VMB-463

  

VMTB-463

  

HMR(M)-463

   

HMH-463

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pegasus (9K)

pegasus_oef (9K)

Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463
HMH-463

"Pegasus"


HMH-463 was first activated during July 1944 as VMB-463, a PBJ squadron, and based at Cherry Point, NC. The squadron was deactivated in February 1945. Five months later, the squadron was reactivated at Santa Barbara, CA as a torpedo-bombing squadron, VMTB-463. In March 1946 the squadron was deactivated again,


HMR(M)-463 was reactivated at Santa Ana, CA in 1958. The squadron was planned to be the third "medium" lift squadron in the Marine Corps and was to have been equipped with the Sikorsky HR2S-1 "Deuce". A cutback in orders for the giant helicopter resulted in the deactivation of the squadron in June 1959.


HMH-463 was reactivated in March 1966 at Santa Ana, CA. While sister-squadrons HMH-461 and HMH-462 were still operating the CH-37C (new designation for HR2S-1), HMH-463 was equipped with the new CH-53A "Sea Stallion". A four-plane detachment was sent to Vietnam in December 1966, with the main body following in May 1967. HMH-463 would serve in Vietnam until May 1971, when it relocated to Kaneohe Bay, HI, and joined MAG-24.


During February-July 1973, HMH-463 took part in Operation End Sweep, the clearing of mines from North Vietnamese waters. During the period March-May 1975, the squadron was deployed to South-East Asia again, this time particpating in the evacuation operations in Cambodia (Eagle Pull) and Saigon, RVN (Frequent Wind). After returning to Hawaii, the squadron took part in numerous exercises throughout the 1970s, 80s and 90s.


HMH-463 has since participated in Operation Desert Shield/Storm in 1990-91, Operation Garden Isle (Hurricane Iniki relief operations), and Joint Task Force - Full Accounting in Cambodia during 1993 and 1995.


During 2005, HMH-463 became the first CH-53D squadron from MAG-24 to deploy to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

During 2011, HMH-463 began transitioning to the CH-53E "Super Stallion".


Lineage

1944 - 1946

Activated 20 July 1944 at Cherry Point, North Carolina as Marine Bombing Squadron 463 and assigned to Marine Air Group-62, 9th Marine Air Wing.

Reassigned during November 1944 to Marine Air Group 34

Reassigned during February 1945 to Marine Operational Training Group 81

Deactivated 28 Feb 1945

Reactivated 15 July 1945 at Santa Barbara, California, as Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 463 and assigned to Marine Air Group 51.

Deactivated 20 Mar 1946

1958 - 1959

Reactivated 1 September 1958 at Santa Ana, California as Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron (Medium) 463 and assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 36, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

Deactivated 30 June 1959

1966 - 1975

Reactivated 1 March 1966 at Santa Ana, California as Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463 and assigned to Marine Wing Service Group 37, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

Four plane HMH-463 Det deployed to Marble Mountain, Vietnam in December 1966 and assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 16, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing

Remainder of squadron deployed during May 1967 to Marble Mountain, Vietnam assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 16, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing

Relocated during May 1971 to Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii and reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Brigade

Participated in mine sweeping operations in the Haiphong/Hon Gai Area of North Vietnam, February - July1973

Participated in Operations Eagle Pull and Frequent Wind during evacuation of Cambodia and Saigon Mar - May 1975

1975 - 2004

Participated in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Southwest Asia, August 1990 - March 1991

Participated in Operation Garden Isle (Hurricane Iniki Relief) on Island of Kauai in September 1992

Participated in Joint Task Force - Full Accounting, Cambodia September - Nov 1993, April - May 1995

Participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom during 2005-2006.


Unit Awards

PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION STREAMER
Vietnam
1967

NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION STREAMER with 3 bronze stars
Vietnam
1968 - 1969
1970 - 1971
1975

Southwest Asia
1990 - 1991

MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION STREAMER with 1 silver and 2 bronze stars
Vietnam
1967
1969
1970
1971
1971
1973
1975
1983 - 1986
1996 - 1998

WORLD WAR II VICTORY STREAMER

NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE STREAMER with 2 bronze stars

ARMED FORCES EXPEDITIONARY STREAMER

VIETNAM SERVICE STREAMER with two silver and one bronze star

SOUTHWEST ASIA SERVICE STREAMER with two bronze stars

IRAQI CAMPAIGN STREAMER

GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM SERVICE STREAMER

VIETNAM CROSS of GALLANTRY with PALM STREAMER

VIETNAM MERITORIOUS UNIT CITATION CIVIL ACTIONS STREAMER