Marine Fighting Squadron 461 (VMF-461) was founded on March 15, 1944 as part of Marine Base Defense Group 43.
It was commissioned at Marine Corps Air Station El Centro, California, and flew the Vought F4U Corsair.
The callsign of VMF-461 was the "Red Raider" and their patch depicted a red bearded Viking who was their mascot.
In January 1945, the squadron was relocated at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro and assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 46 (MAG 46).
During 1946 to 1949, VMF-461 was deployed aboard USS Palau, first as part of Marine Aircraft Carrier Group 12, and later, as part of the Atlantic Fleet.
Upon return from deployment, VMF-461 was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina.
In September 1950, VMF-461 was deactivated.


On January 1957, the squadron was reactivated at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina as Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron (Medium) 461, HMR(M)-461, assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 26.
The squadron was equipped as the initial squadron with the HR2S-1 (later to be designated as the CH-37), then the newest and largest helicopter in the Marine Corps inventory.
The "Deuce," as it was called, was capable of carrying 26 troops, or 8,000 pounds of cargo at speeds up to 110 knots.
The aircraft was powered by two R2800-54 engines and carried a crew of four.
As part of the U.S. Space Program in 1961, HMR(M)-461 participated as the primary recovery vehicle for NASA AeroBee Rocket launches at Wallops Island, Virginia In February 1962, HMR(M)-461 was redesignated Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron-461 (HMH-461).

While deployed aboard USS Boxer and USS Guadalcanal from 1962 to 1965, HMH-461 participated in various deployments and exercises in the Mediterranean Sea and Caribbean Sea.
In February 1966, the squadron was reduced to cadre status to await arrival of the CH-53A helicopter, which replaced the CH-37.
In November 1970, the CH-53A was replaced by the CH-53D helicopter.
Throughout the 1970s, HMH-461 continued its support of Fleet Marine operations in such places as the Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas, Scandinavia, Northern Europe and Great Britain.

New CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters marked another chapter in HMH-461 history with the first operational flight in October 1987.
In September 1988, HMH-461 took delivery of its first lot of eleven CH-53Es from Sikorsky Aircraft and would go on to make history as the first Marine Corps aviation unit to aerial refuel using night vision goggles, perform Hover In-flight Refueling (HIFR) over a naval vessel, externally lift a Riverine Assault Craft, load a CH-53E into a C-17 Globemaster, and lift two HMMWVs simultaneously..
Marine Fighting Squadron 461 (VMF-461) was founded on March 15, 1944 as part of Marine Base Defense Group 43. It was commissioned at Marine Corps Air Station El Centro, California, and flew the Vought F4U Corsair. The callsign of VMF-461 was the "Red Raider" and their patch depicted a red bearded Viking who was their mascot. In January 1945, the squadron was relocated at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro and assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 46 (MAG 46). During 1946 to 1949, VMF-461 was deployed aboard USS Palau, first as part of Marine Aircraft Carrier Group 12, and later, as part of the Atlantic Fleet. Upon return from deployment, VMF-461 was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. In September 1950, VMF-461 was deactivated.

On January 1957, the squadron was reactivated at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina as Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron (Medium) 461, HMR(M)-461, assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 26. The squadron was equipped as the initial squadron with the HR2S-1 (later to be designated as the CH-37), then the newest and largest helicopter in the Marine Corps inventory. The "Deuce," as it was called, was capable of carrying 26 troops, or 8,000 pounds of cargo at speeds up to 110 knots. The aircraft was powered by two R2800-54 engines and carried a crew of four. As part of the U.S. Space Program in 1961, HMR(M)-461 participated as the primary recovery vehicle for NASA AeroBee Rocket launches at Wallops Island, Virginia In February 1962, HMR(M)-461 was redesignated Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron-461 (HMH-461).
While deployed aboard USS Boxer and USS Guadalcanal from 1962 to 1965, HMH-461 participated in various deployments and exercises in the Mediterranean Sea and Caribbean Sea. In February 1966, the squadron was reduced to cadre status to await arrival of the CH-53A helicopter, which replaced the CH-37. In November 1970, the CH-53A was replaced by the CH-53D helicopter. Throughout the 1970s, HMH-461 continued its support of Fleet Marine operations in such places as the Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas, Scandinavia, Northern Europe and Great Britain.
New CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters marked another chapter in HMH-461 history with the first operational flight in October 1987. In September 1988, HMH-461 took delivery of its first lot of eleven CH-53Es from Sikorsky Aircraft and would go on to make history as the first Marine Corps aviation unit to aerial refuel using night vision goggles, perform Hover In-flight Refueling (HIFR) over a naval vessel, externally lift a Riverine Assault Craft, load a CH-53E into a C-17 Globemaster, and lift two HMMWVs simultaneously..
HMH-461