VMM-266
VMM-266, known as the Fighting Griffins, is a United States Marine Corps tiltrotor squadron operating MV-22 Osprey aircraft from Marine Corps Air Station New River.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
VMM-266, formally Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 and nicknamed the Fighting Griffins, is an operational aviation unit of the United States Marine Corps. The squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station New River in North Carolina and belongs to Marine Aircraft Group 26, which is part of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. Its principal equipment is the MV-22 Osprey, a tiltrotor aircraft capable of vertical takeoff and landing while also providing greater speed and range than conventional medium-lift helicopters. The unit traces its lineage to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 266, or HMM-266, which was activated at MCAS New River on 26 April 1983. During its early years, the squadron developed particular expertise in cold-weather assault support. It participated in numerous exercises across a broad range of environments, including the Mountain Warfare Training Center in California and northern Norway. These exercises helped establish the squadron as a deployable assault-support formation able to operate in demanding terrain and weather. HMM-266 became operationally prominent during the Gulf War. After Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990, the squadron supplied aircraft and personnel to support the preparation of other Marine Aircraft Group 26 units. On 31 December 1990, it became the first CH-46E squadron from II Marine Expeditionary Force to deploy to Southwest Asia. Arriving in Saudi Arabia in early January 1991, it performed tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel, troop movement, casualty evacuation, and resupply missions. During Operation Desert Storm, the unit operated from Combat Outpost Lonesome Dove and remained in the theater until offensive operations ended on 28 February 1991. The squadron also supported a range of humanitarian, peace-support, contingency, and combat operations during the 1990s. In 1992, CH-46 aircraft assigned to HMM-266 (Rein) took part in Operation Hot Rock, a joint United States-Italian effort involving heavy-lift support during the eruption of Mount Etna. The operation sought to help divert lava flows threatening Zafferana Etnea in Sicily. In 1994, the squadron supported operations in Somalia, the Adriatic, and Haiti, including Continue Hope, Quick Draw, Provide Promise, Deny Flight, and Uphold Democracy. In 1998 and 1999, detachments supported contingency missions near Albania and served as a tactical recovery standby force during Operation Allied Force and related NATO and United States air operations over the former Yugoslavia. During the Global War on Terrorism, HMM-266 (Rein) deployed aboard USS Wasp in 2004 and subsequently established operations in Kandahar, Afghanistan, supporting Operation Asbury Park. In 2005, it deployed to Al Asad, Iraq, where it assumed a medium-lift assault-support mission in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The squadron formally transitioned from the CH-46E helicopter mission on 15 June 2006 and was redesignated Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 on 23 March 2007. This made it the third operational Marine Corps Osprey squadron, following VMM-263 and VMM-162. VMM-266 returned to Al Asad in 2008 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In the 2020s, the squadron continued its expeditionary response role. It deployed to Spain in late 2020 in support of the North African Response Force and deployed as VMM-266 (REIN) to Djibouti in 2022 in support of Crisis Response Force Africa. Its mission remains the provision of tactical mobility and logistical support to the Marine Air-Ground Task Force commander, including shipboard and sea-based operations, air and amphibious assault, raids, supply distribution, personnel recovery, casualty evacuation, and noncombatant evacuation in day, night, and adverse-weather conditions.
