U.S. Marine Light Attack Helicopter squadrons (HMLA) support the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) commander by taking care of Offensive Air Support (OAS), utility support, armed escort, and airborne supporting arms coordination. And since battles are not paused due to darkness or bad weather, they operate day or night under all weather conditions. One of the squadrons is HMLA-167, which operates from MCAS New River, NC.

MCAS New River
The airfield, which is situated a few miles south of Jacksonville, NC, used to be a tobacco farm until 1941. Marine Scout Bomber Squadron 331 (VMSB-331) was formed at New River on 1 January 1943. VMSB-331 was flying the Douglas SBD Dauntless dive-bombers. Nowadays New River is used for helicopter and tilt-rotor missions. On the vast ramps you will find lots of CH-53, UH-1 and AH-1 helicopters and MV-22 tilt-rotor Ospreys. New River is the home base of MAG-26, which holds the MV-22 squadrons and MAG-29, which holds the helicopter squadrons.

HMLA-167
HMLA-167 is one of three Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadrons at this base; HMLA-269 and HMLA-467 are the other two. HMLA-167 falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 29 (MAG-29) and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (2nd MAW). To carry out a successful mission, the Warriors from HMLA-167 operate the UH-1Y Venom and AH-1W Super Cobra. The inventory of an HMLA normallyconsists of 18 AH-1W Super Cobras and 9 UH-1Y Hueys. The choppers of the Warriors wear tail code TV.