCutcheon award as Marine Heavy Helicopter squadron of the year and in June 1996 were awarded the 1995 CNO Aviation Association Safety Award.
  After returning from Okinawa and reintegrating its MEU detachments in May 1997, HMH-361 assumed the Alert Contingency Marine air-ground task force (ACM) status. Once again the Flying Tigers were awarded the Marine Corps Aviation Association's Keith B McCutcheon award as Marine Heavy Helicopter squadron of the year. The squadron also supported HMX-1 and the President of the United States, transporting three CH-53E's to San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, aboard Air Force C-5 Galaxy aircraft.
caption: A CH-53E Super Stallion from HMH-361 flying off the coast o Camp Pendleton, California.
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