History
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 began as Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 266, activated at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, on 26 April 1983. Its early training emphasized assault support in severe environments. During its first six years, the unit participated in fourteen exercises ranging from high-altitude mountain training in California to cold-weather operations in northern Norway. This experience shaped its reputation as a specialist in demanding expeditionary conditions. The squadron's first major combat deployment came during the Gulf War. Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in August 1990, HMM-266 initially augmented other Marine Aircraft Group 26 squadrons with aircraft and personnel. On 31 December 1990, it deployed to Southwest Asia, arriving at Jubail, Saudi Arabia, on 4 January 1991. Its CH-46E aircraft supported tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel, troop transport, casualty evacuation, and logistical resupply. The unit later moved with MAG-26 to Combat Outpost Lonesome Dove and operated there through the end of offensive operations on 28 February 1991. It returned to New River in May as the last MAG-26 squadron to come home from the deployment. In 1992, HMM-266 (Rein) supported Operation Hot Rock near Mount Etna in Sicily. The joint United States-Italian operation used heavy-lift aviation in an effort to divert lava threatening the town of Zafferana Etnea. The squadron subsequently undertook a succession of overseas contingency missions. In 1994, it supported Operation Continue Hope and Operation Quick Draw in Somalia before moving to the Adriatic in support of Provide Promise and Deny Flight. After returning to North Carolina on 23 June, it was recalled ten days later for Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti. In late 1998, the unit deployed and detached CH-46E and UH-1N aircraft for contingency operations near Albania. The squadron played a recovery and support role during the 1999 Kosovo conflict. It was designated the tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel standby force for Operation Allied Force and Joint Task Force Noble Anvil. Although the provided historical account also records AV-8B strike activity associated with the broader aviation combat element, the squadron's direct aviation-support history includes the successful extraction of a Navy Special Warfare Team personal-security element from Petrovic, Macedonia, by two CH-46Es. HMM-266 continued operations during the Global War on Terrorism. In 2004, it deployed aboard USS Wasp to the Mediterranean, transited the Suez Canal, and established a base at Kandahar, Afghanistan, for Operation Asbury Park. Combat operations ended on 10 July, and the squadron returned home on 16 September. On 7 August 2005, it deployed to Al Asad, Iraq, and assumed a medium-lift assault-support mission from HMM-264 on 20 August in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The unit's major technological and organizational transition occurred in 2006–2007. It stood down as a CH-46E squadron on 15 June 2006 and reactivated as Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 on 23 March 2007. Equipped with MV-22 Ospreys, VMM-266 became the third operational Osprey unit in the Marine Corps after VMM-263 and VMM-162. The squadron deployed again to Al Asad Airbase in September 2008 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. VMM-266 has retained its expeditionary mission in the 2020s. In late 2020 it deployed to Spain in support of the North African Response Force. In 2022, VMM-266 (REIN) deployed to Djibouti for Crisis Response Force Africa. Its standing mission is to provide tactical mobility and logistical support to Marine Air-Ground Task Force commanders through shipboard operations, sea and air deployment, assault and amphibious operations, raids, supply distribution, personnel recovery, casualty evacuation, and noncombatant evacuation in varied conditions.
- 2022
Crisis Response Force Africa deployment
[1]VMM-266 (REIN) deploys to Djibouti in support of Crisis Response Force Africa.
- 2020
North African Response Force deployment
[1]The squadron deploys to Spain in support of the North African Response Force.
- 2008
Return to Al Asad
[1]VMM-266 deploys to Al Asad Airbase in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
- 2007
VMM-266 is established
[1]The unit stands up as Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 on 23 March and becomes an operational MV-22 Osprey squadron.
- 2006
CH-46E mission ends
[1]The squadron stands down as a CH-46E unit on 15 June.
- 2004
Afghanistan deployment
[1]HMM-266 (Rein) deploys through the Mediterranean and Suez Canal to Kandahar for Operation Asbury Park.
- 1999
Allied Force recovery standby mission
[1]The unit serves as a tactical recovery standby force during Operation Allied Force and extracts a Navy special-warfare security element from Macedonia.
- 1994
Somalia, Adriatic, and Haiti operations
[1]The squadron supports Continue Hope, Quick Draw, Provide Promise, Deny Flight, and Uphold Democracy.
- 1992
Operation Hot Rock
[1]HMM-266 (Rein) provides heavy-lift support during the joint response to Mount Etna's eruption in Sicily.
- 1991
Desert Storm assault-support operations
[1]The squadron conducts recovery, troop movement, casualty evacuation, and resupply missions from Saudi Arabia and Combat Outpost Lonesome Dove.
Products and positioning
An expeditionary Marine Corps aviation squadron positioned to provide medium-lift tiltrotor mobility, logistics, recovery, evacuation, and assault support across global operating environments.
Tiltrotor transport aircraft
MV-22 Osprey
The MV-22 Osprey is the squadron's principal aircraft following its 2007 transition from the CH-46E helicopter. Its tiltrotor configuration combines vertical takeoff and landing with comparatively high-speed, long-range transport capability. In Marine Corps operations it supports tactical mobility, ship-to-shore movement, assault transport, logistics, recovery, evacuation, and crisis-response missions.
