HMH - 363 Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363 ( HMH - 363 ) is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron consisting of CH - 53D Sea Stallion transport helicopters . The squadron , known as the " Lucky Red Lions " , is based at Marine Corps Air Facility Kaneohe Bay , Hawaii and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 24 ( MAG - 24 ) and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing ( 1st MAW ) . The squadron is scheduled to transition to the new MV - 22 Osprey within the next few years . Mission . Provide assault support transport of combat troops , supplies and heavy equipment during expeditionary , joint or combined operations . Be prepared for short - notice , worldwide employment in support of Marine Air - Ground Task Force operations on land and aboard navy ship . History . Early years . Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363 the " Lucky Red Lions " , was activated on June 2 , 1952 , at Marine Corps Air Station Santa Ana , California and was designated the Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron 363 ( HMR - 363 ) . It was activated as a result of the demands of the Korean War . In 1953 , the unit flew the Sikorsky HRS - 1 and during this period took part in Operation Desert Rock , the first atomic test to use ground troops . Soon thereafter , the squadron became the first West Coast helicopter unit to receive the Sikorsky H - 34 helicopter . In December 1964 , a struck Northern California , and on Christmas Eve , HMM - 363 deployed aboard the USS " Bennington " and rushed northward to the disaster area . Vietnam War . The squadron was deployed to Vietnam in August 1965 . On September 1 , 1965 , HMM - 363 and engaged in their first combat missions ever . The squadron ’ s initial troop insert was a combined operation with HMM - 161 in moving the 3rd Battalion 3rd Marines into a landing zone south of Da Nang . Close ties between HMM - 363 and Republic of Korea ( ROK ) forces were developed in Operation FLYING TIGER . The Tiger Division was airlifted to Hill 78 in conjunction with the operation , which was viewed as the most successful Korean offensive of the war to date . The squadron was also involved with numerous operations , which increased in intensity following the Tet Offensive in early 1968 . March 26 , 1968 was perhaps the most disastrous day in the history of HMM - 363 . During a rocket attack , five squadron members were wounded and required medical evacuation . During the flight up the coast of Vietnam , the medevac aircraft lost its engine and crashed killing seven people including the commanding officer . The only survivors were the pilot and co - pilot who managed to escape before the aircraft sank in the coastal waters . On January 23 , 1969 , the squadron was redeployed back to California and was designated " Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363 " ( HMH - 363 ) after having received the Sikorsky CH - 53A transport helicopter . Post - Vietnam . In October 1972 , the squadron was the first unit to receive the powerful CH - 53D . In March 1977 , the squadron was selected to participate in the operational evaluation of the USS " Tarawa " ( LHA - 1 ) , the first of the new large and modern amphibious ships . In early 1983 , the squadron was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation . The Squadron provided relief efforts and humanitarian support in the Philippines following a devastating earthquake and flood in 1990 . HMH - 363 flew countless missions and over 500 flight hours in 3½ weeks , delivering food , clothing , and shelter to inhabitants living in remote areas of the Philippines . The squadron received the Humanitarian Service Medal for its relief effort . During Desert Shield / Desert Storm , HMH - 363 supported the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in Okinawa and returned to California in May 1991 , terminating its unit rotations to Okinawa after this eleven month deployment . In December 1992 , the squadron participated in Operation Restore Hope in Somalia and was awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation and Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal . The squadron has also supported Joint Task Force Six at Fort Bliss , Texas . During August 1996 , the Red Lions relocated to Marine Corps Air Facility Kaneohe Bay and were reassigned to 1st Marine Aircraft Wing . Global War on Terrorism . From late 2006 to early 2007 , HMH - 363 deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom . Based at Al Asad , this was the unit ' s first deployment in support of the Global War on Terror During Operation Iraqi Freedom HMH - 363 flew 848 . 8 hours in one month . The squadron deployed again to Al Asad in Summer 2008 to support Operation Iraqi Freedom . They returned to MCB Hawaii in February 2009 . On March 29 , 2011 HMH - 363 lost an aircraft at Marine Corps Base Hawaii , Kaneohe Bay due to dual hydraulic system failure . One Marine was killed in the crash . On January 19 , 2012 HMH - 363 lost an aircraft in Helmand Province , Afghanistan due to a failure in one of the main rotor blades that caused an imbalance in the main rotor head that ripped off the main gear box . Six Marines were killed in the crash . HMH - 363 was deactivated on 10 May 2012 at Marine Corps Base Hawaii , Kaneohe Bay . The squadron was then re - designated VMM - 363 and activated as an MV - 22B Squadron aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar as part of Marine Aircraft Group 16 , 3d Marine Air Wing .