The first aircraft were delivered on 28 November 1961, and by the 1st of December 1961 the squadron had taken custody of five HUS-1 (UH-34) aircraft. On 1 February 1962, the designation of the squadron was changed to its present title.  The squadron operated in a limited status till early February 1962, at which time it was selected to deploy late in the spring.

On 8 February 1962, Maj. Manning T. Jannell relieved Capt. Allgood as the Commanding Officer.  By 17 February 1962 the squadron had a full complement of twenty four aircraft,  43 officers and one hundred forty six enlisted assigned and engaged in specialized training in preparation for "Operation Dominic".

On 10 April 1962 the squadron departed for Long Beach to board the USS Princeton.  The following day they left for the Mid-Pacific.  From 24 April until 14 November 1962, the squadron participated in "Operation Dominic" with the primary mission of recovering special instruments used in the 1962 nuclear test series.  There was a "nuclear incident" during this time frame and Johnston Island was evacuated.  The squadron and the USS Princeton returned to the United States.  A short time later the squadron boarded the USS IWO JIMA out of San Diego and returned for the conclusion of the operation.  HMM-364 was the first helicopter unit assigned to the USS IWO JIMA and also supported its first deployment of Marines on board.

On 3 January 1963, LtCol. John H. Lavoy relieved LtCol. Jannell as Commanding Officer.  From January to December of 1963, HMM-364 underwent a year of intensive training participating in operations "Steelgate" and "Desert Winds".

During November 1963, the squadron embarked on the USNS BRETON ( a World War II "Jeep" carrier) and sailed for Okinawa.  In December 1963, the squadron arrived at MCAF Futema, Okinawa and remained there for six weeks.  The aircraft which had been brought to Okinawa stayed on Okinawa as all UH-34s in the Western Pacific remained at their geographical locations and the personnel to operate and maintain them were rotated in and out on a regular basis as complete squadrons by definition of personnel but none of their equipment.  On 31 January 1964 HMM-364 personnel were flown to the Republic of Vietnam via C-130s.

Arriving at the city of DaNang, the squadron flew missions in support of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN), referred to as "Operation Shufly", amassing in excess of 9,000 hours and transporting over 900,000 pounds of supplies during the period February to June 1964.  During this period seventeen Vietnamese Crosses of Gallantry were awarded to squadron pilots.

During July 1964, the squadron embarked aboard the USS VALLEY FORGE as part of the Special Landing Force of Task Force 76.   The squadron did not expect to go right back to Viet Nam but that is exactly where Task Force 76 was headed.  The squadron spent more than two months operating in the waters off the coast of Da Nang and Saigon.  During this period the USS VALLEY FORGE steamed 56 consecutive days without going into port.  The squadron was relieved from duty with Task Force 76 on 22 October 1964 and enjoyed a brief sojourn at MCAF Futema,  Okinawa.   The squadron earned the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Safety Award for Fiscal Year 1964.

During December 1964 the Marines of HMM-364, who were still in Okinawa, were given individual orders to their new duty assignments.  LtCol Lavoy's orders, in part, directed him to return the squadron colors to MCAF, Santa Ana, California.

On 7 December 1964 LtCol W. C. Watson relieved LtCol Lavoy as Commanding Officer.  It was during the tenure of LtCol Watson that the squadron became known as the "PURPLE FOXES".

During February 1965, the squadron participated in operation "Silver Lance" but only limited flying was conducted due to light support commitments.  In June 1965, Maj. M. J. Needham relieved LtCol Watson as Commanding Officer when HMM-364 was designated as the new training squadron for MAG-36 and started transitioning pilots from aircraft they had previously flown to the UH-34.

July 1965 brought LtCol W. R. Lucas in to relieve Maj. Needham as Commanding Officer.

On 11 August 1965 the squadron embarked aboard the USS PRINCETON and once again sailed for Vietnam.  Approximately 20 days later, on 31 August, HMM-364 arrived in the Republic of Vietnam for the second time at Ky Ha near the the town of Chu Lai.  Initially, most of the aircraft were kept in Da Nang with a four plane detachment in Ky Ha.  By the 17th of September all the squadron aircraft were at Ky Ha.  From 18 September 1965 to March 1966 over 9,000 hours were flown to transport over 2,000 tons of supplies.

On 27 March 1966 LtCol D.A. Sommerville relieved LtCol Lucas as Commanding Officer.  On 8 April the squadron was reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 13, 9th, Marine Amphibious Brigade and embarked aboard the USS PRINCETON as part of the Special Landing Force.  The squadron quickly adapted to operating on and from the deck of the carrier in support of operations"OSAGE"," DECKHOUSE I" and  "NATHAN  HALE".  On 4 July 1966 the squadron returned to operational control of Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and returned to Ky Ha.

