USMC Helicopter Squadrons
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VMGR-153 Hercules Shisa Dogs Patch
Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 153 (VMGR-153), 1st Marine Aircraft Wing
Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 153 (VMGR-153) traces its distinguished lineage to 1 March 1942 when Marine Utility Squadron 153 (VMJ-153) was commissioned at Camp Kearney, San Diego, California. During World War II, the squadron served under Marine Aircraft Group 25 and the South Pacific Combat Air Transport Command (SCAT), delivering approximately 15 million pounds of supplies and equipment, evacuating more than 20,000 casualties, and moving an additional 8,000 personnel throughout the Pacific Theater—earning the Navy Unit Commendation for its contributions from December 1942 to July 1944.
Redesignated as Marine Transport Squadron 153 (VMR-153) in July 1944, the squadron continued operations through the post-war period, including evacuations from China's Weixian Internment Camp and U.S. consulates in Changchun and Mukden in 1948, transporting personnel and over 95,000 pounds of cargo. The squadron departed Qingdao in January 1949 as the last Marine Corps aviation unit to leave China. VMR-153 provided disaster relief to Tampico, Mexico following Hurricane Hilda in October 1955 before being decommissioned on 20 May 1959.
After more than six decades of dormancy, VMGR-153 was reactivated on 13 January 2023 at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, as a KC-130J Super Hercules squadron assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 24 (MAG-24), 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. This reactivation was driven by the Marine Corps' strategic need to bolster aerial refueling and intra-theater airlift capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region. Today, VMGR-153 provides air-to-air refueling for both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, assault air transport, close air support, and multi-sensor imagery reconnaissance. The Shisa Dog imagery on this patch reflects the squadron's connection to its Pacific heritage and Hawaiian home.
Perfect For: VMGR-153 squadron members, MAG-24 personnel, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing service members, KC-130J Super Hercules enthusiasts, WWII SCAT veterans' families, and supporters of Marine Corps aerial refueling and transport aviation.
A legacy reborn—connecting the South Pacific combat transport heroes of World War II to the Indo-Pacific aerial refueling warriors of the 21st century.
If you want to swap patches on/off gear, choose hook & loop (velcro). If you’re attaching permanently to uniforms or fabric, choose sew-on. If you want quick application on compatible fabric, choose iron-on / heat seal (when offered). Backing options are shown on the page and update based on the variant you select.
Size is shown on the product page and updates with the variant you select (example: 3"). If you’re mounting on a hat or small panel, choose smaller sizes; for plate carriers and display boards, larger sizes fit better.
If the product is officially licensed, it will say “Officially Licensed” in the title and/or in the product details. If it doesn’t, it’s still a legitimate product—just not part of a licensed program.
Yes. If you see a note like “bulk reruns available,” that means we can support group orders or reruns. If you don’t see it, contact us with the unit/squadron and quantity and we’ll confirm options.
Yes—custom solutions are available (patches, name tags, lanyards, apparel). Use the custom request page and include artwork, size, backing preference, and quantity.
