VMO-6

During the first week in May 1956 VMO-6 started receiving the new Kaman HOK-1 aircraft  (#1)

On 09 October 1956 carrier qualifications were flown on board the USS "Badoeng Strait"  with the HOK  (#1)

From 03 June to 11 June 1957 VMO-6 flew combat support missions for the 1st Marine Division during "Operation Quickstep" (#1)

On 02 April 1958 five HOK aircraft were working with the transport submarine USS "Perch" (APSS 313) and flew 75 combat-loaded Marines of Company C, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, from the submarine's deck to the beach at Camp Pendleton.

From 02 to 10 February 1959, the 9th Marine Provisional Brigade participated in Phiblex 12-59, a large-scale amphibious assault on "agressor held" beaches at Camp Pendleton. VMO-6 helicopters were used for liaison, observation and medical evacuation (#1)

At the end of March 1959 the 1st Reconnaissance Batalion, located at Camp Pendleton, moved by truck convoy to Twentynine Palms and began a desert training exercise. Two HOKs from VMO-6 worked with the battalion throughout the exercise to refine methods of air resupply, while OE-1's from the squadron practiced aerial photography and observation (#1)

In 1960 a cadre system was established by which VMO-6 trained new pilots and ground crews for duty with VVMO-2 on Okinawa. After the personnel were trained they were pooled into a rotational draft from which three increments were sent overseas yearly. It usually worked out that being assigned to VMO-6 meant spending about a year with the squadron at Camp Pendleton and another year on Okinawa with VMO-2. Throughout 1960, VMO-6 remained at the Camp Pendleton Auxiliary Landing Field, where the squadron averaged about 900 flying hours each month. VMO-6 maintained a medical evacuation helicopter and crew on constant alert. (#1)

In November 1960, Capt. Richard E. Skinner evacuated an injured Marine from the rugged, fog-bound hills near Case Springs on Camp Pendleton's northern border. Capt. Skinner and his crew chief, Sgt Charles R. Hern skillfully maneuvered their HOK helicopter through thick fog at tree-top level to rescue the injured Marine. For this rescue Capt Skinner received a Kaman "Scroll of Honor" (#1)

From 03 Apr to 08 June 1961 Operation Greenlight was held , off Southern California. With their HOK helicopters and OE-1 light observation aircraft, the pilots and observers of VMO-6 gained valuable training by providing aerial reconnaissance and photographic support (#1)

On 30 April 1961, Capt Richard E. Skinner and Sgt Hern again teamed up and rescued two injured civilians whose light plane crashed in the desert 60 miles east of Twentynine Palms. Capt Skinner had to fly 162 miles to reach the injured party, making a 5-minute fuel stop enroute. After reaching the crash site, the injured men were loaded on board the HOK and flown to the Twentynine Palms hospital for medical aid. (#1)

On 10 May 1961 VMO-6 completed one year and more than 10,000 accident-free flying hours.  (#1)

On 15 August 1961 two VMO-6 aircraft, an OE and an HOK crashed and burned at the mouth of Horno Canyon. The HOK had lost power and crashed, and the OE, while attempting to render assistance, made a tight turn in the canyon, lost control and crashed. (#1) (Ragay :  BuNo. 139973)

On 02 October 1961 the squadron participated in Operation Sandstorm, held at Twentynine Palms (#1)

VMO-6 helicopters and OE aircraft  participated in an exercise "Snowflex 1-62", from 16 January to 02 February 1962 (#1)

A  VMO-6  HOK-1 (Ragay : BuNo. 138098)  passed the 2,000 flight-hour mark in March 1962, becoming the first aircraft of this type to obtain this goal.
The HOK-1 was accepted from the manufacturer at Bloomfield, Conn in July 1956. During the past five and one-half years it has twice seen service with VMO-6 at Camp Pendleton and with HMR-363, MCAS Santa Anna, CA. (MAG-36).  
The HOK-1 , used for reconnaissance and observation missions, will soon retrace the route it took in February 1959 - to the Navy's Overhaul and Repair Facility at Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, FL. (Kaman Rotor Tips April 1962 - p7 ; and RTips  Apr63 - p6)

During 15-18 April 1962 VMO-6 pilots had the opportunity to play agressor in a 3 day guerrilla warfare problem run by the 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines.(#1)

 The 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) was activated because of the Cuban Missile Crisis and on 27 October it sailed for the Panama Canal. Passing through the canal on 05 November, the MEB sailed into Caribbean waters, where it became part of the 11 Marine Expeditionary Force. The VMO-6 detachment was on board the USS Iwo Jima (LHP 2). By 15 December the crisis had passed and the 5th MEB returned home. Two days later the VMO-6 detachment returned to Camp Pendleton. (#1)

Also HMM-361 "The Flying Tigers" were deployed for the Cuban Missile Crisis on 27 October on board the USS Iwo Jima. Two former VMO-6 OH-43D aircraft (139993 and 139998) were assigned to HMM-361 as of 25 Oct 62 and until 21 Dec 62, after which date the aircraft returned to VMO-6 (# Indiv.Aircraft History Cards).

