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thedrifter
09-30-08, 05:45 AM
Marine helicopter unit reactivating at NC base


Associated Press - September 30, 2008 4:05 AM ET

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. (AP) - The Marine Corps is reactivating a helicopter squadron at a North Carolina base eight years after the unit was disbanded in Hawaii.

A ceremony will be held Tuesday morning to formally recognize Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 366, which is nicknamed the "Hammerheads."

The squadron has eight CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters, about 111 Marines and will be based at the Marine Corps' Cherry Point air station at Havelock. The unit expects to grow to 340 Marines and 16 helicopters by Oct. 1, 2009.

HMH-366 was based in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, before it was disbanded in 2000. The squadron is equipped with the newest model of the Super Stallion.

Marine officials added the unit as part of the service's authorization to increase the number of Marines by 27,000 to 202,000.

Ellie