| DOCUMENTARY OF UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS HELICOPTER SQUADRON 261 "THE RAGING BULLS" The United States Marine Corps is renown for its combat efficiency and close air support for its ground troops. Thus with the pioneering and perfection of rotary wing air craft the Marine Corps was quick to realize the potential of the helicopter and subsequently acquired enough of the Sikorsky HRS-1 helicopters to equip an operating squadron, and on April, 5, 1951, Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron HMR 261 was officially formed at Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, North Carolina, with Lt/Col. Owen Chambers, Commanding. These first Sikorsky helicopters established a long and respectful relationship between the Marine Corps and the Sikorsky Helicopter organization that lasted for several years. The first helicopters that comprised HMR 261 squadron embodied the latest and most advanced helicopter technology then available to military units. At that time 261's tail code was "HM" Hotel Mike. The HRS-1 craft would be considered archaic and relics by today's Marines who fly today's latest advanced-technology helicopters but by 1950's standards they were most advanced and strongly defended by the Marines who served in HMR 261. The original 1950 HRS-1 craft had a maximum operating range of 400 miles at a maximum speed of 85 mph and carried a crew of two with a troop complement of 6. The early crew members and pilots of HMR 261 soon become efficient in flying and maintaining their helicopters and in August of 1951 an additional 34 HRS-1 helicopters were obtained for the squadron. At that time, an additional squadron, HMR 161, was formed using some of the experienced Marines available and this new squadron was dispatched to the west coast and soon thereafter was ferried by the U.S. Navy to Korea. During the Korean war, the Marine helicopters proved their worth and many a wounded Marine and Soldier owed his life to the crews and Navy Corpsmen of HMR 261. In Korea, the Marine helicopters were not used extensively for troop deployment. They were used primarily for medic evacuation, re-supply for troops and for counter-guerrilla operations. HMR 261 remained at Cherry Point Marine Air Station performing a wide variety of training activities, and engaged in the unique salvage operation of one of her helicopters that crashed landed in a mud flat after developing engine problems while returning to Cherry Point from maneuvers near Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The craft was HM-8. The crew escaped without injury, except to their pride and the derision from their fellow Marine crew members of the squadron. A rescue and salvage team was formed and after all suffered a mud bath in approaching the downed craft, it was finally dismantled under the competent guidance of Lt. Jim Reinkens. The commanding officer of HMR 261, Lt/Col Owen Chambers personally piloted the helicopter that lifted and carried to an accessible sea port the salvaged parts from the downed helicopter. The salvage efforts resulted in over $100,000. being realize from the effort. A not insignificant amount in the early nineteen fifties. In July, 1954, HMR 261 transferred from Cherry Point to New River North Carolina Marine Air Facility, MAG 26, near Jacksonville, North Carolina. HMR 261 performed numerous training missions at its new home at New River still employing the limited capacity HRS-1. It was apparent to the Marine Corps that a larger medium carrier would better suffice to support the new Marine Corps tactics of "Vertical Envelopment" whereas large numbers of combat-ready Marines with their arms and equipment could be rapidly deployed from ships at sea to land, and thus preclude the more casualty-costly tactics of assaulting beaches from landing barges. To effect this end, the Marine Corps made the transition from the HRS craft to the newly developed Sikorsky HUS-1 helicopter in 1956. This new craft provided the extra capacity desired to transport combat troops and was capable of carrying a crew of three and 12 troops with equipment. However, this capacity was exceeded in Vietnam during times of urgency in troop and/or casualty removal from fire zones. The HUS-1 proved to be a work horse that would faithfully perform with a minimum of maintenance upkeep. Also, with the acquisition of the new HUS-1 ships, HMR 261 was reassigned as HMR (L) 261 which designated it was now Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron (Light). In the summer of 1957, HMR (L) 261 participated in "Operation