Official MALS-26 Olympic-themed commemorative patch. Aviation logistics gold — MALS-26 keeps MAG-26 in the air. Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26 (MALS-26) is a U.S. Marine Corps aviation logistics squadron based at MCAS New River, North Carolina, under Marine Aircraft Group 26 (MAG-26) and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. MALS-26 provides intermediate-level aviation logistics support — maintenance, supply, ordnance, and avionics — to the MAG-26 MV-22B Osprey, CH-53E Super Stallion, and emerging CH-53K King Stallion squadrons that fly out of New River and deploy across the East Coast and globally. The squadron was originally commissioned on June 16, 1952 as Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron 26 (H&HS-26) at MCAS Cherry Point, was redesignated H&MS-26 in February 1954, and relocated to MCAS New River in July 1954 as part of MAG-26 / 2nd MAW. H&MS-26 participated in major Cold War contingencies — the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962), Operations Nimbus Star/Moon/Steam I near Cyprus (1974), the non-combatant evacuation of Beirut (1982), Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada (1983), and Operation Praying Mantis (1988) — and in March 1958 the entire squadron embarked aboard USS Tarawa and USS Valley Forge for PHIBEX (LANT) 1-58, then the largest helo-borne amphibious landing performed to date. In October 1988 H&MS-26 was redesignated MALS-26, consolidating all aviation logistical support responsibilities (maintenance and supply) into one squadron, and the squadron was awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Award for Persian Gulf operations in November 1988. This Olympic-themed commemorative patch is gold-medal logistics — MALS-26 keeps the wing in the air. Perfect For: MALS-26 active-duty and veteran Marines and Sailors, MAG-26 MV-22B Osprey and CH-53 Super/King Stallion squadrons, MCAS New River personnel, aviation maintenance and supply community members, H&MS-26 heritage collectors, and Marine aviation logistics enthusiasts. MALS-26 Olympic — aviation logistics gold, since 1952.
