Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 164 (HMM-164) was activated under LtCol. Herbert J. Blaha on 1 July 1964 at
Marine Corps Air Station Santa Ana, California as part of
Marine Aircraft Group 36 (MAG-36) operating
UH-34s. In August 1965 the squadron transferred to
Marine Wing Support Group 37 at
Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California. On 23 June the squadron supported Operation Turner to destroy munitions left at the A Shau Special Forces Camp after the camp was abandoned at the end of the
Battle of A Sau. In late April the squadron supported
The Hill Fights around
Khe Sanh Combat Base. On 16 June the squadron returned ashore. On 20 October the squadron
left South Vietnam and relocated to
Okinawa. In early November the squadron embarked on board Amphibious Ready Group Bravo, alternating maintenance and training at Subic Bay and periods at sea along the littoral of South Vietnam, from the
Cà Mau Peninsula to the
Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone. On 11 April 1972 the squadron was reassigned to
33rd Marine Amphibious Unit (33rd MAU). On 12 and 23 May the squadron operating from transported South Vietnamese
Marines in a series of raids known as Operation Song Than 5-72 and Operation Song Than 6-72 in defense of
Battle of the Mỹ Chánh Line. On 20 June 1974 the squadron replaced HMH-462 on USS
New Orleans at Okinawa and departed for Subic Bay arriving there on 22 June. During the summer of 1989, the squadron simultaneously supported oil spill cleanup efforts in
Valdez, Alaska and an Air Contingency Force at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras. In June 1990, HMM-164 deployed to the
Western Pacific with the
13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (13th MEU) and provided support relief efforts following the
July earthquake that devastated the
Philippines. In August 1990 the squadron proceeded to
Southwest Asia and participated in maritime interdiction operations during Operation Desert Shield and then provided combat support during
Operation Desert Storm before returning to MCAS Tustin in April 1991. On October 8, 1990, two
Bell UH-1N Twin Hueys operated by the
United States Marine Corps assigned to
Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 164 (HMM-164), collided during a night training mission over the
Gulf of Oman, off the coast of Oman. Both helicopters were operating from the amphibious assault ship . The collision resulted in the loss of all eight marines aboard both aircraft. Despite extensive search and recovery efforts, no survivors were recovered. The squadron deployed in October 1992 with the
15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (15th MEU). The squadron provided support to Joint Task Force (Somalia) during
Operation Restore Hope from December 1992 until February 1993. HMM-164 returned to MCAS Tustin in April 1993. August 1993 found the squadron providing support for units training at the
Mountain Warfare Training Center,
Bridgeport, California and provided a mission capabilities demonstration for the
Secretary of the Navy. In August 1993, the Marine Corps Aviation Association chose HMM-164 as the Medium Helicopter Squadron of the year. In June 1995, HMM-164 deployed as the
Aviation Combat Element with the
11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (11th MEU). During this time it provided support for the
United States Central Command in
Operation Vigilant Sentinel in
Kuwait as well as
Bahrain,
Qatar, and
United Arab Emirates before returning and relocating to MCAS El Toro, California in December 1995. In February 1996, HMM-164 was called upon to support the
President of the United States as he visited the
flood-ravaged areas around
Portland, Oregon. On 28 August 1997, HMM-164 (REIN) deployed again with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. During December 1997 and January 1998, the squadron's
AV-8B Harrier IIs and
KC-130 Hercules flew combat sorties in support of
Operation Southern Watch over southern
Iraq. HMM-164 (REIN) returned to MCAS El Toro on February 26, 1998, completing its final deployment before re-designation as a Fleet Replacement Squadron. On 8 January 1999, HMM-164 relocated to MCAS Camp Pendleton, California as part of the
Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) move and was attached to MAG-39 effective 11 January. In February 1999, the Squadron was re-designated HMMT-164 and was tasked to become the Marine Corps’
Fleet Replacement Squadron for the CH-46E. During March 1999, the squadron deployed two aircraft to
Moffett Federal Airfield to support Operation Urban Warrior and accept its first two student pilots. In May, the Marine Enlisted Aircrew Training Department accepted its first class of new enlisted aircrew. On 1 June 1999, the squadron took over the role as Model Manager and Fleet Project Team Manager for the CH-46E. Since 2000, HMMT-164 has trained over 360 new pilots and 460 crew chiefs. On 28 June 2008, HMMT-164 deployed to
Naval Air Station Lemoore after California Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger requested military assistance to fight
raging wildfires. The helicopters are providing medium lift rotary wing support to
United States Northern Command and the
National Fire Center. On 9 April 2015, HMMT-164 officially retired the CH-46E and transitioned to the
MV-22B Osprey. As part of the transition, they became a fleet squadron rather than a training squadron and so were redesignated as VMM-164.
Global War On Terror In the spring of 2018, VMM-164 deployed for the first time as an MV-22B Osprey squadron in support of
Operation Inherent Resolve. They serve as one of the main means of transportation of VIPs, troops and cargo in the Area of Operations. ==See also==