Deepwater"a Mediterranean exercise with elements of the 2nd Marine Corps division infantry, along with Turkish and Greek troops while aboard the USS Lake Champlain and the USS Leyte. HMR(L) 261 traces its history back to the days of King Minos of Knossis. The squadron has its symbol the horned head of Minotaur, the ferocious of all monsters. It is universally believed that this bull-like creature capable of carring Herculian loads "Sine Perspiro". Throughout its history, the "Bulls" of 261 have carried the tail code "EM" Echo Mike on their helicopters. The squadron returned to New River in the winter of 1957. In March of 1958, the squadron participated in a large scale exercise, PHIBEX 1-58, with elements of the Army 82nd airborne division from Fort Bragg, North Carolina. During this two week exercise the 6th Marine Regiment were landed on beaches by HMR(L) 261 helicopters off loading from the USS Tarawa and the USS Valley Forge many miles at sea, and was the first exercise of this magnitude in history where large numbers of combat troops were landed ashore solely by helicopters. During this exercise, HMR(L) 261 suffered the loss of one of its craft which crashed as a result of a throttle malfunction. The craft EM 17 was a total lost and the crew chief aboard was injured but no lives were lost. HMR(L) 261 incorporated a distinctive characteristic. The green HUS-1 aircraft have red flying diamonds on their noses (denoting MAG-26) and the pilots and crew chiefs hardhats bearing the same symbol. In July of 1958, HMR (L)261 was deployed aboard the USS Antietam as a result of hostile conditions in Beirut, Lebanon. However, the ship was deployed to Puerto Rico for maneuvers, and returned to New River in August. In January 1959, HMR (L) 261 was reassigned to Oppama, Japan for a 15 month tour of duty. The squadron arrived in Japan and was deployed to Pohang, Korea where they participated in a joint UN exercise "Team Spirit". The squadron returned to Oppama, Japan in April, 1959 and deployed to Sukiran, Okinawa in July 1959. . In January of 1960 MCAF Futenma , Okinawa was dedicated. At that time HMR(L)261 was the only squadron stationed there. The squadron participated in various training maneuvers while stationed in Okinawa including participating in a United Nations operation off the coast of Vietnam. In August of 1959 the squadron flew food and medical supplies into flood ravaged Taiwan in what was known as "Operation Hunger". The squadron returned to New River in 1960 and in 1961 returned to Okinawa where the squadron was re-designed as HMM 261, the title which it carries today. The squadron was now flying the H-34 helicopter. The year 1962 was a year of many changes in the training cycle. In late September 1962 all of HMM 261 found itself in Memphis, TN as a result of the integration crisis in Mississippi. In October of 1962 President John F. Kennedy took a stand against Communism in Cuba 261 where on the ground floor. In April, 1963, an advance echelon departed New River enroute to Vietnam. On 26 May 1963 the Squadron checked into MCAS El Toro, CA enroute to Da Nang RVN. In Vietnam the squadron often found their helicopters loaded with pigs, ducks, goats, chickens, cows, rice, fish and many other items essential of war. The squadron returned to New River in September, 1963. Over 80 HMM 261 Marines received Air Medals for their actions in Vietnam, including re-supply and troop transport in their area. The squadron remained at New River for the next several months. The squadron deployed aboard USS Valley Forge as part of Ready Landing Force, Western Pacific while participating in "Operation Back Pack" 28 Feb 1964 to 12 March 1964. In 1965, the squadron deployed to Vietnam for a second tour operating from Marble Mountain and the USS Valley Forge. The squadron spent a total of three tours in Vietnam flying numerous missions and although many craft were shot full of holes, they did not suffer a combat related loss of a helicopter. In 1966, the squadron returned to New River and the Sikorsky H-34 helicopters were replaced with the Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight. Since 1966, the squadron has acted as a composite Aviation Combat Element in support of Landing Force 6th Fleet. In this capacity, it has participated in many training missions in the Mediterranean and Caribbean. Including flood relief to Tunisia in 1973. In January, 1981, the squadron embarked aboard the USS Iwo Jima and spent 60 days in alert status off the coast of Beriut in support of evacuation efforts that were on going. In October, 1983, the squadron