On __ _______ 1966 LtCol R.L. Cover relieved Ltcol Sommerville as Commanding Officer.

On 1 October 1966, HMM-364 was placed in a cadre status under MWSG-37, 3rd MAW, MCAF Santa Ana, California, with Capt. R. K. Thompson reliving LtCol Cover as Commanding Officer.  On 1 May 1967 the squadron was removed from cadre status with LtCol L. Gulling reliving Capt. Thompson as Commanding Officer.  The squadron went from a total of 3 officers and 7 enlisted men with no aircraft to thirty one officers, one hundred thirty two enlisted men and four CH-46 (Sea Knight) helicopters by the end of the month.

During June 1967 the squadron received seven more aircraft, now the total complement of aircraft was 32.  A crash during this month (Cpl. Paul Sousa's YK-22), attributed to metal fatigue in the quill shaft between the mix box and aft transmission, led to the suspension of all CH-46 flights.

Beginning in early August 1967, all 32 aircraft underwent extensive modifications ( aft transmission deck and new aft transmission configuration being primary).

On 28 October 1967 the main body of HMM-364 departed California, by air, and arrived at Phu Bai, Republic of Vietnam on 1 November 1967 and was attached to MAG-36.  The rear echelon flew the last of the squadron's CH-46's to the deck of the USS VALLEY FORGE ("Happy Valley" as she was referred to my those aboard) at Long Beach, California around the first of November, arriving at Phu Bai on 23 November 1967.

During the month of December 1967, the squadron initiated flight operations by participating in operations "OCEOLA" and "KENTUCKY".  During January 1968 operations "SCOTLAND" and "LANCASTER" were supported.

During April 1968  LtCol. J. R. Dobbratz relieved LtCol. Gulling as Commanding Officer.  February also saw the squadron supporting operation "HUE CITY" while simultaneously contributing aircraft on a daily basis in support of the besieged troops at Khe Sanh until the siege was ended in the middle of April.

During the month of May 1968 operation "MAMALUKE THRUST" received the squadrons support.  HMM-364 finished the fiscal year in June by flying 1,344 hours, the highest total monthly hours for the year.

In July 1968 the squadron began participating in operation NAPOLEON/SAION and ALLEN BROOK.  Up to December 1968 the squadron continued to support combat operations in the Phu Bai area.  On 10 December 1968 HMM-364 was relocated to Marble Mountain Air Facility (MMAF), DaNang and was reassigned to MAG-16.

During the month of January 1969, under the command of LtCol. M.V. Statzer, over 1,000 flight  hours were logged to transport over 300 tons of supplies.  On 4 February LtCol. Eugene R. Brady relieved LtCol. Statzer as Commanding Officer.

From February through August 1969 over 8,000 hours were flown to transport over 3,500 tons of supplies.  On 22 August 1969 LtCol. C. R. Dunbaugh relieved LtCol. Brady as Commanding Officer.

President Nixon initiated a unilateral withdrawal of troops shortly after LtCol. Dunbaugh assumed command.  This action shortened the tour of some of the squadrons members from thirteen to twelve months in the Republic of Vietnam.  The Marine Corps position however had not changed and those Marines who were going home early were placed aboard Navy ships headed back to the United States.  This transit time took approximately twenty six days.  This meant that their tour from the Marine Corps point of view had only been shortened a few days.  From the Marines point of view it was twenty six days the were not in harms way.

During the period September 1969 through February 1970, HMM-364 continued to operate from MMAF conducting operations in the I Corps area in support of III MAF.  Major operations that were participated in were PIPESTONE CANYON and VICTORY DRAGON.  "Kingfisher" missions carried out by the squadron were a significant factor in hampering enemy operations by executing small scale strikes on a daily basis at widely separated points in the Area of Operation (AOA).  The squadron flew over 7,500 hours in the six month period, much of it in adverse monsoon weather.  Over 45,000 troops and a daily average 28,000 pounds of cargo was carried.  Personal decorations and recommendations for awards during the period August 1969 to February 1970 included 5 Silver Stars, 23 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 5 Bronze Star Medals, over 200 Strike/Flight Air Medals, 59 Single Mission Air Medals, 7 Combat Action Ribbons, 20 Navy Commendation Medals, 30 Navy Achievement Medals and 15 Purple Heart Medals.  Nine squadron personnel were killed as a result of enemy action during the period.  On 25 February 1970, LtCol. P.C. Scaglione relieved LtCol. Dunbaugh as Commanding Officer.

