**VMM-163 Evil Eyes USMC PVC Patch — Marine Tiltrotor Squadron PVC Patch**
VMM-163 Evil Eyes — the squadron whose intelligence officer suggested painting eyes on the helicopters to spook the Viet Cong, and whose ground Marine fans loved the look so much that even a furious Wing Commander couldn't order them removed. Seven decades later, the Evil Eyes are still watching.
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163 (VMM-163), the "Evil Eyes," traces its origins to HMR(L)-163, activated on 1 December 1951 at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina. Originally nicknamed the "Ridge Runners" after typhoon rescue operations in mountainous terrain near Hanshin, Japan in 1953, the squadron earned its iconic "Evil Eyes" identity in late 1965 when intelligence officer Captain Al Barbes proposed painting eyes on aircraft to unsettle the enemy in Vietnam — based on Asian cultural beliefs. Initially called "Genie Eyes" after the I Dream of Jeannie TV show, ground Marines soon renamed them "Evil Eyes," and the name stuck — even after the 1st MAW Commanding General tried to order the unauthorized paint scheme removed, only to be overruled when the ground force commander said it was great to have the Evil Eyes back. During the Vietnam War, HMM-163 flew over 2,000 hours in ten days during the Battle of A Shau, rescuing 190 survivors while 21 of 24 aircraft suffered major damage. In 2001, the Evil Eyes planned and executed the longest amphibious assault in American military history during Operation Enduring Freedom. Now based at MCAS Miramar under MAG-16, VMM-163 flies the MV-22B Osprey.
• Raised 3D PVC design with vivid color
• Weatherproof and UV-resistant — built for field use
• Hook & loop backing for easy swap
• Easy to clean — just wipe down
• Lightweight and flexible
Perfect For: VMM-163/HMM-163 veterans and alumni, Evil Eyes squadron fans, MV-22 Osprey enthusiasts, Vietnam War helicopter veterans, MCAS Miramar personnel, Marine tiltrotor aviation collectors, USMC PVC patch collectors
