Possessing what is arguably the highest profile of any helicopter operation anywhere, Marine Helicopter Squadron 1 (HMX1) is dedicated to perfection.

HMX1 is based at NYG (Quantico MCAF, Quantico VA) and provides all helicopter transportation for the President of the US, whether at home or abroad. The call sign Marine One is used by whichever helicopter the President is aboard. Under direction of the White House Military Office (WHMO), the squadron is also tasked with flying the Vice President, cabinet members, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and foreign dignitaries. In addition, HMX1 performs emergency evacuations and support missions as directed by the Commandant of the Marine Corps, and undertakes the operational test and evaluation of USMC assault helicopters and equipment.

President George W Bush waves as he boards a Sikorsky VH3D on the south lawn of the White House. Minutes later the helicopter departed using the call sign Marine One.

Squadron complement is around 700, making it the largest established aviation unit in the Marine Corps. This figure includes 75 pilots and several hundred maintenance, security and other personnel.

HMX1 flying activity is divided into 2 sections—White Side (otherwise the Executive Flight Detachment) and Green Side (Marine Corps Aircraft Maintenance). The Presidential Sikorsky VH3Ds and VH60Ns are assigned to White Side, while Green Side operates Boeing Vertol CH46Es and Sikorsky CH53Es. White Side will receive new equipment in 2010, when AgustaWestland/Lockheed Martin VH71s start to replace first the VH3s and then the VH60s. (See sidebar, p 70.)

Serving the Commander-in-Chief

“Landing on the south lawn of the White House is exhilarating no matter how many times you do it,” says Commanding Officer Col Ray L’Heureux, who took over as CO in Jun 2007. As required of all HMX1 COs, L’Heureux served with the unit previously and later held a position of operational command with a Fleet Marine Force (FMF) tactical squadron—in his case HMH362, which flies CH53s from HNG (Kaneohe Bay MCAS, Oahu HI).

Glimpses of HMX1’s history. (top) HMX1 pioneers at Quantico in the late 1940s with Igor Sikorsky (seated on L) and a Sikorsky HO3S1. (bottom) Sikorsky HR2S1 at the Pentagon in the mid-1950s.

For a commanding officer L’Heureux has a heavy flying schedule, averaging 30 hours a month but exceeding 50 at times. He flies each one of the types operated by the squadron, and is aided in the administrative work that forms part of his typical day by a small, highly trained team which reports directly to him. L’Heureux is also involved in the VH71 program on a daily basis, and has flown 2 of the test vehicles.

Obviously, says L’Heureux, HMX1’s primary role requires day-to-day operations to be “very close to the President’s schedule.”

This extends beyond governmental and diplomatic missions. As Public Affairs Officer Maj Rob Garrison explains, “We travel with the President at all times. In most cases we might have a month of lead time, but in cases of disaster we might only have 12–24 hours.

President Dwight Eisenhower deplanes from a Sikorsky HUS1. President Richard Nixon embarks aboard a Sikorsky VH3. Piasecki HRP1 “Flying Bananas” on flight line at Quantico.

Our first indication might be while watching CNN, and then a couple of hours later we’ll get a call from the White House and have to leave that same day.” For example, in recent months HMX1 flew the President to Minneapolis MN, where a major bridge collapsed in August, San Diego CA, after fires raged through the region in October, and Tennessee, following February’s lethal tornado strikes.

As well as transporting President George W Bush, HMX1 carries foreign heads of state and dignitaries paying official visits to Washington DC or visiting the Presidential ranch in Crawford TX.

As CO, L’Heureux is committed to maintaining standards. “There’s no room for incompetence,” he insists. “I can shape the marines who come to HMX1—and I’ll get to know every one of those kids. It’s very special to me.”

Commanding officers serve a 2-year stint before being reposted. For everyone on squadron, it’s a high-intensity assignment. “You get to live history as it’s happening,” L’Heureux observes. He concludes, “Nothing’s ever going to top this job.”

Squadron history

HMX1 was established in Dec 1947 at Quantico MCAF as the Marine Helicopter Development Squadron. Its original role was the operational test and evaluation (OT&E) of systems and equipment for the Fleet Marine Force (FMF). In May 1948 the squadron took part in an exercise in North Carolina, and successfully completed the first ship-to-shore airlift of troops, thus establishing the role of the helicopter in USMC tactics.

HMX1 Commanding Officer Col Ray L’Heureux enlisted in 1980 as an infantryman but “always had a passion to fly.”

First Presidential airlift for HMX1 took place in Sep 1957. President Dwight Eisenhower, on vacation in Newport RI, needed to return to the White House on short notice and used an HMX1 Sikorsky HUS1 (later UH34) Seahorse for the first stage of his journey.

