On December 1, 1990, while assigned as the Aviation Combat Element of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (11th MEU), HMM-268 responded to the Persian Gulf Crisis.
Embarked on USS New Orleans and deployed with MAG-50, 5th MEB (SOC), the Red Dragons supported Operation Desert Shield.
En route to the Persian Gulf, the Red Dragons completed, for the first time ever, the NVG shipboard carrier qualification syllabus.
The Dragons also pioneered and flew the first Low Light Level NVG carrier qualifications.
On February 14, 1991, the squadron celebrated its 5-year Class A mishap-free milestone.

During Operation Desert Storm, HMM-268 moved ashore and provided combat assault support to 5th MEB, including the "G-Day" tactical insertion of 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines along the Saudi Arabian/Kuwaiti border.
The squadron flew over 450 hours in a seven-day period.
After conclusion of the conflict, the squadron supported I MEF from Tanajib, Saudi Arabia.

In April 1991, the squadron re-embarked aboard New Orleans, as the ACE for the 11th MEU (SOC) and continued its Southwest Asia deployment.
The MEU supported National Command Authority objectives in the Persian Gulf, until returning to the United States in August 1991.
On December 1, 1990, while assigned as the Aviation Combat Element of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (11th MEU), HMM-268 responded to the Persian Gulf Crisis. Embarked on USS New Orleans and deployed with MAG-50, 5th MEB (SOC), the Red Dragons supported Operation Desert Shield. En route to the Persian Gulf, the Red Dragons completed, for the first time ever, the NVG shipboard carrier qualification syllabus. The Dragons also pioneered and flew the first Low Light Level NVG carrier qualifications. On February 14, 1991, the squadron celebrated its 5-year Class A mishap-free milestone.
During Operation Desert Storm, HMM-268 moved ashore and provided combat assault support to 5th MEB, including the "G-Day" tactical insertion of 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines along the Saudi Arabian/Kuwaiti border. The squadron flew over 450 hours in a seven-day period. After conclusion of the conflict, the squadron supported I MEF from Tanajib, Saudi Arabia.
In April 1991, the squadron re-embarked aboard New Orleans, as the ACE for the 11th MEU (SOC) and continued its Southwest Asia deployment. The MEU supported National Command Authority objectives in the Persian Gulf, until returning to the United States in August 1991.
VMM-268