Marine Attack Helicopter (HMA) Squadron 369 was activated on 1 April 1972, at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Futenma, Okinawa, assigned to Marine Air Group 36 (MAG-36), 1st Marine Air Wing (MAW). In April 1977, HMA-369 was relocated from Okinawa to Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field (MCALF), Camp Pendleton, California as a member of Detachment MAG-16, 3rd MAW. In the fall of 1987 the UH-1N helicopter was made a permanent part of the unit table of organization and equipment – thus designating the squadron as Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369 (HMLA-369). Through the 1990s and early 2000s the Squadron flew both the UH-1N and AH-1W. During the winter of 2009, HMLA-369 converted to the UH-1Y, and in 2015, the Squadron transitioned to the AH-1Z becoming a full upgrades H-1 Squadron.
Throughout its history HMLA-369 has participated in both combat and non-combat operations supporting ground units under fire in conflicts from Vietnam to the Global War on Terrorism.
- Vietnam – OPERATION MARHUK (Marine Hunter Killer) 1972, OPERATION EAGLE PULL 1975, OPERATION FREQUENT WIND 1975
- Kuwait – OPERATION DESERT SHIELD, 1990
- Somalia – OPERATION RESTORE HOPE, 1992
- Iraq – OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, 2003, 2005-2006, 2007, 2008-2009
- Afghanistan – OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, 2010, 2011-2012, 2013-2014, OPERATION SWIFT FREEDOM 2001-2002, OPERATION ANACONDA 2001-2002
Unit Awards:
- Presidential Unit Citation Streamer, Iraq 2003
- Joint Meritorious Unit Award Streamer, Somalia 1992-1993
- Navy Commendation Streamer with one Silver Star and three Bronze Stars, Vietnam 1972-1973, 1975; Southwest Asia 1990-1991, 1993, 2002; Iraq 2006-2007, 2009; Afghanistan 2010
- Meritorious Unit Commendation Streamer with two Bronze Stars 1986-1988, 1997-1998, 2000-2002
- National Defense Service Streamer with two Bronze Stars
- Armed Forces Expeditionary Service Streamer with two Bronze Stars
- Vietnam Service Streamer with one Bronze Star
- Southwest Asia Service Streamer with two Bronze Stars
- Afghanistan Campaign Streamer with two Bronze Stars
- Iraq Campaign Streamer with four Bronze Stars
- Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Streamer
- Global War of Terrorism Service Streamer
Aviation Awards:
- MCAA Squadron of the Year – 1972, 1986, 1991, 1996, 1998, 2004, 2015
- Commandants Efficiency Trophy – 1981
- Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Safety Award – 1987, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001-2010, 2014
- FMFPac Safety Award – 1985, 1987
- MCAA Aviation Safety Award – 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010