Within months, Eisenhower’s naval aide asked HMX1 to evaluate the feasibility of landing a helicopter on the south lawn of the White House. Once it was determined that safe landings and departures were possible, and formal procedures had been established, HMX1 began flying the President regularly between the White House and ADW (Andrews AFB, Camp Springs MD). All subsequent Presidents have followed Ike’s example. HMX1 shared this mission with the Army until 1976, after which it became the sole designated source of Presidential helicopter lift.

Maj Dave Kirk is in his 3rd year at Quantico and is an aircraft commander on the VH3, VH60 and CH53. He was formerly a T34 instructor with VT27 at NGP (Corpus Christi NAS, Corpus Christi TX).

The term White Side refers to the practice of painting the tops of Executive Flight Detachment aircraft white—a custom that started in the late 1950s before the advent of air conditioned helicopters.

In its executive transport role, squadron responsibility is limited to primary tasking. When necessary, secondary tasking requests (in other words, requests for additional rotary or fixed-wing support) are referred to WMHO, which passes all such taskings to the appropriate DoD authority. Today, in addition to Marine One executive transport and OT&E, HMX1 supports Marine Corps Combat Development Command in developing helicopter tactics and techniques.

Achieving the high polish

HMX1 is a much-sought-after posting, and a squadron board examines all applications and security clearances in detail. Once accepted into the squadron, marines still need top secret and “Yankee White” clearances to fly White Side operations. Top secret clearances follow a Defense Investigative Service Single Scope Background Investigation, while Yankee White is the term given to the extensive background checks carried out by the Office of the Secretary of Defense before allowing unescorted proximity to the President. Only after these lengthy procedures are completed can squadron members be fully cleared for White Side ops.

HMX1 Public Affairs Officer Maj Rob Garrison practices his piloting skills in the VH3D aircrew proficiency trainer—a no-motion simulator built by Cubic Corp of San Diego CA.

During their 1st year with HMX1—while awaiting clearance—pilots typically spend their time learning, flying Green Side ops and training on the VH3 and VH60.

Most pilots receive their clearances in their 2nd year. They can now fly as copilots on Presidential flights (POTUS lift). With regular exposure to missions, pilots build up their skills and squadron-specific knowledge.

In their 3rd year, pilots get the authority to sign for a helicopter as aircraft commander. As White House helicopter aircraft commanders (HACs) they can fly senior personnel up to and including the Vice President.

Plans Officer Maj Bryan Simmons (L) and CSO Sgt Christopher Battle with a VH60N in White Side’s secure—and heavily guarded—hangar, known as “The Cage.” Simmons joined HMX1 in Dec 2005 after flying HH46s with HMM268 at NFG (Camp Pendleton MCAS, Oceanside CA).

During their 4th and final year, pilots with HMX1 can become command pilots. Select individuals are appointed to carry the President.

Public Affairs Officer Maj Rob Garrison explains standard HMX1 crewing policies. VH3D missions carry 2 pilots and a crew chief, with security as and when required. Every VH60N mission has 2 pilots, a crew chief and a communications system operator (CSO).

Pilot Maj Chris Aaby (L) and Copilot/CH46 NATOPS Evaluator Capt Jenn Marino with an HMX1 Sikorsky VH3D. Marino is one of 60 female squadron members and a former CH46E instructor.

HMX1 flightcrews themselves are unarmed, notes Garrison, although armed security marines are normally aboard. Given today’s security climate and the squadron’s primary mission, it practices emergency procedures regularly—and “plenty of them.”

Mission variety

Of the 60 females with the squadron, 3 are pilots. Capt Jenn Marino joined the Marine Corps in May 1998 and flew CH46Es as an instructor with HMMT164 at NFG (Camp Pendleton MCAS, Oceanside CA) before joining HMX1 in mid-2007. A copilot on VH3s and VH60s, she is also a Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization (NATOPS) evaluator on the CH46.

Marino enjoys what she calls “a very dynamic schedule.” She was part of the HMX1 contingent accompanying President Bush on his recent Africa trip. A total of 6 VH60s made the journey, partially dismantled aboard 6 Boeing C17 Globemaster IIIs. (Operations of this kind always require the support of numerous transport aircraft, including other C17s.)

Maj Kurt Strange (L) flies the Boeing Vertol CH46s as well as the white-tops. Previously stationed in San Diego CA, he has been at Quantico for 18 months. Repository of all CH46 knowledge, Boeing Tech Rep/Field Service Engineer John Morgenstern has been at Quantico under contract for 40 years.

Dismantling and reassembling a VH60 is considerably less complex than doing the same for a VH3, notes Marino. For one thing, the VH60’s transmission doesn’t have to be removed. Crew chiefs, mechanics and others supervise and perform partial dismantling, defueling and rotor folding. The entire procedure takes less than 2 hours at either end, compared with 12 hours or more for a VH3. Similarly, while a VH3 has to log 5 hours of flight time after reassembly before the President can fly aboard it, only 1 hour is required for a VH60.

