HMLA - 169 Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 ( HMLA - 169 ) is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron consisting of AH - 1Z SuperCobra attack helicopters and UH - 1Y Huey utility helicopters . The squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton , California and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 39 ( MAG - 39 ) and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing ( 3rd MAW ) . Mission . Support the Marine Air - Ground Task Force commander by providing offensive air support , utility support , armed escort and airborne supporting arms coordination , day or night under all weather conditions during expeditionary , joint or combined operations . History . 1970s and 80s . Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 was activated as Marine Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 ( HMA - 169 ) at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton , California , on September 30 , 1971 . Unlike its sister squadrons , HMA - 269 and HMA - 369 , HMA - 169 was initially equipped with AH - 1G Cobras . During 1974 - 75 the squadron transitioned to the more capable AH - 1J Sea Cobra . The AH - 1Gs were transferred out by July 1976 . Through the 1970s , HMA - 169 engaged in rigorous amphibious training at sea and combined exercises ashore . The 1980s brought increased operational commitments and a growing legacy of aviation safety milestones . On October 1 , 1986 , the re - designated HMLA - 169 had all 24 of their advanced AH - 1T ( TOW ) cobras phased out which were replaced with 12 of the new AH - 1W ( Super Cobra ) . These were complimented with 12 UH - 1N Hueys , increasing the Vipers ' capabilities commensurate with the needs of the Marine Air Ground Task Force . This made HMLA - 169 the first operational Marine Corp squadron to deploy the new Super Cobra both at home and overseas on deployment . Gulf War and the 1990s . From December 1990 to June 1991 , HMLA - 169 embarked aboard the USS " Tarawa " in support of combat operations in Southwest Asia , and deployed ashore during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm with MAG - 50 at Tanajib , Saudi Arabia . From February 24 to March 4 , 1991 , the Vipers flew 234 combat sorties engaging enemy Iraqi forces without loss of aircraft or personnel . Returning from the Kuwaiti theater , the squadron was routed to assist in humanitarian relief to flood - ravaged Bangladesh as part of Operation Sea Angel . Shortly after that the squadron participated in the humanitarian assistance mission Operation Fiery Vigil , after Mount Pinatubo erupted June 15 , 1991 . In May 1992 , HMLA - 169 supported local law enforcement during the Los Angeles riots , and again in 1993 conducted humanitarian relief and peace - keeping operations in Somalia during Operation Restore Hope . Global War on Terror . HMLA - 169 sourced a detachment of 4 Cobras and 3 Hueys to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit ( 15th MEU ) , which was the among the first Marines into Afghanistan after 9 / 11 . The squadron deployed to Iraq in late February 2003 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom ( OIF ) . During the 2003 invasion of Iraq 12 of the 18 AH - 1Ws of the unit sustained battle damage and on March 30 , 2003 a UH - 1N Huey crashed ; killing three members on board . HMLA - 169 deployed again in the summer of 2004 to support the second iteration of OIF . During this deployment they provided close air support during the Battle of Najaf and Operation Phantom Fury in Fallujah . The squadron is presently configured with 18 AH - 1W SuperCobras and 9 UH - 1Y SuperHueys . HMLA - 169 again deployed to Iraq in March 2006 to provide close air support for the 1st Marine Division in Al Anbar province . The squadron was deployed to Afghanistan in the spring of 2009 as part of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade . They will be part of the 17 , 000 troop increase announced by President Obama in mid - February . Unit awards . A unit citation or commendation is an award bestowed upon an organization for the action cited . Members of the unit who participated in said actions are allowed to wear on their uniforms the awarded unit citation . HMLA - 169 has been presented with the following awards :