HMR-161 was the first U.S. Marine Corps helicopter transport squadron deployed to Korea.
Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron 161, designated HMR-161, arrived in Korea in September 1951 with Sikorsky HRS-1 helicopters. Its mission was to move Marines, supplies, artillery, and casualties across Korea’s difficult mountainous terrain.
The squadron made aviation history during Operation Summit on September 21, 1951, conducting the first large-scale helicopter troop lift. It later performed the first night troop lift and supported frontline operations during the war. These missions helped demonstrate that helicopters could provide practical battlefield mobility, not merely observation or medical evacuation.
A common mix-up is VMO-6, which was the first Marine helicopter squadron to operate in the Korean War. VMO-6 performed observation, evacuation, rescue, and resupply missions beginning in 1950, while HMR-161 was specifically the first Marine transport helicopter squadron deployed there. HMR-161 was later redesignated HMM-161 and is now known as VMM-161.