HMH - 362 Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362 ( HMH - 362 ) is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron consisting of ten CH - 53D Sea Stallion assault support helicopters and 220 Marines and Sailors . The squadron , known as the " Ugly Angels " , was activated on April 30 , 1952 as Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron and is currently based at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay , Hawaii falling under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 24 ( MAG - 24 ) and 1st Marine Aircraft Wing ( 1st MAW ) within III MEF . Mission . Support the Marine Air - Ground Task Force Commander by providing assault support transport of combat troops , and equipment , day or night under all weather conditions during Expeditionary , Joint , or Combined operations . " History " . Vietnam War . The Ugly Angels hold the proud distinction of having served as the first Marine aircraft unit in the Republic of Vietnam , going ashore on 15 April 1962 as Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron Light ( HMM ) 362 with their Sikorsky UH - 34s , arriving at Soc Trang in the Mekong Delta south of Saigon . under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Archie Clapp . The task unit was called " Shufly " and its first operational employment involved lifting Vietnamese troops into battle on April 22 . It was the evolution of " Archie ’ s Angels " to " Ugly Angels " that gave HMM / HMH - 362 their well - known call sign . HMM - 362 served in the Republic of Vietnam until 1969 , in addition to the first deployment to Soc Trang , the squadron also deployed to Ky Ha , Marble Mountain , and Hue / Phu Bai . During these years HMM - 362 also supported operations in Vietnam from the sea , serving aboard the , , and . HMM - 362 lost a total of thirty - three Marines during their years of supporting combat operations in the Republic of Vietnam . The squadron would fly the last combat missions of the UH - 34 " Huss " and on August 18 , 1969 they held a ceremony at Phu Bai marking the end of its combat role . The final six aircraft in the squadron were flown to Da Nang to be shipped back to the United States and the squadron ' s title was transferred to Marine Corps Air Station New River , North Carolina where they would transition to the CH - 53 Sea Stallion and redesignated as HMH - 362 . Post Vietnam . The squadron relocated to Santa Ana , California in 1962 as part of Marine Aircraft Group 36 , 3d Marine Aircraft Wing . From 1969 through 1995 the squadron was located at Marine Corps Air Station New River , NC and was under MAG - 26 , 2d MAW , II MEF . It was during this time that the squadron was officially re - designated Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362 . During the early 1990s the squadron deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Storm . Between 1991 and 1992 , the squadron deployed to the Persian Gulf as the Aviation Combat Element aboard USS Saipan ( LHA - 2 ) . In 1993 the squadron deployed aboard the with 6x CH - 53D ' s and 4x UH - 1N helicopters as part of a Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force ( SPMAGTF ) . In 1994 the squadron served as the Aviation Combat Element aboard the in support of Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti . Shortly after , In 1995 HMH - 362 relocated to MCAF Kaneohe Bay , Hawaii as part of Marine Aircraft Group 24 , 1st Marine Aircraft Wing . Global War on Terror . In March 2002 , HMH - 362 opened a new chapter when it became the first CH - 53D squadron from MAG - 24 assigned to the Marine Corps ’ Unit Deployment Program at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni , Japan for a six - month period . Within 48 hours of their arrival in the western Pacific , the Ugly Angels embarked on a four - month , island - hopping tour known within the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing as the " Fishhook , " so named for the shape of its stops in various Southeast Asian nations . Operating as the Aviation Combat Element ( ACE ) in five countries for Landing Force Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training ( LF CARAT ) 2002 , the squadron played an essential role in the Commander ' s , U . S . Pacific Command Theater Engagement Plan . During this period , the Ugly Angels flew over 7 , 100 nautical miles from mainland Japan through the Republic