MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463 arrived here last week from Marine Corps Base Hawaii and will be staying for six months on a unit deployment program.
The Hawaii based squadron arrived with an armada of approximately 130 Marines and Sailors, and eight CH-53D helicopters.
"We came to support III Marine Expeditionary Force and participate in the various exercises that will take place, here, within the following months," said Capt. Andy R. Needles, HMH-463 weapons tactics inspector.
While deployed here, HMH-463 will participate in numerous exercises in the Republic of Philippines, Thailand, Korea and Okinawa, Japan.
HMH-463 will be part of Exercise Cobra Gold in Thailand, Philippine Interoperability Exchange in the Philippines, and other exercises yet to be determined, said Capt. Ron E. Gaines, HMH-463 director.
"The last time HMH-463 was here in Iwakuni was September 2002 to March 2003. Back then our pilots and our squadron were good," said Needles. "But now, we have the best pilots in the Marine Corps."
While here, the squadron will continue pilot training, proficiency and correctiveness, said Gaines.
The same type of training will apply to airframe technicians, flight line mechanics and expeditors of the squadron, according to Cpl. Christian A. Perez, HMH-463 expeditor.
"Everyone always stays busy. That's the way the squadron continues to be the best. Especially for me, I'm the one who is always ordering different parts. But the same goes for everyone. Everyone is always pressing on to get the birds up in the sky.
"Pegasus is a great bunch of guys I enjoy working with," ended Perez.
HMH-463, commanded by Lt. Col. Henry B. Mathews II, took over for Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362, who returned to Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, after their six month tour.