Heavy Haulers
An extended visit with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 462 highlights the lifting capacity of the “Screw Crew†CH-53E Super Stallions.
Avatar By Skip Robinson | April 22, 2021
A U.S. Marine Corps heavy helicopter squadron flying the Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion can be considered a living organism. It is constantly evolving as personnel leave and new people come aboard, with each commanding officer typically holding command for one-and-a-half to two years. Although each commander may bring a different leadership style to the role, the squadron persists in being ready to accomplish its mission, and providing an environment in which Marines can grow personally while developing their professional skill set.
The CH-53E is used as multi-purpose aircraft that moves heavy equipment from ship to shore and performs long range troop or special operations transport missions.
Valor followed one such squadron, Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 462, alternately called the “Heavy Haulers†or “Screw Crew,†as they honed their ability to support expeditionary Marine Corps operations anywhere in the world. Part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) based at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar near San Diego, California, HMH-462 was under the command of Lt. Col. Bill Hiken when Valor first visited. Today, the unit is led by Lt. Col. Nate “Stormy†Storm, supported by executive officer Maj. Tyler “Jagger†Robinson and Sgt. Maj. Luke “Thunder 9†Gilliland.
HMH-462 has a long history, having started as a fighter training unit during World War II. It was re-established in the late 1950s, when it became a helicopter squadron operating the large twin-engine Sikorsky HR2S-1 (a military variant of the S-56, which in Army service became the Mojave). It transitioned to the Sikorsky CH-53A Sea Stallion early in the Vietnam War, and then to the more powerful CH-53D. In the early 1990s, after Desert Storm, the squadron upgraded once again to the CH-53E Super Stallion, which it flies to this day.
https://verticalmag.com/features/heavy-haulers/
