VMM-365 Blue Knights Flightline Qual Shoulder Patches — Embroidered Patches
The Blue Knights — Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365
VMM-365 "Blue Knights" is one of the Marine Corps' most combat-tested medium tiltrotor squadrons, operating MV-22B Ospreys from MCAS New River, North Carolina, under MAG-26 and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. Established on 1 July 1963 at MCAF Santa Ana, California, the Blue Knights have built a distinguished record of service spanning from Vietnam to Afghanistan, combining the traditions of legacy helicopter operations with the revolutionary capabilities of the tiltrotor.
HMM-365 arrived at Da Nang on 7 October 1964, flying UH-34Ds in support of Operation Shufly, and immediately plunged into combat operations across I Corps. The Blue Knights later deployed during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and on 6 January 1991, conducted Operation Eastern Exit — the non-combatant evacuation of the American Embassy in Mogadishu, Somalia, successfully evacuating 281 American and foreign nationals. In 1984, HMM-365 became the first tactical helicopter squadron to achieve 75,000 mishap-free flight hours.
Redesignated as VMM-365 in January 2009 upon transitioning to the MV-22B Osprey, the Blue Knights achieved combat readiness in under 15 months — the fastest of any Osprey squadron at that time. On 25 March 2012, during their Afghanistan deployment, a flight of six Blue Knight Ospreys conducted the largest tiltrotor-borne insert in history, inserting 594 coalition personnel in support of Operation JAWS. The squadron has since deployed with the 24th MEU, conducting combat missions in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and assisting with embassy evacuations in Yemen.
Perfect For: Veterans of VMM-365/HMM-365, MV-22B and CH-46 aircrews, Marines of MAG-26 and 2nd MAW, 24th MEU veterans, and collectors of Marine tiltrotor aviation insignia.
This flightline qualification patch recognizes the Blue Knights who keep America's Ospreys mission-ready — from the maintenance bays of New River to the combat zones of Afghanistan and beyond.