flew aboard the USS Guam and participated in a United States/Caribbean operation against hostile forces in Grenada; after completion of this mission, the squadron deployed to Beriut and evacuated over 1,000 United States Embassy personnel and foreign allies. For her service in the Grenada and Lebanon exercises, HMM 261 was chosen as the Marine Corps "Helicopter Squadron of the Year for 1984". The squadron returned to New River in 1984 and continued training exercises In March 1990, the squadron participated in the evacuation of over 1600 people from Liberia. In September, 1990, the squadron returned to New River and began immediately to prepare for support of the ongoing Desert Shield in the middle east. In January, 1991, the squadron was loaded aboard Air Force C-5 transports and flown to Saudia Arabia for Desert Shield, with its primary mission of supporting ground troops in the vicinity of Kuwait City. Combat missions during the ensuing ground war included insertion of ground troops, medac evacuation's and tactical reconnaissance. HMM 261 flew a total of 414 sorties during the Desert Shield/Desert Storm operations During the period from 1990 to the present, HMM 261 has been involved in many training missions and continues to support humane exercises such as the air lift of 2500 American citizens and third country nationals from Sierra Leone in Operation Sharp Edge and provided humanitarian aid to the hurricane stricken areas of Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Haiti. In September 1999, the squadron deployed in support of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (SOC) on LF6F 1-00. During this deployment the squadron participated in multiple high visibility exercises such as "Bright Star, Noble Shirley and Infinite Moonlight". The squadron returned from LF6F 1-00 in March 2000. Througout its history 261 has earned the following unit awards represented by a streamer on the colors: Navy Unit Commendation with 1 silver and 1 gold star, the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal with 2 stars, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the National Defence Medal with 2 bronze stars, the Vietnam Service Medal with 3 stars, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation, and the Presidential Unit Citation. The Squadron has also received the CNO Safety Award 7 times, the McCutcheon Award 4 times, and the Marine Corps Forces Atlantic Safety Award. In conclusion, the brevity of this documentary cannot begin to cover the many exploits, tribulations, triumphs, and successes that Marine Helicopter squadron 261 has experienced in its historical fifty years of existence. Its Marine crews have been legend and their contributions uncountable. In the best tradition of 225 years of Marine Corps history, the Raging Bulls of 261 have indelibly left their mark in the Marine Corps Book of Records. Squadron 261 has upheld the highest traditions in both peace and war for the United States and the Marine Corps. It matters not when a Marine served in 261, whether in 1951 or 2001, the same highest of standards, discipline and sense of duty are now as they were then. Those who came first - by trial, error, innovation and perseverance -laid the ground work for those who followed, but not in the sense that they then, or now, expected any plaudits or special recognition. They were then as you are now, Marines doing a job; unheralded and without any glory, with a strong show of fortitude and the concept that nothing is impossible for the Raging Bulls of 261. The Marines of 261 who have contributed to its triumphs and successes over the past fifty years are too numerous to personally recognize in this documentary. However, it would be remiss not to mention one Marine who was assuredly a forerunner and greatest advocate of Marine Corps helicopters and particularly squadron 261. Those who were privileged to have known and served with Major Bill Tebow - affectionately known as Major "T" by his fellow squadron mates - will surely attest that this recognition and tribute is not in the least intended as a disparage to any past, present, or future, members of 261, but rather a tribute to a Marine who was a legend in his time, and contributed tremendously to the successes and flying technology now realized by all Marine helicopter squadrons. To the memory and contributions of Major William Tebow is committed this documentary from those of us who were privileged to serve with him and from all present and future Marines who have -and will in the future -know of this Marine's legend. SINE PERSPIRO |
 |
 |