On 06 March 1963 marines stormed ashore at Camp Pendleton's beaches during Operation Steel Gate. VMO-6 provided spotting for naval gunfire and artillery fire missions.

On 12 March Operation Desert Winds started at Twentynine Palms. VMO-6 provided OE spotter aircraft and HOK helicopter support until 17 March (#1)

129805  03 May 1956  -  10 Jul 1958  to  HMRC-363

129807  19 Sep 1956  -  30 Jun 1958  to  HMRC-363 , back  31 Mar 1960  -  04 Apr 1960  SOC

129825  14 Apr 1956  -  20 Jun 1958  , back  16 Mar 1962  -  03 Sep 1964  storage     :    "WB 13"     in storage  Oct73

129833  03 May 1956  -  30 Jun 1958  to  HMRC-363 

129834  03 May 1956  -  30 Jun 1958  to  HMRC-363 , back  31 Mar 1960  -  11 May 1960   SOC     :   "WB 16" 

129836  13 Jun 1956  -  30 Jun 1958  to  HMRC-363 , back  31 Mar 1960  -  07 Sep 1961   SOC     :     "WB 17"      Feb 1961

129838  17 Jul 1956  -  17 Sep 1958  to  HMRC-363 , back  15 Feb 1962  -  30 Jun 1964   O&R North Island  storage  :  "WB 14"   in storage  Oct73

129839  17 Jul 1956  -  08 Oct 1956  damage , w/o , SOC

129840  17 Jul 1956  -  03 Oct 1957    SOC 

138098  23 Aug 1956  -  17 Sep 1958  to  HMRC-363 , back  31 Mar 1960  -  16 Apr 1962  storage

138099  xx Aug 1956  -  30 Nov 1958  to  HMRC-363 , back  01 Jul 1960  -  01 Apr 1965  storage 

138100  19 Sep 1956  -  18 Mar 1958  to  HMRC-363 , back  17 Nov 1961  -  06 Apr 1964  O&R North Island  storage

139996  20 Jan 1958  -  26 Sep 1958  to  HMRC-363

139998  28 Jan 1958  -  17 Sep 1958  to  HMRC-363 , back  31 Mar 1960  -  25 Oct 1962 , to HMM-361 , back 21 Dec 1962  -  30 Oct 1964  storage

139999  15 Feb 1958  -  27 Oct 1958  to  HMRC-363 , back  31 Mar 1960  -  06 Jul 1960 , back xx May 1964  -  05 Jan 1965  storage

129804  31 Mar 1960  -  09 Feb 1961

129809  31 Mar 1960  -  18 Jul 1963  w/o , SOC

129823  31 Mar 1960  -  29 Dec 1961

139982  31 Mar 1960  -  10 May 1960 , back  19 May 1964  -  30 Oct 1964  storage     :    "WB 27"   (probably 1960)

129837  05 Jul 1960  -  17 Aug 1962

139974  23 Dec 1960  -  01 Apr 1965  storage     :      "WB 7"       (in storage 1965) 

138101  31 Dec 1960  -  22 Sep 1964

139973  14 Jan 1961  -  15 Aug 1961  w/o , SOC

129828  17 Feb 1961  -  25 Mar 1961        :       "WB 23"     1961

139988  30 Mar 1961  -  01 May 1963

140001  19 Sep 1961  -  09 Oct 1963

139995  30 Sep 1961  -  29 Aug 1963

129806  22 Dec 1961  -  30 Jun 1964  O&R North Island  storage

129803  30 Mar 1962  -  03 Sep 1964  storage       :     "WB 12"     in storage  Oct73

129810  30 Mar 1962  -  25 Sep 1963  w/o , SOC

129811  29 Apr 1962  -  23 Sep 1964   storage

139993  15 Sep 1962  -  25 Oct 1962  , to HMM-361  ,  back  21 Dec 1962  -  23 Sep 1964  storage

129813  02 Dec 1962  -  19 Feb 1965  storage

139975  06 Jan 1963  -  10 Mar 1965  storage

139977  15 Apr 1963  -  01 Apr 1965  storage     :      "WB 3"     in storage  Oct73

139981  04 Jun 1963  -  xx xx 19xx  storage       :      "WB 6"       (in storage)  

139971  06 Aug 1963  -  22 Sep 1964

139978  07 May 1964  -  05 Jan 1965  storage   

          139977    "WB 3"     in storage  Oct73

photo 139981     "WB 6"       (in storage)  
photo 139974     "WB 7"       (in storage 1965) 

          129803    "WB 12"     in storage  Oct73

          129825    "WB 13"     in storage  Oct73

          129838    "WB 14"     in storage  Oct73

photo 129836    "WB 17"      Feb 1961 

photo 129828    "WB 23"      1961

photo 139982     "WB 27"     USMC Photo A146811 (probably 1960)
photo 138098     "WB ?"       May 1961
photo                 "WB 16"     Oct 61