USMC Helicopter Squadrons
$60.00
Only 3 items left in stock
Antique
Full Color
Bulk Patch Pricing
Leather
Minimum order: 10
10+ Antique: $55.00 each
10+ Full Color Hand Painted: $95.00 each
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Officially Licensed USMC VMM-363 Red Lions Leather Patches — Lucky, Battle-Tested, and Still Running
The Red Lions earned their name from Korean Marines in Vietnam — and they’ve been living up to it ever since.
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 363 (VMM-363), the 'Lucky Red Lions,' carries one of the most storied lineages in Marine Corps rotary-wing aviation. Activated on June 2, 1952, at MCAS Santa Ana as Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron 363, the squadron was born from the demands of the Korean War and flew the Sikorsky HRS-1, even participating in Operation Desert Rock — the first atomic test to use ground troops. The Red Lions deployed to Vietnam in August 1965, flying UH-34D Seahorses out of Qui Nhon, Da Nang, Marble Mountain, and Chu Lai. Their nickname came from a Korean Marines insignia awarded during Operation Flying Tiger, one of the most successful Korean offensives of the war. March 26, 1968, remains the darkest day in squadron history — a rocket attack wounded five Marines, and the medevac helicopter carrying them crashed into the Vietnamese coast, killing seven including the commanding officer. After Vietnam, the Red Lions transitioned to the CH-53A and later the CH-53D Sea Stallion, becoming the first unit to receive the powerful D-model in 1972. They deployed to Somalia for Operation Restore Hope in 1992 and to Iraq twice during Operation Iraqi Freedom, flying out of Al Asad. In 2012, HMH-363 was deactivated and reborn as VMM-363, transitioning to the MV-22B Osprey and eventually relocating to MCB Hawaii under MAG-24 and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. This leather patch honors a squadron whose luck has been forged in seven decades of combat, humanitarian missions, and relentless service.
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.
