Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469 | |
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HMLA-469's insignia |
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Active | June 30, 2009 - present |
Country | United States |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Branch | United States Marine Corps |
Type | Light Attack squadron |
Role | Close air support Utility |
Part of | Marine Aircraft Group 39 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing |
Garrison/HQ | Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton |
Nickname | Vengeance |
Tail Code | SE |
Commanders | |
Current commander |
LtCol Stephen J. Lightfoot |
Aircraft flown | |
Attack helicopter | AH-1W Cobra |
Utility helicopter | UH-1Y Venom |
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469 (HMLA-469) is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron consisting of AH-1W Cobra attack helicopters and UH-1Y Venom utility helicopters. The squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, California and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 39 (MAG-39) and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (3rd MAW). The squadron was activated on June 30, 2009.
The stand-up of HMLA-469 is part of the Commandant’s plan to “grow the force” to better meet the demands of the War on Terror and the complexities of an evolving global threat.[1]
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Provide offensive air support, utility support, armed escort and airborne supporting arms coordination during naval expeditionary operations or joint and combined operations.
The unit’s nickname comes from the words of former president George W. Bush, when he stated that America will seek vengeance on those responsible for the September 11, 2001 attacks. Each helicopter in the squadron has the tailcode SE, for September Eleventh, inscribed on the tail boom to pay tribute to those who lost their lives that day.[2]
On October 29, 2009 a US Coast Guard HC-130 aircraft with seven crewmembers collided with an HMLA-469 AH-1 Cobra helicopter with two crewmembers 15 miles east of San Clemente Island. Both aircraft crashed into the ocean and all nine crewmembers in both aircraft were killed.[3] The C-130 was searching for a missing boater while the USMC aircraft was heading towards a military training area in company with another Cobra and two CH-53E Super Stallions from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.[4]
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