VMM - 163 Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163 ( VMM - 163 ) is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron consisting of MV - 22 Osprey transport tiltrotors . The squadron , known as the " Ridge Runners " , is based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar , California and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 16 ( MAG - 16 ) and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing ( 3rd MAW ) . The Squadron ' s nickname , " Ridge Runners " , was bestowed as a result of typhoon rescue and relief operations in the mountainous terrain surrounding Hagman , Japan . Mission . Provide assault support transport of combat troops , supplies and equipment during expeditionary , joint or combined operations . Be prepared for short - notice , worldwide deployment in support of Marine Air - Ground Task Force operations . History . Vietnam War . HMR ( L ) - 163 , the predecessor of HMM - 163 , was formed in December 1951 . From February to October 1965 , the HMM - 163 " Ridge Runners " helicopter squadron became famous for its operations in Viet Nam . This was primarily due to a " LIFE magazine " story that documented the combat death of Marine H - 34 pilot 1st Lt James E . Magel and the rescue of wounded and paralyzed 1st Lt Dale Eddy during a strike mission transporting South Vietnam ese troops . For most U . S . citizens , this was the first time they were made aware of the extent of America ' s involvement in Viet Nam . In late October 1965 , HMM - 163 relocated to Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa , Japan . Capt Al Barbes , the Squadron Intelligence Officer and husband to a Filipina bride , offered a suggestion . Because of Asian culture and beliefs , he proposed that eyes painted on the unit aircraft might have an unsettling effect upon the enemy , thus the concept of " The Eyes " on the front of HMM - 163 aircraft was born . On January 1 , 1966 , HMM - 163 flew by C - 130 to Phu Bai , Viet Nam , relieved HMM - 161 , and took over all their H - 34 helicopters . Painting of what were then called " Genie Eyes " ( after the " I Dream of Jeannie " TV show ) began immediately . By March 1966 , HMM - 163 ' s " Genie Eyes " were being called " Evil Eyes " by the ground units supported . On March 9 , 1966 , the 95th Regiment of the North Vietnamese Army ' s 325th Division attacked the Special Forces camp in the A Shau Valley about 30 miles ( 50 km ) southwest of Hue in Thua Thien Province . It was strategically important for the North Vietnamese Army as a major infiltration route because it was adjacent to the Ho Chi Minh Trail . Defending the camp were 10 Green Beret s and 210 South Vietnamese Civilian Irregular Defense Group , supported by Air Commando units equipped with vintage A - 1 Skyraider s and AC - 47 Spooky gunships . The squadron flew over 2 , 000 flight hours in ten days during the Battle of A Shau in which 190 survivors were rescued from enemy capture . They did this in the face of heavy enemy anti - aircraft fire . During the battle , 21 of the 24 aircraft assigned to the squadron suffered " major damage " including the two that were shot down . In October 1966 , the squadron again returned to Phu Bai , Viet Nam , still with black and white " Evil Eyes " , under the command of LtCol Otto Bianchi . LtCol Bianchi was a good friend of the Wing Commander , but that didn ' t keep Major General Louis Robertshaw , 1st MAW Commanding General , from reading LtCol Bianchi the " riot act " concerning the unauthorized paint scheme . Also in the room at the time of this conversation was the Commanding General of the Marine ground forces in the area , who politely interrupted by saying , " It sure is great to have the ' Evil Eyes ' back here at Phu Bai ! " The 1st MAW Commanding General relented and the " Evil Eyes " have remained to this day . The squadron remained in Vietnam until August 1968 . 1990s . During the 1990s , HMM - 163 continued to excel while serving as the Aviation Combat Element ( ACE ) for five Special Operations Capable Marine Expeditionary Unit s ( MEU ( SOC ) ) on deployments to the Pacific and Central Command theaters . During this time , the squadron participated in operations across the Pacific and from the Horn of Africa to the Persian Gulf , including Operation Fiery Vigil in 1991 , Operation Continue Hope , Operation Distant Runner , and Operation Quick Draw in 1994 , Operation Desert Strike in 1996 and Operation Resolute Response in 1998 . Global War on Terror . In 2001 , while deployed with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit ( SOC ) , the Evil Eyes of HMM - 163 again had the opportunity to serve America with distinction by participating in combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom . While forward deployed to the Central Command Theater of Operations , the Evil Eyes planned and executed the longest amphibious assault in American military history with the seizure of a Forward Operating Base ( FOB ) in southern Afghanistan . This was accomplished through the use of a 4 - aircraft detachment of CH - 53E helicopters , which are capable of in - flight refueling . They had been attached to the squadron 8 months earlier in preparation for deployment as the Air Combat Element of the 15th MEU ( SOC ) . The squadron remained forward deployed for seven weeks operating from the austere base in support of Task Force 58 and other coalition Special Operations Forces . In 2003 , the Evil Eyes deployed from August 22 , 2003 to March 8 , 2004 with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit . Again , the squadron made history by being part of the first Expeditionary Strike Group One ( ESG - 1 ) . The ESG concept focused on combining surface action groups and submarines with traditional Amphibious Ready Groups ( ARGs ) and MEUs to offer theater combatant commanders more flexibility and capabilities . During this deployment HMM - 163 participated in security operation in the southern Iraqi city of Basrah in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom .