thedrifter
04-15-07, 06:50 AM
Marines' Squadron One holds 60th
By JULIA LeDOUX
jledoux@potomacnews.com
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Pride and history were on display Saturday as Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) marked its 60th anniversary of service.
"People have come all the way from Okinawa, Florida, Hawaii," said Col. Andrew O'Donnell, the squadron's commanding officer, as he welcomed thousands to the celebration at Quantico Marine Corps base.
HMX-1 is responsible for transporting the president, vice president, Cabinet members and other high-ranking officials via helicopter. When the president is aboard, the helicopter uses the call sign "Marine One." The squadron also tests and evaluates new flight systems for Marine Corps helicopters.
Past members of the squadron rubbed shoulders with current ones as stories were swapped about flying the commander-in-chief from location to location.
Col. Virgil Olson served with the squadron from 1956 to 1959 and flew President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
"He was great, he was a terrific person," said Olson, 88, a Fairfax resident, of Eisenhower. He recounted trips with Eisenhower to the West Coast and Canada, but said the most enduring memory of his time with the squadron isn't one that involved flying the president.
"I never got any leave," he said with a laugh.
HMX-1 executive officer Lt. Col. Robert Boucher said the reunion helps connect today's Marines with both the squad and the Corps' history.
"Marines are all about our traditions and history," he said. "We rely on the tradition they built. The trust that the president has in us was built by them."
History
According to the squadron, HMX-1 was established on Dec. 1, 1947, at Quantico Marine Corps base and was the Corps' first helicopter squadron.
From its beginnings as an experimental unit tasked with testing and evaluating military helicopter capability and tactics, HMX-1 conducted the first airborne ship-to-shore troop lift in May 1948. During its early years, the squadron conducted numerous experiments, including the spotting of artillery fire, rotary wing ordnance delivery, command and control, aircraft camouflage, instrument flying techniques, search and rescue, anti-submarine warfare and heavy lift operations. The squad also worked with manufacturers on modifications and developments in helicopter design.
The leap from the squad's original purpose of operational testing and evaluation was made nearly 50 years ago and is a product of Eisenhower's influence on HMX-1. While traveling around Newport, R.I., a crisis required Eisenhower's immediate attention at the White House. HMX-1 transported Eisenhower back to Washington on a UH-34 Seahorse, prompting him to take other local trips using the squad's aircraft.
It soon became common practice for the squad to fly the president between the White House and Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, where Air Force One is based.
Until 1976, the Marine Corps and Army shared the presidential helicopter mission. The Marines were assigned the sole responsibility as the nation marked its 200th birthday.
HMX-1 also maintains its operational test and evaluation role and conducts tests of new and legacy systems destined for use by Marines operating the CH-46E Sea Knight, the CH-53E Super Stallion and UH-1N Huey helicopters as well as the Corps' aircrew systems.
The squadron also supports local units like The Basic School and Officers' Candidates Schools, whose Marines are in need of helicopter transportation and training.
Looking forward, looking back
The squadron's equipment - including one of the presidential helicopters - was set up inside one of the squad's hangars. Children of all ages scampered in, over and through airborne assault vehicles, light armored vehicles and Humvees.
"Wow," said Rowan Johnson, 6, of Lorton as he looked up at one of the massive vehicles.
Outside on the tarmac sat four of the helicopters the squad uses to transport the president.
"These are [the president's] helicopters," said the squad's public relations officer, Capt. John James, as he gestured toward the gleaming aircraft.
Seeing today's aircraft brought smiles to the faces of Frank Stein and Roger Ward, who served with the squad from 1956 to 1959. The pair told stories of flying Eisenhower in what they called "junks" from the Korean War. Those particular aircraft had a door that had to be replaced before the chief executive stepped aboard.
"When we were flying the president, you had to pull that one door off and put the other one with the presidential seal on," said Stein of Tampa, Fla., who was a corporal when he flew with the squadron.
Ward, of Pawley's Island, S.C., said flying with Eisenhower is something he will never forget.
"We went up to Camp David a lot," he said.
Security was tight at the event, as officers on bicycles pedaled around the facility. K-9 officers were also on hand, including a German shepherd named Jimmy who cautiously sniffed people's hands as his handler watched.
Through the sale of memorabilia, the squad raised $5,000 over the past year, according to O'Donnell's wife, Tillie, who announced at the event that the money was being donated to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.
