VMGR-686 and VMGR-852

[Corporal M]

The Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum, the Marines Corps only aviation
museum is looking for information about some patches donated to the museum.
The Patches are VMGR-686 and VMGR-852. We have no information about these
units or "dets". If anyone has any information about the history of these
patches I would be very grateful.
Semper Fi

[CH53MetalMan]

Well they 'should be' a C-130 aircraft squadron.

But no such squadrons existed between 1978 - 1982, which was the period I served, so I'm unaware of any such squadrons.

VMGR-152, VMGR-252, VMGR-352 and the reserve squardon VMGR-452 were the only C-130 squadrons in my day.

[Corporal M]

Those same squadrons exist now. I was thinking that it was perhaps a det patch, maybe even a tail number. I've flown in the Marine Corps' first C-130 (573), though it is now retired. Still one of the best flying legacies we had until it went to the graveyard.

[CH53MetalMan]

VMGR-686 is the last insigna on the page.

I still don't know what aircraft it might be, but there it is.

http://usmcaviationinsignia.tripod.com/page9.html

[1stRad2671]

VMGR-686 = VMGR-234 and 452 combined in Turkey for Operation Northern Watch. It seems pretty clear looking at the patch.