VMM-166

Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 166 (VMM-166) was a United States Marine Corps tiltrotor squadron consisting of MV-22 Osprey transport aircraft. The squadron, known as the "SeaElk", was last based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California. Activated in 1985, HMM-166 was the youngest CH-46 helicopter squadron in the Marine Corps. The squadron was redesignated as a tiltrotor squadron on June 23, 2010. The squadron was deactivated on October 1, 2021.

Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 166
VMM-166 insignia
ActiveSeptember 13, 1985 – October 1, 2021
Allegiance United States of America
Branch United States Marine Corps
TypeMedium-lift helicopter squadron
RoleAssault support
CASEVAC
Part ofMarine Aircraft Group 16
Garrison/HQMarine Corps Air Station Miramar
Nickname(s)Sea Elk
Motto(s)"Because We Can”
Tail CodeYX
Mascot(s)Lucky the Elk
EngagementsOperation Desert Storm
Operation Restore Hope
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Operation Inherent Resolve
Commanders
Current
commander		LtCol James C. Ford, III

History
Phrog from HMM-166 spreads the ashes of its former CO over Camp Pendleton in July 2005

The squadron was activated on September 13, 1985 at Marine Corps Air Station Tustin, California and assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 16. They relocated during 1995 to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California and again during 1999 to MCAS Miramar, California.

166 has been active in:

In 2004, HMM-166 deployed as the aviation combat element of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During this deployment they participated in the Battle of Najaf.

On November 5, 2007, the squadron deployed to the Western Pacific as the aviation combat element of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. From December 4 to 6, as part of the 11th MEU, HMM-166 flew 29 humanitarian assistance missions over Bangladesh to transport more than 54,165 pounds of food and supplies and 1875 gallons of water to the people most affected by Tropical Cyclone Sidr.[1]

On 5 May 2009, a SuperCobra belonging to the squadron crashed at 1154 hrs PST into the Cleveland National Forest, California. The crash resulted in the fatalities of the aircraft's two pilots, Jessica Conkling, 27, and Aaron Cox, 26.[2] The SuperCobra had departed Naval Air Facility El Centro 30–40 minutes earlier for Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. The cause of the crash was an improperly secured transmission cover which came off in flight and struck the tail rotor.[3][4]

LtCol James Clifford Ford III, Commanding Officer, VMM-166, and SgtMaj Mohammad A. Arzola, Sergeant Major, case the colors for VMM-166 at a decommissioning ceremony on Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, October 1, 2021.

In September 2009, HMM-166(REIN) again deployed as the aviation combat element of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. They participated in exercises in East Timor, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Djibouti. They returned from the deployment in April 2010. The squadron was redesignated as VMM-166 on June 23, 2010 as they transitioned to the MV-22 Osprey.

On October 1, 2021, VMM-166 was decommissioned at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, CA as a result of Marine Corps decisions from Force Design 2030.[5]

Unit awards

A unit citation or commendation is an award bestowed upon an organization for the action cited. Members of the unit who participated in said actions are allowed to wear on their uniforms the awarded unit citation. HMM-166 has been presented with the following awards:

Streamer Award Year(s) Additional Info
Joint Meritorious Unit Award Streamer 1994 Rwanda-Zaire
Navy Unit Commendation Streamer with one Bronze Star 1990–1991, 1994 Southwest Asia
Meritorious Unit Commendation Streamer with one Bronze Star 1987, 2000
National Defense Service Streamer with one Bronze Stars 1990–1995, 2001–present Gulf War, War on Terrorism
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamer

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Streamer
2006
Global War on Terrorism Service Streamer 2001–present

See also

References
Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
  1. "MEU (SOC) successfully completes humanitarian mission". United States Marine Corps.
  2. "Super Cobra crashes in National Forest". United States Marine Corps. 2009-05-06. Archived from the original on May 11, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-07.
  3. Arner, Mark (August 12, 2009). "Marines Say Helicopter's Fatal Crash Preventable". San Diego Union-Tribune. p. B1.
  4. Kovach, Gretel C. (June 7, 2010). "Marine's Parents Set Record Straight: Military revises report on fatal crash". San Diego Union-Tribune.
  5. AirForces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. November 2021. p. 20.
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