USMC Helicopter Squadrons
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Minimum order: 25
25-49: $6.00 each
50-99: $5.00 each
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200-299: $3.00 each
300+: $2.50 each
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VMM-265 Dragons Flightline Patch
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (VMM-265), 1st Marine Aircraft Wing
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (VMM-265), the "Dragons," traces its distinguished combat lineage to 30 September 1962, when Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 (HMM-265) was activated at Marine Corps Air Facility New River, North Carolina as part of Marine Aircraft Group 26, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. Shortly after commissioning, the Dragons deployed to Memphis, Tennessee in support of the Mississippi Crisis, a pivotal moment in the American civil rights movement.
In June 1964, HMM-265 became the first Marine Corps squadron to transition from the Sikorsky UH-34 Seahorse to the Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight, and on 4 February 1966, the Dragons became the first Marine squadron to log 10,000 accident-free hours in the CH-46A. In April 1966, HMM-265 departed Norfolk aboard USS Boxer with 22 CH-46A aircraft for service in the Republic of Vietnam, arriving at Marble Mountain Air Facility on 22 May 1966 under MAG-16, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. The Dragons conducted daily heliborne assault, casualty evacuation, resupply, and search and rescue missions, participating in Operations Hastings and Prairie before becoming the Special Landing Force squadron aboard USS Tripoli and USS Iwo Jima in 1967. Throughout their 1966–1969 tour, HMM-265 lost 27 pilots, crew chiefs, and gunners to enemy fire.
Reactivated on 1 September 1977 at MCAS Kaneohe Bay, the Dragons deployed to the Persian Gulf aboard USS Tripoli in December 1990 for Operation Desert Shield and supported Desert Storm in January 1991. The squadron participated in Operation Desert Fox in 1998, helped end the civil war in East Timor during Operation Stabilise in 1999–2000, and deployed to Al Asad Airbase in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from October 2004 to February 2005. Relocated entirely to MCAS Futenma, Okinawa in 1995, the Dragons transitioned to the MV-22 Osprey in July 2012 and were named Tiltrotor Squadron of the Year in 2013 and 2023.
Perfect For: VMM-265 Dragons members and veterans, HMM-265 alumni, MAG-36 and 1st MAW personnel, Futenma-based Marines, and CH-46 and MV-22 Osprey aviation enthusiasts.
From the rice paddies of Vietnam to the flight decks of the Western Pacific—the Dragons of VMM-265 have carried Marines into harm's way for over six decades.
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.
