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Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 insignia
Active30 September 1971 - present
CountryUnited States
AllegianceUnited States of America
BranchUnited States Marine Corps
TypeLight/Attack squadron
Role
Part ofMarine Aircraft Group 39
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
Garrison/HQMarine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton
Nickname(s)"Vipers"
Motto(s)"On time. On target. Professional throughout." "We hate each other, but we hate you more."[1]
Tail CodeSN
Mascot(s)Bak-Bak
EngagementsOperation Desert Storm
Operation Restore Hope
Operation Iraqi Freedom
* 2003 invasion of Iraq
* Battle of Najaf
* Operation Phantom Fury
Operation Enduring Freedom
Commanders
Current
commander		LtCol Joel E. "LTJ" Croskey

Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 (HMLA-169) is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron consisting of AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters and UH-1Y Venom utility helicopters. The squadron 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).

Mission

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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.

History

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1970s and 1980s

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Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 was activated as Marine Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 (HMA-169) at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, on 30 September 1971. Unlike its sister squadrons, HMA-269 and HMA-369, HMA-169 was initially equipped with AH-1G Cobras. During 1974-75 the squadron transitioned to the more capable AH-1J Sea Cobra. The AH-1Gs were transferred out by July 1976.[citation needed]

Through the 1970s, HMA-169 engaged in rigorous amphibious training at sea and combined exercises ashore. The 1980s brought increased operational commitments and a growing legacy of aviation safety milestones.[citation needed]

On 1 October 1986, the re-designated HMLA-169 had all 24 of their advanced AH-1T (TOW) cobras phased out which were replaced with 12 of the new AH-1W (Super Cobra). These were complemented with 12 UH-1N Hueys, increasing the Vipers' capabilities commensurate with the needs of the Marine Air Ground Task Force. This made HMLA-169 the first operational Marine Corps squadron to deploy the new Super Cobra both at home and overseas on deployment.[citation needed]

Gulf War and the 1990s

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From December 1990 to June 1991, HMLA-169 embarked aboard the USS Tarawa in support of combat operations in Southwest Asia, and deployed ashore during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm with MAG-50 at Tanajib, Saudi Arabia. From 24 February – 4 March 1991, the Vipers flew 234 combat sorties engaging enemy Iraqi forces without loss of aircraft or personnel.[citation needed]

Returning from the Kuwaiti theater, the squadron was routed to assist in humanitarian relief to flood-ravaged Bangladesh as part of Operation Sea Angel. Shortly after that the squadron participated in the humanitarian assistance mission Operation Fiery Vigil, after Mount Pinatubo erupted 15 June 1991. In May 1992, HMLA-169 supported local law enforcement during the Los Angeles riots, and again in 1993 conducted humanitarian relief and peace-keeping operations in Somalia during Operation Restore Hope.[citation needed]

Global War on Terror

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HMLA-169 AH-1W SuperCobra at Camp Dwyer, Afghanistan

HMLA-169 sourced a detachment of 4 Cobras and 3 Venoms to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (15th MEU), which the among the[clarification needed] first Marines into Afghanistan after the September 11 attacks in 2001. The squadron deployed to Iraq in late February 2003 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). During the 2003 invasion of Iraq 12 of the 18 AH-1Ws of the unit sustained battle damage[2] and on 30 March 2003 a UH-1N Huey crashed; killing three members on board.[3] HMLA-169 deployed again in the summer of 2004 to support the second iteration of OIF. During this deployment, they provided close air support during the Battle of Najaf and Operation Phantom Fury in Fallujah. The squadron is configured with 18 AH-1W SuperCobras and 9 UH-1Y SuperVenoms. HMLA-169 again deployed to Iraq in March 2006 to provide close air support for the 1st Marine Division in Al Anbar province. The unit deployed to Al Anbar again in October 2007[4][5]

The squadron was deployed to Afghanistan in the spring of 2009 as part of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade.[6] They were part of the 17,000 troop increase announced by President Obama in February, 2009.[7]

In 2014 the squadron was awarded the John P. Giguere award for Marine Light/AtHelicopteropter Squadron ofYear the year as well as the Pete Ross award for aviation safety.[8]

Unit awards

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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-169 has been presented with the following awards:[9]

Streamer Award Year(s) Additional Info
A streamer with red, gold, and blue horizontal stripes with a bronze star in the center Presidential Unit Citation Streamer with one Bronze Star 2003, 2009 Iraq, Afghanistan
Joint Meritorious Unit Award Streamer 1991 Bangladesh
A green streamer with red, gold, and blue horizontal stripes along the top and bottom with one silver star in the center Navy Unit Commendation Streamer with one Silver Star and one Bronze Star 1991, 1993, 2001, 2004-5, 2006-7, 2007-8, 2010–11 Southwest Asia, Iraq, Afghanistan
A green streamer with red, gold, and blue horizontal stripes and four stars in the center Meritorious Unit Commendation Streamer with four Bronze Stars 1986-87, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1996–97, 2000–02
National Defense Service Streamer with two Bronze Stars 1951–1954, 1961–1974, 1990–1995, 2001–present Vietnam War, Gulf War, War on Terrorism
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal

Southwest Asia Service Streamer with three Bronze Stars

Afghanistan Campaign Streamer with three bronze stars

Iraq Campaign Streamer with four bronze stars

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

See also

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References

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Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

Citations

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  1. ^
    PXL 20230815 012543815.MP
  2. ^ Visconage & Harris 2004, p. 120.
  3. ^ "KIA Incident: 20030330 HMLA-169 Operation Iraqi Freedom". USMC Combat Helicopter & Tiltrotor Association.
  4. ^ Teslevich, Cpl Jonathan K. (1 May 2006). "Vipers assume responsibility over Al Anbar skies". U.S. Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 27 June 2006. Retrieved 21 November 2007.
  5. ^ Teslevich, Cpl Jonathan K. (28 May 2006). "Viper's gunships escort Marine patrol in Karma". U.S. Marine Corps. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  6. ^ Hlad, Jennifer (9 March 2008). "2/8, other Lejeune units to deploy with 2nd MEB". ENC Today. Archived from the original on 14 March 2009. Retrieved 9 March 2009.
  7. ^ Page, Susan (16 February 2009). "Obama OKs adding Afghanistan forces". USA Today. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  8. ^ "Marine Corps Aviation Association (MCAA) CY2013 Award Winners". U.S. Marine Corps. 7 April 2014. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  9. ^ "Lineage and Honors of HMLA-169" (PDF). Marine Corps University. Retrieved 9 June 2020.

Bibliography

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  • Visconage, Michael D. & Harris, Carroll N. (2004). Third Marine Aircraft Wing - Operation Iraqi Freedom. Quantico, VA: Marine Corps Association. ISBN 978-0-94032-833-4.
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