HMLA-267

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).

Mission
Support the Marine Air-Ground Task Force commander by providing offensive air support, utility support, armed escort and airborne supporting arms coordination, day or night under all weather conditions during expeditionary, joint or combined operations.

Origins during World War II
HMLA-267 was first activated as Marine Observation Squadron 5, VMO-5, at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, Virginia on February 15, 1944. In August 1944 came its first deployment to Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Hawaii under the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing to participate in the Pacific theater. The squadron saw action during the Battle of Iwo Jima, and under the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing participated in the occupation of Japan in Sasebo from September 1945 through January 1946, at which time the squadron returned to San Diego and was deactivated on January 31, 1946.

Vietnam
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.

Post Vietnam
Every six months HML-267 rotated one-third of its assets to Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on Okinawa, Japan. The Hueys were joined by another aircraft in 1982 as the new AH-1J "Cobra"s were deployed. As part of the Unit Deployment Program (UDP) starting in 1983, HML-267 began a regular cycle of six months in Okinawa, 18 months on Camp Pendleton. During which the squadron participated in numerous training exercises including detachments to Korea, Guam, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Iwo Jima, and Australia. Redesignated HMLA-267 in 1987, the squadron received its first complement of AH-1 Cobra "SuperCobra"s. In 1988, the squadron split into three groups: A detachment on land in Okinawa, A detachment on a West Pac, and A detachment aboard the USS Dubuque.

The USS Dubuque was part of the Joint Task Force in the Persian Gulf and Operation Earnest Will. On July 3, 1988, the USS Vincennes - also a part of Operation Earnest Will - shot down an Iranian commercial Airbus A300B2-202 (Iran Air Flight 655) after mistaking it for an Iranian F-14. The total of 290 dead civilian passengers, included 66 children.

In 1990, HMLA-267 split into two groups: A detachment on land in Okinawa and another attached to HMM-164. The group attached to HMM-164 boarded the USS Okinawa on a routine West Pac deployment. The USS Okinawa eventually ended up in the Persian Gulf for Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, spending a total of 354 days away from their home port for this deployment.

In 1992, HMLA-267 split into two groups: A detachment on land in Okinawa and another attached to HMM-164. The group attached to HMM-164 boarded the USS Tripoli on a routine West Pac. The USS Tripoli went back to the Persian Gulf for Operation Desert Sweep. The next stop for the USS Tripoli was Mogadishu, Somalia and was part of the original insertion of Marines (primarily those from HMLA-267) and the beginning of Operation Restore Hope.

Global War on Terror
In January 2003, HMLA-267 deployed aboard Amphibious Task Force West in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Stingers relocated to Ali Al Salem Airbase, Kuwait February 2003 in preparation of Operation Iraqi Freedom. HMLA-267 supported the I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF) conducting combat operations throughout Iraq from 20 March 2003 until ordered to return to the United States in May 2003. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Stingers flew over 2100 combat flight hours and 1400 combat sorties in support of I MEF combat operations in just three weeks.

In June 2003, HMLA-267 participated in the Unit Deployment Program to Okinawa, Japan. During this period, the Stingers conducted exercises in South Korea, Australia and the Republic of the Philippines. From August through October 2003, the Squadron detached three UH-1N aircraft, thirteen pilots and one hundred Marines to Joint Task Force 515, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. This detachment was selected to provide aerial escort for the President of the United States as he toured the Republic of the Philippines, the second time this HMLA has been so honored.

In October 2003, HMLA-267 was presented the John P. Giguere Award for the Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron of the Year for 2003.

In June 2004, a detachment of 4 AH-1W Cobras and 2 UH-1N Hueys attached to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165 (REIN) on the 15th MEU. At the end of that year HMLA-267 became the sole provider of HMLA detachments to the 11th, 13th, 15th, and 31st Marine Expeditionary Units (MEU’s) in support of I MEF and III MEF. While other MAG 39 squadrons continued to deploy to Iraq in support of counter-insurgency operations there, the Stingers began regularly deploying from Southern California and Okinawa to the Western Pacific and East Asia.

