VMO-5

Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267
HMLA-267 Insignia
Active	February 15, 1944 - January 31, 1946 December 15, 1966 - present
Country	United States
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Type	Light/Attack squadron
Role	Close Air Support
Part of	Marine Aircraft Group 39 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
Garrison/HQ	Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
Nickname(s)	Stingers
Motto(s)	"Anytime Anywhere"
Tail Code	UV
Engagements	World War II * Battle of Iwo Jima Vietnam War Operation Restore Hope Operation Iraqi Freedom * 2003 invasion of Iraq *Operation Enduring Freedom
Commanders
Current commander	LtCol Jon B. Livingston

Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 (HMLA-267) is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron consisting of AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters and UH-1Y Huey utility helicopters. The squadron is based at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 39 (MAG-39) and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (3rd MAW).

Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 267 supports the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Commander by providing offensive air support, utility support, armed escort, and airborne support arms coordination; day or night; under all weather conditions; during expeditionary, joint, or combined operations. This has included detachments to Marine Amphibious Units (MAUs) and Marine Expeditionary Units (MEUs). The Squadron is currently equipped with the AH-1Z attack helicopter and the UH-1Y utility helicopter.

On 15 February 1944, the Squadron activated at Quantico, Virginia as Marine Observation Squadron (VMO) 5, the “Black Aces.” The operational aircraft at the time was the OY-1 Piper Cub. VMO-5’s primary tasks were providing aerial fire support spotting and observation in support of ground forces. Following several months of training in Camp Pendleton, California and Ewa, Hawaii, the Squadron deployed with the 3d Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) to the Pacific Theater. It split into two groups, staging in Saipan and Guam in preparation for the Iwo Jima Campaign. On 19 February 1945, elements of the Squadron went ashore and remained on Iwo Jima until the end of the campaign. After this campaign, the Squadron redeployed to Hilo, Hawaii and attached to Marine Observation Group 1, 2d MAW. Following victory in World War II, VMO-5 deployed to Sasebo, Japan for occupation duty from September 1945 to January 1946. Upon completion of this tour, VMO-5 returned to San Diego and deactivated on 31 January 1946.

With the looming Vietnam War, the subunit of Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 30 (H&MS-30) at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton was redesignated as VMO-5 on December 15, 1966 becoming a full-fledged training squadron. They originally fell under the command of Marine Helicopter Training Group 30 under the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and were equipped with a complement of UH-1E Hueys and OV-10 Broncos. In March 1968, the squadron was redesignated HML-267 and remained at alert status and training replacement pilots and crew for the rest of the war. In 1971, reorganization left the squadron with only UH-1E helicopters, and by the end of 1976 only UH-1N aircraft were flown.