Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 362 (VMM-362), the “Ugly Angels,” operating the current MV-22B Osprey:
- Origins & Helicopter Era (HMM-362):
- Activation: Originally commissioned as Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 362 (HMM-362) on March 15, 1962, at Marine Corps Air Station Santa Ana, California.
- Nickname: They quickly earned the enduring nickname “Ugly Angels”. This originated from their mission: flying “ugly” Sikorsky UH-34D helicopters to rescue downed pilots (“angels”).
- Vietnam War: Deployed to Vietnam in April 1965, becoming one of the first Marine helicopter squadrons in-country. They flew the UH-34D and later transitioned to the CH-46A “Sea Knight”. Their actions were legendary, involving troop transport, medevac, search and rescue, and logistics under intense combat conditions.
- Vietnam Legacy: Earned numerous accolades, including the Navy Unit Commendation (3x), Meritorious Unit Commendation (2x), and the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm. Their Vietnam service cemented their reputation for courage and resilience.
- Post-Vietnam: Continued operating the CH-46 Sea Knight from various bases (MCAS Futenma Okinawa, MCAS Tustin, MCAS Santa Ana, MCAS Camp Pendleton) for decades, participating in numerous exercises, deployments, and contingency operations worldwide.
- Transition to the Osprey (VMM-362):
- Deactivation: After nearly 50 years as a CH-46 squadron, HMM-362 was deactivated on July 29, 2011, at MCAS Miramar, as part of the Marine Corps’ plan to replace the aging Sea Knight fleet with the MV-22B Osprey.
- Rebirth as a Tiltrotor Squadron: The squadron was reactivated and redesignated as Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 362 (VMM-362) on February 23, 2012, at MCAS Miramar, California. This marked a fundamental shift in technology and capability.
- New Aircraft: The “Ugly Angels” began receiving and training on the Bell Boeing MV-22B Osprey, a tiltrotor aircraft combining the vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capabilities of a helicopter with the speed and range of a turboprop airplane.
- Osprey Operations Era (VMM-362 – 2012-Present):
Significance of the V-22 Osprey for VMM-362:
- Revolutionized Capabilities: The transition from the CH-46 to the MV-22B represented a quantum leap. The Osprey offers roughly twice the speed, five times the range, and significantly higher altitude capabilities compared to the Sea Knight.
- Enhanced MAGTF Operations: This vastly expanded the reach and flexibility of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGT F), allowing for rapid force projection, distributed operations, and extended operational reach from ships or land bases.
- Multi-Mission Platform: The squadron performs the full spectrum of assault support missions with the Osprey: troop transport, equipment transport, aerial delivery, medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel (TRAP), and logistical support.
We got 3 flights of V-22B of Ugly Angels, 1st two flights are of 2 ship and the final one a single ship. They took off from Little Rock AR and flew direct to KAFW Ft Worth Alliance airport.
