Formed at MCAS New River and activated as the Marine Corps’ first designated attack helicopter squadron, originally equipped with AH-1J Sea Cobras.
2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Subgroup / Light Attack Helicopter Squadron
2nd Marine Aircraft Wing›HMLA-269 Gunrunners
HMLA-269 Gunrunners
HMLA-269 is maintained as a subordinate aviation unit page under 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. It is the H-1 light attack page inside the 2nd MAW section. The squadron was formed at MCAS New River on 22 February 1971 and activated on 1 July 1971 as the Marine Corps’ first designated attack helicopter squadron. Today it represents AH-1S Cobra / UH-1Y Venom light attack support, escort, and armed overwatch lanes for the site.
NicknameGunrunners · Lawman legacy
Parent FormationMAG-29 · 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
Unit Hierarchy2nd MAW aviation subgroup page
HISTORY
Public Historical Breakdown
Took delivery of the AH-1T (TOW) Cobra, became the first Marine squadron to fire the TOW anti-tank missile from an airborne platform, then expanded into light attack utility support with the UH-1N.
Supported Desert Shield / Desert Storm, LF6F deployments, Haiti, Liberia, Albania, Congo, and earned repeated recognition as a leading Marine light attack squadron.
Supported Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and later Afghanistan operations from Helmand Province. Public history credits the squadron with thousands of combat flight hours and sorties across Iraq and Afghanistan deployments.
Advanced digital interoperability, MEU detachments, joint/SOF integration, Libya support, MAGTF Warfighting Exercise support, and high-tempo readiness across multiple locations.
Deactivated in 2022 under Force Design changes, then prepared for reactivation after the 26th MEU detachment returned in 2024. The public unit page marks reactivation on 1 July 2024.
MOS
Common MOS Lanes
This page focuses on Marine light attack aviation: attack helicopter pilots, utility helicopter pilots, pilot instructors, aircrew, maintenance, aviation operations, and JTAC / fires integration that supports the MAGTF.
PIPELINE
Training Pipeline Overview
Marine Aviator
Marine officers access through commissioning sources, complete The Basic School, and enter naval aviation training. Student naval aviators progress through aviation preflight, primary, intermediate, and advanced training before winging.
Rotary Wing Training
Chief of Naval Air Training public material describes rotary training as providing fundamental and advanced rotary skills for Student Naval Aviators selected for AH-1, UH-1, H-53, H-60, and related fleet service.
Fleet Replacement
After earning wings, H-1 pilots transition through platform-specific training before joining an HMLA squadron and building aircraft commander, section lead, division lead, instructor, or weapons/tactics qualifications.
MAGTF Integration
HMLA crews support offensive air support, utility support, armed escort, airborne supporting arms coordination, and expeditionary air-ground integration in joint or combined environments.
PROFILE USE
Assignment Lane
Current Assignment Only
This unit lane controls background art, insignia, and active-unit identity for profiles assigned here. Individual names stay inside the Chain of Command system.
Clean Historical Page
Unit history pages focus on lineage, mission, MOS lanes, training pipeline, and public references. Personal biography details stay on the member profile.
FLIGHTS / AIRCREWS
HMLA-269 Cobra Detachment Task Organization
HMLA-269 is the 2nd MAW light-attack aviation lane for AH-1S Cobra operations: close air support, armed overwatch, aerial reconnaissance, escort, and CASEVAC coordination.
HMLA-269 Gunrunners
Provides the command identity for Cobra aviation personnel assigned to the 2nd MAW aviation lane without creating a separate top-level Unit History category.
Charlie Flight / Cobra Detachment
Provides AH-1S Cobra attack-helicopter crews for armed reconnaissance, close-air-support lanes, escort, and aviation overwatch during operations.
Aviation Flights & Aircrews
Maintains cockpit readiness, communications discipline, weapons employment, navigation, and flight-lead coordination for training and operations.
CAS / CASEVAC Coordination
Supports ground maneuver by coordinating air fires, casualty movement, route overwatch, and rapid response across the operational area.
Maintenance / Ordnance Support
Represents aircraft servicing, weapons support, mission prep, and the sustainment pipeline needed to keep aviation available.
SOURCES