of the Philippines , Brunei , Singapore , and Malaysia to Utapao , Thailand , before redeploying to Iwakuni . The total distance covered by HMH - 362 ’ s helicopters exceeded that of a flight from New York to Hong Kong . HMH - 362 ended 2002 with a culmination of over 59 , 000 Class A mishap - free flight hours . After returning to Kaneohe Bay in 2002 , HMH - 362 resumed its assault support mission throughout the Hawaiian Islands . In September 2003 , HMH - 362 once again returned to the Western Pacific in support of the Unit Deployment Program , deploying with eight CH - 53D aircraft to MCAS Iwakuni , Japan . Over the six - month period , the squadron participated in exercises in the Republic of the Philippines . Additionally , the squadron deployed two separate training detachments to the Republic of Korea in January 2004 . In March 2004 , HMH - 362 returned to the Republic of Korea in support of Exercise Foal Eagle . Additional high lights from UDP ’ 03 - ’ 04 included a three - week training detachment to the Japanese island of Okinawa , and support of Exercise Yamasakura on mainland Japan . HMH - 362 redeployed to its home station of MCB Kaneohe Bay in April 2004 to resume its assault support mission in the Hawaiian Islands . The Ugly Angels embarked on its third UDP tour in the spring of 2005 , spending six months aboard MCAS Futenma in Okinawa , Japan . That summer , one - half of the squadron was attached to the aviation combat element for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit ( 31st MEU ) and participated in the Philippines Bilateral Exercise ( PHIBLEX ) aboard the . In November 2005 , the squadron conducted a presidential support mission during which it flew logistical support missions for the Commander - in - Chief ’ s visit to Osaka , Japan . The squadron ’ s flawless execution of that mission prompted a second presidential support operation the following February in Hyderabad , India . In July , 2006 , HMH - 362 operated aboard the as the aviation combat element for the RIMPAC exercise 2006 . Operation Iraqi Freedom . 2007 would see HMH - 362 participate in its first major combat operation since Desert Storm . On April 3 , the Ugly Angels departed MCAS Kaneohe Bay , Hawaii for a planned seven - month tour aboard Al Asad Airbase in western Iraq as part of OIF 06 - 08 . The squadron officially assumed their mission following a transfer of authority from HMH - 363 on April 13th , and subsequently flew over 380 combat flight hours in the first two weeks in the Al Anbar Province . Operation Iraqi Freedom to Operation Enduring Freedom . On January 23 , 2009 the squadron was again deployed to Al Asad Airbase , in Iraq in support of OIF . Early into their deployment however their tasking was changed and the squadron was redeployed to Kandahar International Airport in Afghanistan as part of " Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force - Afghanistan " and later Marine Aircraft Group 40 which is the aviation combat element of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade . For this high altitude deployment the T64 - GE - 413 engines of the squadron ' s CH - 53Ds were upgraded to the T64 - GE - 416 engine which is used in the CH - 53E Super Stallion . The squadron arrived in Afghanistan on April 15 and began supporting combat operations on April 22 . The squadron moved from Kandahar International Airport to operate from Camp Bastion on May 17 and resumed operations on May 18 . The Ugly Angels provided assault support as part of Operation Kanjari , a heliborne insert of approximately 4 , 000 Marines into the heart of Taliban country in the Helmand River Valley earning the most prestigious U . S . unit award for combat gallantry , the Presidential Unit Citation . The squadron returned to Marine Corps Base Hawaii on August 18 , 2009 , 40 years to the day after receiving their first CH - 53 . The squadron did not receive any enemy caused damage throughout the entire deployment . Operation Enduring Freedom . Following an extremely safe and successful combat tour , the Ugly Angels conducted a Change of Command on 15 Sep 2009 and quickly transitioned from combat operations to garrison operations that would focus on a robust Pre - deployment Training Program ( PTP ) . This training plan would be executed over a compressed 10 - month timeline . During this PTP cycle , the Ugly Angels supported Lava Viper , a joint