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Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 36 (MALS-36)
"Blade Runner"

The mission of Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 36 (MALS-36) is to provide aviation logistics expertise, planning, material, and equipment to Marine Aircraft Group 36 (MAG-36) and its subordinate tactical aircraft squadrons in order to support operational contingencies, theater security cooperation plans, and training exercises.

Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 36 was first activated as Headquarters Squadron 36 (HS-36) at Marine Corps Air Facility Santa Ana, California in June 1952 and was assigned to the Marine Aircraft Group 36, Air Fleet Marine Force Pacific. On February 1954, the Squadron was redesignated as Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 36 (H&MS-36), Marine Aircraft Group 36. In February 1955, H&MS-36 took part in the airlift of ground troops of the 3rd Marine Corps provisional Atomic Exercise Brigade from Camp Pendleton, California to Nevada for Exercise Dessert Rock VI. In September 1955, the Squadron was assigned to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. In November 1955, H&MS-36 participated in the landing of the 1st Marine Division Assault Forces at Camp Pendleon as part of the PACTRAEX 56L, one of the largest peacetime training maneuvers held during that time. Over the next 10 years the Squadron participated in exercises that validated the Marine Corps' vertical envelopment doctrine to include the first use of helicopters to land a battalion team at night from an aircraft carrier.

As the fighting in Vietnam intensified, H&MS-36 embarked aboard the USS Princeton en route to the Republic of Vietnam. Arriving in August 1965, H&MS-36 was assigned to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing operating from Chu Lai and later Ky Ha. In October 1967, H&MS-36 moved to its operations to Phu Bai. While in Vietnam, the Squadron supported numerous operations including Dewey Canyon, Hue City and Main Crag.

In November 1969, after more than 4 years in Vietnam, H&MS-36 relocated to Futenma, Okinawa, where flight operations, personnel, maintenance, and supply support were provided to the squadrons of MAG-36 while supporting the 3rd Marine Division. H&MS-36 continued to support MAG-36 with intermediate maitenance and supply support for the 6 different types of aircraft assigned (CH-46, CH-53, UH-1, AH-1, OV-10, and KC-130). While the Squadron did not deploy as a whole, elements of H&MS-36 were involved in various exercises and operations in Korea, Japan, the Republic of the Phillipines, Thailand, and Australia. Elements of the Squadron also particiapted in operations such as Operation End Sweep, the Joint Navy/Marne Corps mine sweeping effort in Haiphong Harbor in 1973; flood relief operations in the Philippines in 1974; and Operation Eagle Pull, the evacuation of Saigon in January 1975.

On 1 October 1988, H&MS-36 was redesignated as Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 36 (MALS-36) and support to the squadrons of MAG-36 and 1st Marine Aircraft Wing continued throughout the theater of operations. Elements of the Squadron supported operations such as Operation Sea Angel, providing humanitarian assistance to the flood victims in Bangladesh in May 1991; Operation Fiery Vigil, Providing humanitarian assistance to the victims of the Phillipine Mount Pinatubo eruption in September 1992; Operation Restore Hope, providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Somalia in 1993; Operation Stabilize in East Timor in late 1999 to early 2000; and Operation Unified Assistance, providing humanitarian assistance to the victims of the Southwest Asia Tsunami disaster.

By the end of the 1990s, the mission of MALS-36 was to provide aviation logistics support, guidance, and direction to Marine Aircraft Group 36 (MAG-36) squadrons. A MALS was organized as a core unit, which was supplemented by aircraft specific augments. It was capable of providing intermediate aeronautical equipment maintenance, supply, and munitions to all supported units. A MALS could be employed as an integral unit of a Marine Aircraft Group within the Aviation Combat Element, or could provide element and support packages to another MALS supporting a Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) ACE.