In April 2010, the Squadron’s mission officially changed to support Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).

In 2011 HMLA 267 deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

As of April 2012, HMLA-267 transitioned completely from the AH-1W to the AH-1Z Viper, ending their decades long usage of the Whiskey. HMLA-267 was the first HMLA to completely transition to the AH-1Z and the UH-1Y.

HMLA-267 is currently the sole source for the 11th, 13th, and 15th MEUs with AH-1Z and UH-1Y aircraft.

HMLA-267 Commanding Officers
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 * 1st Lt Roy G. Miller 15 Feb 1944 – 10 Jun 1945
 * Capt. Gordon Walker 10 Jun 1945 - Oct 1945
 * Capt. J. J. Callis Oct 1945 – 31 Jan 1946
 * LtCol. P. P. Upschulte Mar 1968 – May 1969
 * LtCol. J. M. Lewis May 1969 – Nov 1969
 * LtCol. Richard J. Blanc Nov 1969 – Oct 1970
 * LtCol. Michael Moriarity Oct 1970 – Sep 1971
 * LtCol. Clarence L. Smith Sep 1971 – Apr 1972
 * Maj. Gleen A. Olsen Apr 1972 – Jun 1973
 * Maj. J. E. Hayes Jun 1973 – Nov 1973
 * Maj. Anthony C. Huebner Nov 1973 – May 1975
 * LtCol. Michael H. Conner May 1975 – Mar 1977
 * LtCol. Robert M. Ondrick Apr 1977 – Jun 1978
 * LtCol. Joseph W. Pinson Jun 1978 – Sep 1979
 * LtCol. James R. Mires, Jr Sep 1979 – Jul 1980
 * LtCol. Larry E. Byres Jul 1980 – Mar 1981
 * LtCol. Richard L. Phillips Mar 1981 – Jun 1982
 * LtCol. Thomas D. Walters Jun 1982 – Jun 1984
 * LtCol. William S. Lawrence Jun 1984 – Jun 1985
 * Style="Vertical-Align:Top; Width:33%;"|
 * LtCol. Carl L. Remmel Jun 1985 – Feb 1987
 * LtCol. Henry C. Perry Feb 1987 – Mar 1989
 * Col. Donald B. Beaver Mar 1989 – Nov 1990
 * LtCol. David A. Knott Nov 1990 – Jun 1991
 * LtCol. Michael J. Aguilar Jun 1991 – Oct 1992
 * LtCol. Ronnie R. Madrid Oct 1992 – Sep 1993
 * LtCol. P. R. Hutcherson Sep 1993 – Jun 1995
 * LtCol. James R. Cooney Jun 1995 – Sep 1996
 * LtCol. Terry W. Griffin Sep 1996 – Feb 1998
 * LtCol. Robert M. Brady Feb 1998 – Jun 1999
 * LtCol. Calvin E. Hastings Jun 1999 – Aug 1999
 * LtCol. Robert A. Martinez Aug 1999 – Jul 2001
 * LtCol. David P. Lobik Jul 2001 – Nov 2002
 * LtCol. Stephen K. Heywood Nov 2002 – May 2004
 * LtCol. Shaun L. Sadler May 2004 – Aug 2005
 * LtCol. Charles H. Johnson Iii Aug 2005 – Jul 2007
 * LtCol. Kevin M. Hudson Jul 2007 – Mar 2009
 * LtCol. Philip M. Pastino Mar 2009- Nov 2010
 * LtCol. Matthew T. Mowery Nov 2010 – June 2012
 * LtCol. Brian S. Dryzga June 2012 - Present
 * LtCol. Brian S. Dryzga June 2012 - Present

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. HMLA-267 has been presented with the following awards: