HMH-464 Condors Frigid Condor II Patch
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464 (HMH-464), 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464 (HMH-464), the "Condors," traces its distinguished lineage to 15 April 1944 when Marine Scout Bomber Squadron 464 (VMSB-464) was activated at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California. After World War II deactivation on 10 March 1946, the squadron was reactivated on 1 March 1981 at MCAS New River, North Carolina, with a historic mission: to become the first Marine Corps squadron to receive and introduce the CH-53E Super Stallion to the Fleet Marine Force. The Condors accepted their first production CH-53E aircraft in mid-1981 and achieved the 10,000 mishap-free flight hour mark by September 1984.
HMH-464 achieved numerous firsts, including the first non-stop coast-to-coast CH-53E flight from MCAS Yuma, Arizona to MCAS New River—a distance of 1,870 miles utilizing aerial refueling. In 1983, the squadron made the first CH-53E shipboard deployment aboard USS Iwo Jima to Beirut, Lebanon, providing critical heavy-lift support during the aftermath of the tragic 23 October Marine barracks bombing. When Iraq invaded Kuwait, HMH-464 deployed eight CH-53Es and 84 Marines to the Persian Gulf on 16 August 1990. During Operation Desert Storm, the Condors flew 304 combat sorties, delivering 2,167,150 pounds of cargo and transporting 1,686 passengers.
In June 1995, an HMH-464 detachment executed the dramatic Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP) mission that rescued downed Air Force pilot Captain Scott O'Grady from war-torn Bosnia. That year, HMH-464 became the first Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron to simultaneously support all three East Coast Marine Expeditionary Units. Following the September 11 attacks, HMH-464 provided six CH-53Es that made the historic 800-nautical-mile flight from USS Bataan into Afghanistan to seize Camp Rhino and later Kandahar Airport. The Condors have deployed to Iraq, Djibouti, Somalia, and provided Hurricane Katrina relief, flying 162 hours and transporting 452 evacuees. Today, HMH-464 continues to serve under MAG-29 at MCAS New River.
Perfect For: HMH-464 squadron members and veterans, MAG-29 personnel, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing service members, CH-53E Super Stallion enthusiasts, Desert Storm and OEF campaign veterans, and Scott O'Grady rescue commemorators.
A tribute to the pioneering Condors who introduced the Super Stallion to the Fleet Marine Force and have led Marine heavy-lift aviation from Beirut to Baghdad and beyond.
