USMC VMM-263 Thunder Chicken Buff Patch Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (VMM-263) — "Thunder Chickens" Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263, the Thunder Chickens, was originally activated as Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron 263 (HMR-263) on 16 June 1952 at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina, and outfitted with Sikorsky HRS helicopters. The squadron relocated to Marine Corps Air Facility New River on 7 July 1954 and spent the next decade participating in over fifteen major exercises and deployments, including disaster relief in Tampico, Mexico, in October 1955 and submarine operations from the USS Sealion in March 1956. Originally named the "Thunder Eagles," the squadron's nickname famously morphed into "Thunder Chickens" during its Vietnam service — legend holds that "Eagle" was lost in translation and the new name stuck. Deploying to Vietnam in October 1965, HMM-263 participated in over twenty-four named combat operations across two tours. Squadron member Private First Class Raymond M. Clausen Jr. was awarded the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary heroism on 31 January 1970. The Thunder Chickens later participated in Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and conducted the successful TRAP rescue of Air Force Captain Scott O'Grady on 8 June 1995 during the Balkans crisis. During a nine-month deployment in 2002-2003, the squadron flew an unprecedented 9,568 hours participating in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. On 3 June 2005, HMM-263 stood down for transition, and on 3 March 2006, the squadron was redesignated VMM-263 — becoming the first operational MV-22 Osprey squadron in the Marine Corps. In September 2007, VMM-263 deployed to Iraq with 10 Ospreys, making history as the first unit to take the revolutionary tiltrotor aircraft into combat. Perfect For: VMM-263 and HMM-263 Thunder Chickens past and present, MV-22 Osprey aircrew, MAG-26 personnel, MCAS New River aviators, Vietnam-era Marine helicopter veterans, and Osprey aviation enthusiasts. The Thunder Chickens of VMM-263 — from Sikorsky helicopters over Vietnam to Ospreys over Iraq, always first to fly the future of Marine aviation.
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