page_title: VMM-262
section_title: Since 2000
hierarchical_section_title: VMM-262 / History / Since 2000
caption_attribution_description: English: A CH-46E Sea Knight from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 off the USS Essex takes off after unloading food, blankets, water and other vital supplies to survivors of a devastating landslide that struck Southern Leyte Feb. 17. The Essex is currently on station off the coast providing humanitarian aid and assistance. (Official U.S. Navy Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Michael D. Kennedy).
context_page_description: Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 is a United States Marine Corps tiltrotor squadron consisting of MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. The squadron, known as the "Flying Tigers", is based at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 36 and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.
context_section_description: In October 2001, HMM-262 (REIN) sent a detachment of personnel and aircraft aboard USS Harpers Ferry to the new nation of East Timor for humanitarian assistance operations. As all Unit Deployment Program personnel were frozen in December 2001, the squadron concluded the year with a "Be Prepared To" order to remain the ACE for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and to prepare for potential contingency operations.  After 18 months as the ACE of the 31st MEU, the Squadron was again reassigned to MAG-36 and was named a Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Safety Award winner for calendar year 2002.
  In December 2004, HMM-262 deployed to the Philippines as part of Joint Task Force-535 in support of its Humanitarian Aid/Disaster Relief (HA/DR) mission. In only nine days of flying, the Squadron delivered over 204,800 pounds (92,900 kg) of food, water, and supplies to an isolated area that had been devastated by flooding and mudslides resulting from a succession of typhoons.
  From January through March 2005, HMM-262 deployed aboard USS Fort McHenry and USS Essex as part of Joint Task Force-536 in support of Operation Unified Assistance, the HA/DR effort following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake/tsunami. Operating off the northwestern coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, HMM-262 supported the effort by delivering aid and supplies to the victims of the massive tsunamis. During the period from January 14 to February 9, the Squadron delivered over 493,755 pounds (223,964 kg) of food, water, and other supplies to an area that spanned over 120 miles (190 km) of coastline. At the conclusion of this effort the squadron was selected to provide helicopter lift on 19 & 20 February 2005 for former Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush during their tour of the tsunami-devastated areas of Thailand and Indonesia.
  In February 2006, the squadron was again on board USS Essex as part of the 31st MEU when called to provide humanitarian assistance to those affected by the 2006 Southern Leyte mudslide.
  In January 2007, HMM-262 deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  This marked the first combat deployment of the squadron since the Vietnam War.  The squadron was based at Al Taqaddum Air Base and their mission was to provide assault support for II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF) units in Al Anbar Province.  From February to May 2007 the squadron flew 1,574 sorties totaling 2,532 flight hours.  They also had one Marine killed in action
  On September 30, 2013, the CH-46E Sea Knights from HMM-262 made their final flight from Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, and were retired to make way for the MV-22B Ospreys. HMM-262's CH-46Es were the last of their type in Okinawa, and the Pacific. The unit was re-designated as Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 (VMM-262).
  In November of 2013, Typhoon Haiyan, the strongest recorded typhoon in history, struck the Philippines. VMM-262 deployed a detachment of four Ospreys in support of Operation Damayan, carrying supplies and personnel throughout the damaged areas. The vast size of the affected area plus the lack of runways for traditional fixed wing aircraft made the Osprey the perfect platform for disaster relief. 
  When a 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked the inland country Nepal in May 2015, VMM-262 self-deployed a detachment of MV-22B Ospreys from Okinawa to Kathmandu in order to support aid operations during Operation SAHAYOGI HAAT. Along with Joint Task Force 505, the Tigers delivered shelter material and food to disaster-stricken areas throughout the Himalayan mountains.  
  While attached to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in the fall of 2018, VMM-262 Reinforced responded to Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands following Super Typhoon Yutu. V-22s and CH-53s from the Flying Tigers carried FEMA personnel, supplies, and Marines ashore to help provide relief to the stricken islands. 
  In February 2020, VMM-262 was tasked with supporting the Singapore Air Show. The 10 hour transit, piloted by Major Scott Wood, Capts John Brown, James Nardi, and Christopher Syrowik and supported by a KC-130 of VMG
caption: A CH-46 from HMM-262 takes off from a field in Leyte as part of the humanitarian operations following the 2006 mudslides
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