Medium-lift helicopter
CH-46E Sea Knight
The CH-46E was the squadron's principal aircraft during its HMM-266 period. The helicopter supported troop movement, tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel, casualty evacuation, resupply, humanitarian assistance, and assault-support missions in the Gulf, Somalia, the Balkans, Haiti, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
Marketing campaigns
- 2005Operation Iraqi Freedom
Iraq
The squadron deployed to Al Asad and assumed a medium-lift assault-support mission from HMM-264.
Outcome. The unit continued its Iraq support role and later returned to the theater as VMM-266 in 2008.
- 2004Operation Asbury Park
Afghanistan
HMM-266 (Rein) deployed through the Mediterranean and Suez Canal to Kandahar, where it conducted combat operations in support of the Afghanistan campaign.
Outcome. Combat operations ended on 10 July 2004, and the squadron returned home on 16 September.
- 1999Operation Allied Force and Joint Task Force Noble Anvil
Balkans · Adriatic region
The squadron served as a tactical recovery standby force and supported aviation combat operations related to Kosovo.
Outcome. Two CH-46Es extracted a Navy special-warfare security element from Petrovic, Macedonia.
- 1994Operation Continue Hope and Operation Quick Draw
Somalia
HMM-266 (Rein) supported United States and international operations in Somalia.
Outcome. The squadron completed its Somalia operations before moving to missions in the Adriatic.
- 1994Operation Provide Promise and Operation Deny Flight
Adriatic Sea · Former Yugoslavia
Following its Somalia deployment, the squadron supported air and maritime contingency operations in the Adriatic.
Outcome. The unit returned to New River in June before being recalled for the Haiti mission.
- 1994Operation Uphold Democracy
Haiti · Caribbean
The squadron was recalled for contingency operations in the Caribbean and supported the United States-led intervention in Haiti.
Outcome. The provided sources do not specify a separate operational outcome.
- 1992Operation Hot Rock
Italy
The squadron supplied heavy-lift aviation in a joint United States-Italian response to lava flows from Mount Etna.
Outcome. The operation supported efforts to protect Zafferana Etnea from the eruption.
- 1991Operation Desert Storm
Southwest Asia
HMM-266 provided CH-46E assault support, including troop movement, casualty evacuation, aircraft and personnel recovery, and resupply.
Outcome. The squadron completed its combat-support mission and returned to MCAS New River in May 1991.
Brand decisions
2007
Transition from CH-46E helicopters to MV-22 OspreysGeneration changeBackground
The Marine Corps was replacing the aging CH-46E medium-lift helicopter with the MV-22 tiltrotor as part of its assault-support aviation modernization.
Action taken
The unit stood down as HMM-266 in June 2006 and stood up as VMM-266 on 23 March 2007, becoming the third operational Marine Corps Osprey squadron.
Aftermath
VMM-266 continued the squadron's expeditionary mobility and logistics mission with tiltrotor aircraft and later deployed to Iraq, Spain, and Djibouti.
Recent events
- 2022
VMM-266 (REIN) deploys to Djibouti for Crisis Response Force Africa[1]
Other
The reinforced squadron deployed to Djibouti in support of Crisis Response Force Africa, continuing its expeditionary crisis-response role.
- 2020
VMM-266 deploys to Spain in support of the North African Response Force[1]
Other
The squadron deployed to Spain to support a regional response capability focused on potential crises in North Africa.
- 2007
HMM-266 transitions to the VMM-266 Osprey designation[1]
Product generation · Leadership change
After standing down as a CH-46E helicopter squadron in 2006, the unit stood up as Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 and joined the Marine Corps operational MV-22 Osprey force.
- 1992
HMM-266 supports Operation Hot Rock during Mount Etna eruption[1]
Other
The squadron provided heavy-lift support in a joint United States-Italian effort intended to help protect Zafferana Etnea from advancing lava flows.
- 1990
HMM-266 deploys to Southwest Asia for Operation Desert Storm[1]
Other
HMM-266 became the first CH-46E squadron from II Marine Expeditionary Force to deploy to Southwest Asia, supporting troop movement, tactical recovery, casualty evacuation, and resupply missions.
Sources2 sources
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