History
On June 16, 1952, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron 26 (H&HS-26), Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, Havelock, North Carolina, was commissioned. H&HS-26 was redesignated as Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 26 (H&MS-26) in February 1954. The squadron relocated to Marine Corps Air Station New River, Jacksonville, North Carolina and was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 26, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing in July 1954.
March 1958, H&MS-26 in its entirety embarked aboard the USS Tarawa and USS Valley Forge to take part in PHIBEX (LANT) 1- 58, the largest helo-borne amphibious landing performed to date.
H&MS-26 continued supporting efforts throughout the world. The squadron supported the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, Operations NIMBUS STAR/MOON/STEAM I, CYPRUS in 1974, the American citizens’ NEO from Beirut, Lebanon in 1982, Operation URGENT FURY, Grenada in 1983; Operation DIG-IN, Beirut, Lebanon 1982-1984, and Operation PRAYING MANTIS in 1988.
In 1988, H&MS-26 was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation for aviation logistics support provided from 1 January to 31 December 1986 during which time H&MS-26 completed more than 105,000 total maintenance actions and processed over 115,000 aviation supply demands in support of garrison and deployed units.
In October 1988, H&MS-26 was redesignated as Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26 (MALS-26) and consolidated all responsibilities for aviation logistical support (maintenance and supply) in one squadron. In November of the same year, MALS-26 was awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, along with HMM-261, for meritorious achievement in the Persian Gulf while assisting in the destruction of the Sirri and Sassan oil platforms.
January 1990, a MALS-26 detachment deployed with HMM-264 aboard USS Nassau to support President Bush's February visit to Columbia, South America. In March 1990, a MALS-26 detachment deployed with HMM-261 aboard the USS Saipan and in August, participated in Operation SHARP EDGE, the evacuation of 1,648 American and foreign nationals from Monrovia, Liberia.
Other operations MALS-26 supported include: Operation PROVIDE COMFORT in Turkey and Iraq in 1991, Operation VICTOR SQUARED, Naval Base Guantanamo, Cuba in 1991. Operation PROVIDE PROMISE, Yugoslavia in 1992-1993, Operations DENY FLIGHT, CONTINUE HOPE, EYES OVER MOGADISHU, and QUICKDRAW in 1993 and Operation UPHOLD DEMOCRACY in 1994.In 2003 and 2004, MALS-26 deployed task-organized support for Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, and SECURE TOMORROW.
In January 2005, MALS-26 deployed, in its entirety, in support of MAGTF operations supporting Operation IRAQI FREEDOM 04- 06.
MALS-26 was recognized as MALS of the Year for the Second Marine Aircraft Wing in 1992, 93, 97, and 98. In 1992 and 1993 MALS-26 received the Commanding General’s Aviation Support Efficiency Trophy. In 1995, MALS-26 was awarded the Secretary of the Navy Award for Achievement in Safety Excellence Ashore and in 1996 received the Commandant’s Quality Assurance Award.
Throughout its distinguished history, MALS-26 has been a force multiplier while supporting the President’s National Security Strategy. Supporting the squadrons of MAG-26 by providing first class intermediate aviation logistics support, MALS-26 has sustained numerous T/M/S aircraft, including the: HR2S-1, UH-34, VH-34, CH-37, C-117, T-28, OV-10, CH-46, CH-53, AH-1, UH-1, and the MV-22. Today, MALS-26 stands ready to support MAG-26 whenever and wherever the mission necessitates.