HMH-366 Hammerheads Squadron Patch
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 366 (HMH-366), 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 366 (HMH-366), the "Hammerheads," was originally activated on 30 September 1994 at MCAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. The only Hawaiian home-grown helicopter squadron in active Marine Corps service, HMH-366 flew the CH-53D Sea Stallion and derived its callsign from the world-renowned hammerhead shark population that inhabits Kaneohe Bay. The original unit patch featured a hammerhead shark leaping over an airborne CH-53D, symbolizing the squadron's Hawaiian roots and aggressive operational spirit.
During its initial activation, the Hammerheads deployed throughout the Pacific, including missions to the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands on Kauai, the Pohakuloa Training Area, Combined Arms Exercises on the mainland, and presidential support operations in Bangladesh. After deactivation on 1 October 2000 due to limited CH-53D availability, the squadron was recommissioned on 30 September 2008 at MCAS Cherry Point under MAG-29, this time flying the CH-53E Super Stallion—the Marine Corps' premier heavy-lift helicopter capable of lifting 36,000 pounds externally.
The reactivated Hammerheads quickly grew to over 300 Marines and 16 aircraft, providing assault support transport of heavy equipment, combat troops, and supplies during expeditionary, joint, and combined operations. HMH-366 was selected as the name for the seventh CH-53E squadron because it was the only active duty HMH to have been previously decommissioned, and the modified patch replaced the CH-53D with a CH-53E while changing colors to reflect the North Carolina State Flag. The squadron was decommissioned on 16 December 2022 as part of Force Design 2030.
Perfect For: HMH-366 Hammerheads members and veterans, CH-53E Super Stallion enthusiasts, MAG-29 and 2nd MAW personnel, MCAS New River and Cherry Point Marines, and Marine heavy helicopter aviation collectors.
Bite hard, fly fast—the Hammerheads of HMH-366, from the tropical waters of Hawaii to the flight lines of North Carolina, delivering Marine Corps heavy lift wherever the mission demands.
