VMGR - 352 Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352 ( VMGR - 352 ) is a United States Marine Corps KC - 130J squadron . They are a part of Marine Aircraft Group 11 ( MAG - 11 ) , 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing ( 3rd MAW ) and provide both fixed - wing and rotary - wing aerial refueling capabilities to support Fleet Marine Force ( FMF ) air operations in addition to assault air transport of personnel , equipment , and supplies . The squadron , known as the " Raiders " is stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar , California . History . World War II , Korea & Vietnam . Formed as Marine Utility Squadron 352 ( VMJ - 352 ) at MCAS Cherry Point on April 1 , 1943 . The squadron was originally assigned the Douglas R4D Skytrain aircraft , which it retained until its designation as Marine Transport Squadron 352 ( VMR - 352 ) in June 1944 . The squadron began receiving the Douglas R5D Skymaster and soon moved to MCAS Iwa , Hawaii in February 1945 where it remained until 1949 . Based in Hawaii , the squadron conducted training and provided operational support in the Pacific Theater , and was assigned the Commander of Military Transport Service in support of the Berlin Airlift in 1948 - 1949 . After moving to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro , California in December 1949 the squadron was called upon to support air operations associated with the Korean War . The squadron ' s mission was extended with its re - designation as Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352 ( VMGR - 352 ) in March 1961 with the arrival of the KC - 130 Hercules . The squadron conducted its first TransPac operations in January 1962 , moving 18 F8U ' s of VMF - 451 from MCAS El Toro to MCAS Iwakuni , Japan . The “ Raiders ” rapid response capability and versatile aircraft were called upon during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 and again in the Dominican Republic in 1965 . In April 1962 the squadron began supporting operations in Vietnam with missions to haul materials used to build up Soc Trang ( located Southeast of Saigon ) as a base for helicopter combat operations . The squadron continued deploying elements in support of combat operations in the Republic of Vietnam until October 1972 . Gulf War and the 1990s . From August 1990 to March 1991 , a seven plane detachment from the squadron flew in support of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm . During the seven - month period , 352 Forward amassed over 2500 combat flight hours and 1144 sorties . Beginning in 1992 , VMGR - 352 had several deployments to Kenya supporting Operation Restore Hope in next - door Somalia . The Raider ' s original mission was to fly food and supplies to war - torn Somalia . This later turned into a combat support mission supporting the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit ( 11th MEU ) and ended with the evacuation of the US Embassy . In February 1998 , the “ Raiders ” were tasked to be a part of the United Nation ' s Relief Effort , Operation Noble Response in Kenya , Africa . Later , in June 1998 , they executed a non - combatant evacuation operation , Operation Safe Departure in Eritrea , Africa . In early January 1999 , the Raiders deployed a four - plane detachment to Mombassa , Kenya to extract American citizens and foreign nationals from Eritrea and Ethiopia , Africa in support of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit ( 13th MEU ) AND Operation Safe Departure . Though the crisis did not escalate to the point where Marines were required to conduct a NEO , the Raiders provided the 13th MEU with support during operations " Eager Mace " in Kenya and " Native Fury " in Kuwait . On 15 April 1999 , VMGR - 352 moved their squadron from Marine Corps Air Station El Toro , California to MCAS Miramar as part of the Base Realignment and Closure ( BRAC ) commission mandates . On June 28 , 1999 , the Raiders were tasked with supporting Operation Northern Watch by providing helicopter aerial refueling ( HAR ) for the 66th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron ( ARQS ) in Incirlik Air Base , Turkey . After the tragic earthquakes in Turkey , the Raider detachment became an integral part of the humanitarian relief effort that provided care and basic life necessities to the thousands of victims of those earthquakes . During the humanitarian relief missions to northern Turkey , VMGR - 352 continued their Operation Northern Watch support , and still flew over fifty missions . In August , the Raiders were called upon to provide support to Joint Task Force Dora . Due to Hurricane Dora ' s impending assault on the Johnston Atoll , a hurricane evacuation mission from Johnston Island to Hawaii was initiated . Less than two days after notification , the Raiders had returned all military and DoD employees to Johnston Island . During February 2000 , VMGR - 352 launched a two - plane detachment to Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base in Kuwait to support Operation Southern Watch . While in - theater , they provided fixed - wing aerial refueling ( FWAR ) support to VMFA ( AW ) - 121 in defense of the Southern Iraq No - Fly Zone , as well as FWAR support for Combat Search and Rescue ( CSAR ) missions , should it be needed . Global War on Terror . In November 2001 , VMGR - 352 deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom . The “ Raiders ” provided fixed wing aerial refueling and logistical support to forces fighting the War on Terrorism . On January 9 , 2002 " Raider 04 " from VMGR - 352 , crashed into a mountainside in Pakistan killing all seven crewmembers . One of the Marines killed was Sergeant Jeannette L . Winters . She was the first female service member to die in the war on terror . The squadron once again deployed to Bahrain to participate in Operation Iraqi Freedom , providing aerial refueling and assault support to coalition forces . During this operation , VMGR - 352 was augmented by VMGR - 234 and VMGR - 452 to form the largest assemblage of KC - 130s in history . VMGR - 352 began its transition to the KC - 130J in August 2004 . The newest model of the C - 130 features an all - glass cockpit , digital flight - management system , and reduced crew requirements . As of late 2007 , VMGR - 352 only flies the KC - 130J , with all older models having left the unit . The Raiders deployed once again in February 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in cooperation with sister squadron VMGR - 252 , based at MCAS Cherry Point , North Carolina . The Raiders have been constantly deployed in support of the Global War on Terror . Marine Corps KC - 130 squadrons are unique in that they do not deploy as an entire squadron , but send detachments ( Dets ) in support of operations . Every 6 – 7 months , det personnel were rotated keeping a constant presence in both Iraq and Afghanistan as well as deploying in support of various Marine Expeditionary Units . Raiders can be seen worldwide conducting operations as directed by higher headquarters - from supporting other units in movements across both the Pacific and Atlantic to supporting Marines deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan . Harvest HAWK . VMGR - 352 was the first squadron to employ the Harvest HAWK , the Marine Corps version of an armed KC - 130 . With the addition of the ISR / Weapon Mission Kit , the KC - 130J is able to serve as an overwatch aircraft and delivers close air support in the form of Hellfire missiles and precision - guided bombs . This capability , designated as " Harvest HAWK " ( Hercules Airborne Weapons Kit ) , can be used in scenarios where precision is not a requisite , such as area denial . The Harvest Hawk weapons system for USMC KC - 130J aircraft began its first deployment during October 2010 in Afghanistan with VMGR - 352 . Its first weapons engagement was on November 4 supporting the 3rd Battalion , 5th Marine Regiment , in Sangin . One Hellfire missile was fired and five enemy insurgents were killed . The battle damage assessment stated there were no civilian casualties or property damage during the fire fight . Since this date hundreds of engagements have taken place using the Harvest HAWK . Humanitarian . In addition to its numerous combat deployments and international humanitarian aid efforts , VMGR - 352 answered its own country ' s call for assistance in the wake of Hurricane Katrina ' s ravage of the Gulf Coast in September 2005 . Flying day and night to deliver aid in the form of supplies and military personnel to the area , the Raiders were an integral part of a massive logistical effort by the Armed Forces of the United States . After the 2010 Pakistan floods , KC - 130Js from USMC VMGR - 352 squadron delivered over 200 , 000 pounds of cargo across Pakistan in support of flood relief efforts . Awards . The squadron has received numerous awards throughout its history and rates the following battle streamers : Navy Unit Commendation with two Bronze Stars , Meritorious Unit Commendation with Four Bronze Stars , Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation , American Campaign , Asiatic - Pacific Campaign , World War Two Victory , National Defense Medal with two Bronze Stars , Korean Service , Vietnam Service with three Silver Stars and one Bronze Star , and the Southwest Asia Service with two Bronze Stars . Safety Record . VMGR - 352 also has two presentations of the Commandant ' s Aviation Efficiency Trophy as the premier Squadron in the Marine Corps , and six CNO Aviation Safety Awards . In June 1999 VMGR - 352 surpassed 180 , 000 class A mishap free flight hours . Movie credit . VMGR 352 ' s insignia can be seen in the ending of the movie Heartbreak Ridge , 1986 . As he , Clint Eastwood , walk ' s off into the sunset with his love , Marsha Mason , after returning from a successful mission in Grenada rescuing students .