Content deleted Content added
No edit summary |
|||
| (7 intermediate revisions by 7 users not shown) | |||
Line 1:
{{morefootnotes|date=February 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name= Marine Helicopter Squadron 1
Line 4 ⟶ 7:
|image_size= 200px
|caption= HMX-1 insignia
|dates=
|country= {{Flagu|United States}}
|allegiance=
Line 28 ⟶ 31:
}}
'''Marine Helicopter Squadron One''' ('''HMX-1''') is a [[United States Marine Corps]] [[helicopter]] [[Squadron (aviation)|squadron]] responsible for the transportation of the [[President of the United States|president]] and [[Vice President of the United States|vice president]] of the United States, heads of state, [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] officials, and other [[Very important person|VIPs]] as directed by the Marine Corps and White House Military Office. A Marine helicopter with the president aboard uses the [[call sign]] "[[Marine One]]". Previously, HMX-1 was also tasked with operational test and evaluation (OT&E). This task was reassigned to VMX-1 in Yuma, Arizona; since the contract award of the new presidential helicopter in 2014 to Sikorsky Aircraft, however, HMX-1 has assumed the temporary role of OT&E for this platform, because of its unique nature and mission{{clarify|reason="Does 'its' refer to HMX-1 or the role? Referring to the 'unique nature' of HMX-1 seems odd; the uniqueness of the mission seems to provide a sufficient explanation for HMX-1's assuming the OT&E role|date=August 2019}}. The [[VH-92|VH-92A]] first flew in 2017 and
Nicknamed "Nighthawks", HMX-1 is headquartered at [[Marine Corps Air Facility Quantico]], [[Virginia]], and maintains detachments at [[Joint Base Anacostia–Bolling]] in [[Washington, D.C.]], and [[Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility]] in [[Maryland]].
Line 34 ⟶ 37:
[[File:VH-34D at the White House 1961.jpg|thumb|left|A VH-34D presidential helicopter (BuNo 147201) on the South Lawn of the White House in 1961]]
In 1946, General [[Roy Geiger|Roy S. Geiger]] observed the [[Operation Crossroads|atomic bomb tests]] at [[Bikini Atoll]] and instantly recognized that atomic bombs could render amphibious landings difficult because of the dense concentrations of troops, ships, and material at the beachhead. The [[Commandant of the United States Marine Corps|Commandant of the Marine Corps]] convened a special board, the [[Robert E. Hogaboom|Hogaboom]] Board, that recommended that the Marine Corps develop transport helicopters in order to allow a more diffuse attack on enemy shores. It also recommended that they stand up an experimental helicopter squadron. HMX-1 was commissioned on
[[File:VH-1N HMX-1 in northern Italy 1987.JPEG|thumb|right|[[UH-1N Twin Huey|VH-1N]] with President [[Ronald Reagan]] at [[G7]] in Italy in 1987]]
Line 40 ⟶ 43:
After the start of the [[Korean War]], four HMX-1 helicopters were attached to [[VMO-6]] and sent to help the [[1st Provisional Marine Brigade]] at the [[Battle of Pusan Perimeter]] in 1950. They were used for battlefield observation and control as well as [[medical evacuation]] and the rescue of fliers.<ref name=Chapin_p15>[[#Chapin|Chapin]] (2000), p.15.</ref> During the [[Battle of Chosin Reservoir|Chosin campaign]] they were used for liaison between the different Marine units strung along the western edge of the Chosin Reservoir. The requirements of the Korean War exceeded the Navy's training requirement thus HMX-1 was pressed into service as a training command for the first few years of the war. They trained the nucleus of pilots that would form [[VMM-161|HMR-161]], the first Marine helicopter transport squadron.<ref name=Rawlins_p47>[[#Rawlins|Rawlins]] (1976), p.47.</ref>
On
Typically, the return trip to Washington, D.C., required an hour-long ferry ride across [[Narragansett Bay]] to [[Air Force One]] at the [[Quonset Point Naval Air Station]], followed by a 45-minute flight to [[Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility|Andrews Air Force Base]], [[Maryland]], and a 20-minute motorcade ride to the White House.<ref name="EFD">{{cite web |title=History of the Executive Flight Detachment |publisher=United States Marine Corps |url=http://www.marines.mil/units/hqmc/hmx-1/Pages/deps/EFD/default.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203053931/http://www.marines.mil/units/hqmc/hmx-1/Pages/deps/EFD/default.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=2017-02-03 |access-date=2009-10-26 }}</ref> Realizing the urgent need for his presence in Washington, President Eisenhower directed his staff to find a faster way to Air Force One.
Line 46 ⟶ 49:
An HMX-1 [[Sikorsky H-34|UH-34]] helicopter was on [[Aquidneck Island]] in case of an emergency and could be used to fly the president to his awaiting aircraft. President Eisenhower approved the idea, and Col. Virgil D. Olson and his crew were ordered to rush to a landing pad at the Naval War College at Newport, where the President and Mrs. Eisenhower were staying during their vacation. Col. Olson reported making the flight to the waiting Air Force One across Narragansett Bay in a 6-minute flight.
Thus, a precedent was set.<ref name="EFD" /> Col. Olson became the first presidential helicopter pilot and commander of a greatly expanded HMX-1 squadron. He served at the pleasure of the president for almost three years before continuing his service in Korea and Vietnam and at the Pentagon. President Eisenhower invited Col. Olson to join him at a White House luncheon in 1959 at which Col. Olson was required to convince the president he should be allowed to pursue his career beyond the limits of the Marine One assignment. President Eisenhower reluctantly agreed to Col. Olson's request. Because of his historic role and his long involvement with the HMX-1 Squadron and Marine One operations, the squadron's new facility at Marine Base Quantico, Va., was dedicated in honor of Col. Olson (1919–2012) on
[[File:MarineOne flying past the Lincoln memorial.jpg|left|thumb|A [[SH-3 Sea King|VH-3D Sea King]] flying over Washington, D.C.]]
Shortly after the
Initially, the helicopter function was shared with the [[United States Army|Army]], but in 1976, the Marine Corps was assigned the sole responsibility and mission of providing helicopter support to the President worldwide. Today HMX-1 also supports the Vice President, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of the Navy, Commandant of the Marine Corps, and all visiting heads of state in the Washington, D.C., area.<ref name="EFD"/>
On 16 July
==Aircraft==
Line 65 ⟶ 68:
Due to the uniqueness of the VH platforms, all pilots and maintenance personnel assigned are trained by Sikorsky factory-trained instructors. Depending on the [[List of United States Marine Corps MOS|Military Occupational Specialty]], these schools range from 1 to 5 months and are taught at the squadron. Sikorsky technical representatives then provide a watchful eye as the Marines operate and maintain the helicopters.<ref name="EFD"/>
HMX-1 was scheduled to receive 23 new [[Lockheed Martin VH-71 Kestrel]] helicopters to replace the current fleet. However, in April 2009, it was announced that the Kestrel program was no longer included in the Defense budget.<ref name="VH71hold">{{cite news|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/02/24/gibbs-obama-puts-new-presidential-helicopters-on-hold/|title=Gibbs: Obama puts new presidential helicopters on hold|date=24 February
==Executive Flight Detachment==
| |||