HMM-364

Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 364
Old HMM-364 Insignia
Active	September 1, 1961 - March 22, 1971 September 28, 1984 - present
Country	United States
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Type	Medium Lift Tiltrotor Squadron
Role	Conduct air operations in support of the Fleet Marine Forces
Part of	Marine Aircraft Group 39 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
Garrison/HQ	Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
Nickname(s)	Purple Foxes
Tail Code	PF
Mascot(s)	Swifty
Engagements	Vietnam War Operation Iraqi Freedom * 2003 invasion of Iraq
Commanders
Commanding Officer	LtCol. Stephen J. Conley
Executive Officer	Maj. Jason J. Nollette
Sergeant Major	SgtMaj. Manuel Palos
Aircraft flown
Cargo helicopter	CH-46 Sea Knight MV-22B Osprey
Utility helicopter	UH-34D Seahorse

Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 364 (VMM-364) is a United States Marine Corps medium-lift tiltrotor squadron consisting of MV-22B Ospreys. The squadron, known as the "Purple Foxes", is based at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, California and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 39 (MAG-39) and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (3rd MAW).

Provide utility combat helicopter support to the landing force in the ship to shore movement and in subsequent operations ashore.

Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364 was originally commissioned as Marine Light Helicopter Squadron 364 (HML-364) on September 1, 1961 at Marine Corps Air Facility Santa Ana, California. In November 1961, it received its first Sikorsky H-34 helicopter and in February 1962, the designation of the squadron was changed to its present title.

In the spring of 1962, the squadron participated in Mid-Pacific operations to assist in recovering instruments that had been used in the atomic test program.

In November 1963, the squadron deployed to Okinawa and subsequently to Da Nang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam. The squadron served in Vietnam until July 1964.

Eight months later the squadron was back in South Vietnam, this time conducting operations, including operations with the Special Landing Force of the Seventh Fleet. HMM-364 remained in Vietnam until September 1966.

The squadron was then placed in cadre status at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California and consisted of three officers and 12 enlisted Marines. In March 1967, the squadron was reorganized and began receiving the new Boeing CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters. In October of that year, HMM-364 re-deployed to the Republic of Vietnam, initially at Phu Bai and eventually at Marble Mountain. During this tour HMM-364 participated in operations Osceola, Kentucky, Mamaluke Thrust, and Hue City and finally in Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of Saigon. For almost half of its short 10-year existence, HMM-364 served in the Republic of Vietnam. During its three tours there, the squadron's pilots and crewmen flew almost 70,000 hours in combat and combat support missions and the squadron was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for meritorious conduct in the performance of duty.