During the month of March 1970 a very successful "Pacifier" mission was carried out supporting 1stBn, 5th Marines.  The mission resulted in seven enemy KIA, five POW's and several captured weapons.  During the months of March through June 1970 the squadron received visits by CG III MAF LtGen. McCutcheon, CG 1st MAW MajGen. W.G. Thrash and by BGen. Spanjer.  Secretary of the Navy J. H. Chaffee observed a squadron static display near the end of June 1970.

On 15 September 1970 LtCol. H. N. Steadman relieved LtCol. Scaglione  as Commanding Officer.  The squadron ended up flying 1,486.4  hours during this month making it the highest month of the squadron's Vietnam tour.

The month of October will be one long remembered by the pilots of HMM-364.  By the 28th of October the monsoons were in full swing and rivers were overflowing their banks.  The next three days saw the "Purple Foxes" rescue over 1,500 people during the worst flooding in the Da Nang area in the past six years.  Disregarding completely IFR weather, HMM-364 rescued 400 civilians on the 29th of October, the following day, the 30th of October the "Purple Foxes" flew 58.5 hours rescuing 988 people, despite flying in zero/zero weather without gun ships.  On the 31st of October the flood waters started to recede but there were many hours of emergency resupply to be flown.  The squadron finished with 1096.7 hours representing 4,130 sorties and  1,321 tasks.

The next two months HMM-364 flew 2,190.4 hours carrying 19,740 troops and 426.7 tons of cargo.

On the 19th of December 1970 an aircraft was lost to enemy fire resulting in eight emergency MEDEVACs.   Christmas Eve rolled around and HMM-364 had the honor of flying Bob Hope and his cast around Da Nang during his South Vietnam USO Tour.  The next day the "Purple Foxes" delivered Christmas Cheer in the form of containers of cold beer to the troops in the field.   The squadron provided a static display for LtGen Robertson, the new Commanding General, III MAF, on his visit to MAG-16.

The arrival of the New Year brought word that HMM-364 would be standing down and eventually deactivated.  As a result the squadron started losing personnel and aircraft to MAG-16 and other units.  With only sixteen aircraft an an average of only twelve flight crews the "Purple Foxes" flew 1,191 hours during the month of January 1971.

On the 23rd of January the squadron lost another aircraft, this time resulting in six Marines being killed, the crew escaped with minor injuries.

On the first of  February 1971 the Executive Officer, Maj. N. R. VanLeeuwen flying on a "Quick Reaction" mission, with the squadron Sergeant Major, SgtMaj. A. J. Rappold, as gunner captured three Viet Cong in a flooded rice paddy, one of which investigation proved to be a district political leader.

On the 16th of February HMM-364 stood down in preperation to return to CONUS.  From 10 December 1968, when the squadron joined MAG-16, to the present the "Purple Foxes" have flown a total  of 119,309 sorties for 33,413 hours performing 39,167 tasks carrying 243,084 passengers over 10,000 tons of cargo and 16,368 MEDEVACs.  This gives the squadron over 45,000 hours on its third tour in Vietnam and a total of nearly 70,000 hours of flying in the Republic of Vietnam since its first tour in 1964.

Below is a chronological listing of Commanding Officers of Marine Medium Helicopter  Squadron 364

        Sep 61 - Feb 62        Capt F.E. Allgood

        Feb 62 - Jan 63        Maj M.T. Jannell

        Jan 63 - Dec 64        LtCol J.H. Lavoy

        Dec 64 - Jun 65        LtCol W.C. Watson

        Jun 65 - Jul 65        Maj M.J. Needham

        Jul 65 - Mar 66        LtCol W.R. Lucas

        Mar 66 - Oct 66        LtCol D.A. Sommerville

        Oct 66 - Mar 67        LtCol R.L. Cover

        Mar 67 - May 67        Capt R.K. Thompson

        May 67 - Apr 68        LtCol L. Gulling

        Apr 68 - Sep 68        LtCol J. R. Dobbratz

        Sep 68 - Feb 69        LtCol M. V. Statzer

        Feb 69 - Aug 69        LtCol E. R. Brady

        Aug 69 - Feb 70        LtCol C. R. Dunbaugh

        Feb 70 - Sep 70        LtCol P. C. Scaglione

        Sep 70 - Feb 71        LtCol H. W. Steadman

Dean Cohoon, former Sgt. USMC
W.C. (DAD) Watson, Colonel  USMC(Ret)
"THE PURPLE FOX CRUISE BOOK '65 - '66"
Larry W. "Slick" Britton, LtCol USMC(Ret)
Michael W. Leitner, former Sgt. USMC