USMC Helicopter Squadrons
$12.00
Only 20 items left in stock
Bulk Patch Pricing
Embroidered
Minimum order: 25
25-49: $6.00 each
50-99: $5.00 each
100-199: $4.00 each
200-299: $3.00 each
300+: $2.50 each
Applicable tax calculated at checkout. Shipping calculated at checkout.
VMM-265 Dragons Flight Equipment Patch — USMC Embroidered Patch
The Dragons of VMM-265 — Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265
Originally commissioned as HMM-265 on 30 September 1962 at Marine Corps Air Facility New River, North Carolina, the Dragons have built one of the most storied legacies in Marine Corps rotary-wing aviation. Assigned to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and based at MCAS Futenma, Okinawa, VMM-265 provides assault support transport of combat troops, supplies, and equipment in support of Marine Air-Ground Task Force operations worldwide.
The Dragons earned their first combat stripes during the Vietnam War, arriving at Marble Mountain Air Facility near Da Nang in May 1966 with 22 CH-46A Sea Knights. Over the course of their 1966–1969 tour, the squadron supported daily operations across I Corps Tactical Zone—heliborne assault, CASEVAC, resupply, recon inserts, and search and rescue—logging thousands of combat sorties. The Dragons participated in Operation Hastings, served as the Special Landing Force helicopter squadron aboard USS Tripoli and USS Iwo Jima, and conducted five major operations. Tragically, HMM-265 lost 27 pilots, crew chiefs, and gunners to enemy fire during their Vietnam service.
Reactivated in 1977 at MCAS Kaneohe Bay, the Dragons deployed aboard USS Tarawa during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, participating in Operation Sea Soldier IV—the largest NVG troop lift in Marine Corps history—in Oman. Following Desert Storm, HMM-265 diverted to Bangladesh for humanitarian relief during Operation Sea Angel, flying 770 hours in just ten days. The squadron relocated permanently to Okinawa in 1995 and transitioned to the MV-22 Osprey in 2012, becoming VMM-265. Today, the Dragons continue to serve as a forward-deployed assault support squadron with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.
Perfect For: Veterans of VMM-265/HMM-265, MV-22 and CH-46 aircrews, Marines of MAG-36 and 1st MAW, Okinawa-based Marines, and collectors of forward-deployed Marine aviation heritage.
This flight equipment patch honors over six decades of Dragon legacy—from the jungles of Vietnam to the tiltrotor era in the Western Pacific.
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.