operations live fire exercise on the Big Island of Hawaii within the U . S . Army ’ s Pohakuloa Training Area , Weapons and Tactics course 2 - 10 and a desert training package at Marine Corps Station in Yuma , AZ . Toy for Tots were flown by Ugly Angels from Oahu to Molokai just in time for Christmas . The squadron conducted the first external lift of an 11th Marines M777A2 cannon at the Marine Corps Base Hawaii airfield in 2010 . Gunnery Sergeant Donald Wilson was recognized as the 2010 Marine Corps Aviation Associations “ Willie D . Sproule ” Maintenance Marine of the year and Sergeant Steve Boungnadeth was recognized as 2010 MCAA Paul G . Vess ' Avionics Marine of the year . The Ugly Angels would again deploy to the Helmand Province from August 2010 to March 2011 . In August 2010 the Ugly Angles departed Hawaii for Camp Bastion to conduct a Relief in Place ( RIP ) with fellow Hawaiian squadron HMH - 363 . On 7 September 2010 , during a Transfer of Authority ( TOA ) ceremony on the Bastion flight line the Ugly Angels assumed the CH - 53D mission from the Red Lions . The squadron of 190 Marines and Sailors operated from Camp Bastion , Afghanistan , during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM 10 . 2 in support of 3d Marine Aircraft Wing ( Forward ) , I Marine Expeditionary Force ( Forward ) , Regional Command Southwest . The Ugly Angels provided day and night all weather professional assault support to Marine Corps Infantry and coalition partners under the call sign of “ Provider . ” The Ugly Angels immediately surged to support the Afghanistan national elections . Multiple flights were flown in support of polling centers and the movement of Afghanistan officials throughout the Helmand Province . Highlights of the deployment were the support of over 20 named operations . The employment for the first time of the GAU - 21 / A 0 . 50 Cal Medium Window Pintle Connection Weapon System mounted in both the left and right forward windows . This weapon system is also used with the Ramp Mounted Weapon System . Aircraft 51 ( Buno 157748 ) attained 10 , 000 flight hours , the Ugly Angel Games , the airfield movement of all squadron aircraft and spaces from the old Bastion flight line to the newly built Bastion flight line and multiple Aero - Hunter Missions with 3rd Battalion , 25th Marines . Many Distinguished Visitors spent time with the Ugly Angels from the 35th Commandant of the Marine Corps General James F . Amos , the Commanding General 3d MAW ( FWD ) , and the Commanding General 1st Marine Division ( FWD ) . The Ugly Angels were recognized for excellence and continued their relationships with friends and families throughout the deployment . The Secretary of the Navy awarded the Ugly Angels as the 2010 Navy and Marine Corps aviation squadron for safety and excellence . Lt Sarah Ballard , US Navy , was selected as the Operational Flight Surgeon of the year 2010 , Corporal Yevgeniy Levin participated in a Naturalization ceremony in Kandahar , the squadron flew American Flags for the U . S . Bobsled Team and Sergeant Joshua Obermier was recognized as the 2011 Marine Corps Aviation Associations James E . Nicholson Non - Commissioned Leadership award . The Ugly Angels conducted a RIP / TOA with fellow Hawaiian squadron HMH - 463 “ Pegasus ” on 10 March 2011 and redeployed to Hawaii after supporting Regional Command Southwest with over 4200 sorties , safety delivered over 17 , 000 passengers and 2 . 3 million pounds of cargo . This accomplishment was made possible by an extremely dedicated and talented maintenance department that conducted over 68 , 000 maintenance man - hours and 21 aircraft phase inspections . The squadron had two aircraft sustain battle damage during the deployment , and all Ugly Angels that deployed to Afghanistan safely returned to Hawaii . On 18 March 2010 , the entire squadron was reunited in Hawaii and on 8 April 2010 the last Change of Command ceremony was held aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii . The Ugly Angels immediately began another aggressive PTP cycle . The Ugly Angels again return to Afghanistan in 2012 , marking the final combat deployment for the CH - 53D and for the Ugly Angels as they were placed in a cadre status awaiting the arrival of the Sikorsky CH - 53K Heavy Helicopter . 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 . HMH - 362 has been presented with the following awards :