Ellie
By JULIA LeDOUX
jledoux@potomacnews.com
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Pride and history were on display Saturday as Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) marked its 60th anniversary of service.
"People have come all the way from Okinawa, Florida, Hawaii," said Col. Andrew O'Donnell, the squadron's commanding officer, as he welcomed thousands to the celebration at Quantico Marine Corps base.
HMX-1 is responsible for transporting the president, vice president, Cabinet members and other high-ranking officials via helicopter. When the president is aboard, the helicopter uses the call sign "Marine One." The squadron also tests and evaluates new flight systems for Marine Corps helicopters.
Past members of the squadron rubbed shoulders with current ones as stories were swapped about flying the commander-in-chief from location to location.
Col. Virgil Olson served with the squadron from 1956 to 1959 and flew President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
"He was great, he was a terrific person," said Olson, 88, a Fairfax resident, of Eisenhower. He recounted trips with Eisenhower to the West Coast and Canada, but said the most enduring memory of his time with the squadron isn't one that involved flying the president.
"I never got any leave," he said with a laugh.
HMX-1 executive officer Lt. Col. Robert Boucher said the reunion helps connect today's Marines with both the squad and the Corps' history.
"Marines are all about our traditions and history," he said. "We rely on the tradition they built. The trust that the president has in us was built by them."
History
According to the squadron, HMX-1 was established on Dec. 1, 1947, at Quantico Marine Corps base and was the Corps' first helicopter squadron.
From its beginnings as an experimental unit tasked with testing and evaluating military helicopter capability and tactics, HMX-1 conducted the first airborne ship-to-shore troop lift in May 1948. During its early years, the squadron conducted numerous experiments, including the spotting of artillery fire, rotary wing ordnance delivery, command and control, aircraft camouflage, instrument flying techniques, search and rescue, anti-submarine warfare and heavy lift operations. The squad also worked with manufacturers on modifications and developments in helicopter design.
The leap from the squad's original purpose of operational testing and evaluation was made nearly 50 years ago and is a product of Eisenhower's influence on HMX-1. While traveling around Newport, R.I., a crisis required Eisenhower's immediate attention at the White House. HMX-1 transported Eisenhower back to Washington on a UH-34 Seahorse, prompting him to take other local trips using the squad's aircraft.
It soon became common practice for the squad to fly the president between the White House and Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, where Air Force One is based.
Until 1976, the Marine Corps and Army shared the presidential helicopter mission. The Marines were assigned the sole responsibility as the nation marked its 200th birthday.
HMX-1 also maintains its operational test and evaluation role and conducts tests of new and legacy systems destined for use by Marines operating the CH-46E Sea Knight, the CH-53E Super Stallion and UH-1N Huey helicopters as well as the Corps' aircrew systems.
The squadron also supports local units like The Basic School and Officers' Candidates Schools, whose Marines are in need of helicopter transportation and training.
Looking forward, looking back
The squadron's equipment - including one of the presidential helicopters - was set up inside one of the squad's hangars. Children of all ages scampered in, over and through airborne assault vehicles, light armored vehicles and Humvees.
"Wow," said Rowan Johnson, 6, of Lorton as he looked up at one of the massive vehicles.
Outside on the tarmac sat four of the helicopters the squad uses to transport the president.
"These are [the president's] helicopters," said the squad's public relations officer, Capt. John James, as he gestured toward the gleaming aircraft.
Seeing today's aircraft brought smiles to the faces of Frank Stein and Roger Ward, who served with the squad from 1956 to 1959. The pair told stories of flying Eisenhower in what they called "junks" from the Korean War. Those particular aircraft had a door that had to be replaced before the chief executive stepped aboard.
"When we were flying the president, you had to pull that one door off and put the other one with the presidential seal on," said Stein of Tampa, Fla., who was a corporal when he flew with the squadron.
Ward, of Pawley's Island, S.C., said flying with Eisenhower is something he will never forget.
"We went up to Camp David a lot," he said.
Security was tight at the event, as officers on bicycles pedaled around the facility. K-9 officers were also on hand, including a German shepherd named Jimmy who cautiously sniffed people's hands as his handler watched.
Through the sale of memorabilia, the squad raised $5,000 over the past year, according to O'Donnell's wife, Tillie, who announced at the event that the money was being donated to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.
Ellie