HMH-366 Hammerheads Hook Patch Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 366 (HMH-366), 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 366 (HMH-366), the "Hammerheads," was originally commissioned on 30 September 1994 at MCAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii as part of Aviation Support Element Kaneohe. As the fourth active CH-53D Sea Stallion squadron, HMH-366 held the unique distinction of being the only Hawaiian home-grown helicopter squadron in active service in the Marine Corps. The squadron's callsign was inspired by the fact that Kaneohe Bay is home to one of the world's largest hammerhead shark populations. While stationed in Hawaii, the Hammerheads deployed to the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands, the Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island, and completed successful mainland deployments in support of Combined Arms Exercises in 1998 and Weapons and Tactics Instructors Course in 2000. The squadron also supported a four-aircraft deployment to Dhaka, Bangladesh for presidential support of President Clinton's visit to the country. On 1 October 2000, with a limited number of available CH-53Ds and no additional aircraft being produced, the squadron was deactivated and its personnel and aircraft redistributed to the remaining three CH-53D squadrons in Hawaii. HMH-366 was recommissioned on 30 September 2008 under Marine Aircraft Group 29 at MCAS Cherry Point as part of the Marine Corps' expansion, this time equipped with the CH-53E Super Stallion. The reactivated squadron grew from 130 Marines and 8 aircraft to over 300 Marines and 16 aircraft by 2009. The Hammerheads served with distinction until their decommissioning on 16 December 2022 at MCAS New River, North Carolina as part of Force Design 2030, the Commandant's restructuring program to reshape the Marine Corps for future threats. Perfect For: HMH-366 Hammerheads veterans and alumni, CH-53D and CH-53E Super Stallion community members, MAG-29 and 2nd MAW personnel, Kaneohe Bay and New River Marines, and Marine heavy helicopter aviation historians. Once a Hammerhead, always a Hammerhead—honoring the squadron born in the waters of Kaneohe Bay and forged in the spirit of Marine heavy lift excellence.