White and Green training

Formerly a marine himself, Training Mgr Franz Silas has worked for Sikorsky for 25 years and has been permanently assigned to HMX1 as an instructor since Oct 1994. He and his 3 colleagues teach maintenance technicians all there is to know about the Sikorsky VH3D and VH60N. In-depth instruction is the goal.

Sikorsky Training Mgr Franz Silas and his 3 colleagues use a hands-on approach to teaching. Small class sizes allow HMX1 technicians to receive more in-depth training than their typical FMF counterparts.

One week is spent on operational aircraft pilot systems, including 2 sessions of simulator training per class. The first session covers engine start-up and operational procedures, says Silas—the second covers powertrain, rotor systems and related topics.

A 1-week avionics maintenance course follows. Silas explains that White Side’s mission requirements make such specialized avionics teaching essential.

Silas and his colleagues teach around 200 students a year, and regular refresher courses for technicians and crewmembers keep skill levels high. With a maximum of 10 students at a time, classes are small enough to allow 2 per month. “We teach about 50 pilots a year,” says Silas. “Last year I taught 10 pilot classes.”

Maintenance Material Control Officer CWO2 Paul Herrle is in his 2nd tour at Quantico and works with HMX1’s VH3s and VH60s.

HMX1’s VH3Ds were introduced in 1975–77 (replacing the VH3As the unit had flown since the early 1960s). Powerplants are 2 General Electric T58-GE-402s. The squadron’s VH60Ns are powered by 2 General Electric T700-GE-401 engines and date from 1989–91. Both types have APUs and share the same comm/nav suites.

“We have a lot of hands-on stuff,” remarks Silas in something of an understatement. Among the teaching aids he and his fellow instructors use are an ex-Navy H3 training device (modified to resemble a VH3), 2 General Electric T58 engines, a T700 engine and an APU.

Dress blue honor guard flanks VH3D airstair. (L–R) VH3D Crew Chief Sgt Cory Schaffer, VH60N Crew Chief Sgt Chris Presley, Security L/Cpl Justin Moore and PFC Francisco Olmeda.

In 2004, the unit accepted an L3-built VH60 Helicopter Maintenance Trainer (VHMT)—a composite of several H60 airframe components. An instructor can introduce any of 138 electrical problems from an accompanying console.

Cubic Corp of San Diego CA supplied HMX1’s no-motion simulators, known as aircrew proficiency trainers (APTs). These are housed in 2 freestanding structures—one for the VH3D APT, the other for the VH60N.

If White Side gets the glory, Green Side’s mission is just as vital in its way, since it supports White Side—for example, by flying Secret Service personnel and the press—and performs local support missions on base. It also supports the USMC Basic School, Expeditionary Warfare School, Command and Staff College, and Command and Control Systems School—all of which are at Quantico.
Green Side flies the Sikorsky CH53E, which is powered by 3 General Electric T64-GE-416s, and the elderly Boeing Vertol CH46E, which uses 2 General Electric T58-GE-16As.

In charge of looking after HMX1’s CH46s is Boeing Tech Rep/Field Service Engineer John Morgenstern. He has been at Quantico under contract for 40 years and describes his job as “troubleshooting, training and ensuring efficiency.”

Passing on his knowledge to the marines of HMX1 is a great job for Morgenstern. After 40 years, he says, “I learn something new every day, and I’m still having fun.” Besides, he notes dryly, “They get their hands dirty—I don’t.”

In-house maintenance

Maintenance Material Control Officer CWO2 Paul Herrle works on White Side VH3s and VH60s. He began his second tour at Quantico in Jul 2007, having previously been at NYG from 1996–2001. Approximately 80 technicians report to Herrle, whose responsibilities cover materials and logistics as well as maintenance.

HMX1 carries out all levels of maintenance in-house, says Herrle. Organizational (O-level) maintenance consists of on-aircraft troubleshooting, etc, while intermediate (I-level) maintenance entails equipment being removed from aircraft. Sikorsky performs depot-level work.

Communications

All the radios and communications equipment are unique to HMX1 aircraft, notes Sgt Christopher Battle, a radio specialist. Like other CSOs, he works in close liaison with Presidential aides, handling calls and patching the President to ground stations.

Before joining HMX1 in Jul 2006 at the start of his 4-year posting, Battle was stationed at NKT (Cherry Point MCAS, Havelock NC) for 3 years (including 1 year in Iraq). He notes that would-be CSOs must have served in the Marine Corps for 4 years before they can apply for transfer to Quantico and receive on-the-job training. And, since only 5–10% of all applicants are approved to become CSOs with HMX1, they need a flawless record.

When his 4 years at Quantico are over, Battle will return to the FMF. Regarding HMX1, he says, “To come here and serve the President is the most prideful thing in the world.”

VH71 on the path to service

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