New squadron takes flight at Cherry Point

With an uncasing of the official insignia and a salute to the commanding general, Marine Heavy Squadron 366 was activated at Cherry Point on Tuesday.

Eleven officers and 100 enlisted Marines stood in front of CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters in Hangar 250 to officially stand up the squadron.

The new squadron will be known as the Hammerheads, a name generated from the history of the unit that had been based at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, before being deactivated in 2000.

"I think it's important to remember your history," said Brig. Gen. Robert S. Walsh, commanding general of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.

The official insignia features a hammerhead shark swimming around a front view of a Super Stallion.

Walsh said the new HMH-366 wanted to recognize their Hawaiian roots.

"It's one of the things at Hawaii that's prevalent," Walsh said. "We did some research and found that the Hammerhead is most prevalent off the coast of North Carolina."

The activation of the squadron is part of the Marine Corps initiative to increase its ranks by 22,000 members to 202,000 by 2011. About half of those new Marines will be coming to Camp Lejeune, New River and Cherry Point.

Lt. Col. James F. Harp will lead the new squadron. He told families, friends and fellow Marines that the unit came together "in spades."

"I've never seen a unit come together as fast as they did," Harp said.

He urged the Marines to take ownership of the squadron.

"Each one of these young Marines walked in the door to volunteer for their country in a time of war," Harp said. "You've done a tremendous job getting to this point."

The new squadron's Marines are getting acclimated to Craven County.

"The community is doing a great job of welcoming the Marines and finding them a place to live," Walsh said.

That point was echoed by Lance Cpl. Joel Pierce, formerly of New Hampshire, who is a crew chief and flight mechanic on the CH-53E.

"Everybody seems to be real helpful," he said. "They really have open arms for the rotary wing community."

 Lisa Arnone, wife of Lance Cpl. Bradley Arnone, a helicopter mechanic, said it has been a bit of a transition from Los Angeles to her new home in New Bern.

"It's small from what I'm used to, but it's quiet and I like it a lot," she said.

HMH-366 is the newest squadron to stand up with the Echo version of the CH-53E Super Stallion, the U.S. military's largest helicopter.

The Super Stallion is inches shy of 100 feet in length and can lift up to 16 tons. It has a crew of three and can transport 55 passengers.

There are currently eight CH-53s affiliated with the Hammerheads, but that will double to 16 within a year.

HMH-366 is the first of two new squadrons for Cherry Point.

Light Helicopter Squadron 467 is scheduled to stand up later this month at the air station.

HMLA-467 will have 18 AH-1W Cobras and nine UH-1N Hueys along with 320 Marine pilots, aircrew and support personnel.

Both the squadrons will be based at Cherry Point temporarily, through at least 2012, before being moved to New River outside Jacksonville.

For the time being, they will join the existing helicopter squadron at Cherry Point, Marine Transport Squadron 1, with its HH-46 Sea Knights. The orange "Pedro" choppers are known in the community for providing search and rescue and other support around eastern North Carolina.