and the 1983 Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Safety Award. Throughout the early 1980s, the Black Knights were frequent visitors to the Mediterranean as the Aviation Combat Element (ACE) for deploying east coast Marine Amphibious Units supporting Landing Force Sixth Fleet (LF6F) commitments. During this period, the squadron participated in numerous exercises and contingency operations from Spain to Lebanon. In 1987, HMM-264 became the first ACE to deploy with AV-8B Harriers and elements from the Marine Air Control Group (MACG). Deployed on the , the squadron participated in Spanish, Italian, and French PHILBEXs. These additions to the ACE force list later became the norm for deploying LF6F Marine Expeditionary Units (MEU). The 1990s In January 1990 (some reports say May 1989), upon returning from LF6F 2-90, HMM-264 was tasked to support Operation Top Kick off the coast of Colombia. The squadron provided support throughout this event, which culminated in the Presidential drug summit in Cartagena, Colombia in February 1990. The Black Knights earned a Joint Meritorious Unit Citation for their efforts during the operation. In April 1991, the squadron was diverted from operations in Sardinia and sailed to Iskendrun, Turkey. For 92 days, the Black Knights acted as the lead aviation element for coalition efforts to provide assistance and security to the Kurdish refugees in northern Iraq as part of Operation Provide Comfort. During the first two weeks of Operation Provide Comfort, the Black Knights flew more than 1000 hours delivering more than 450 tons of relief supplies to the isolated Kurdish camps high in the mountains of Iraq. The squadron was awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation, Humanitarian Service Medal, and the Southwest Asia Service Medal with Bronze Star device. In June 1994, the Black Knights celebrated the squadron’s 35th anniversary. By August, the squadron had again reinforced and embarked aboard as the ACE for Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force (SPMAGTF) Caribbean and subsequently deployed in support of Operation Support Democracy and Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti. On September 20, 1994, HMM-264 participated in a vertical assault of the Cap Haitian Airport and port facilities. This event marked the first Marine landing in Haiti since the early 1900s. Over the course of these operations, HMM-264 also supported a variety of missions including raids, logistical support, humanitarian service flights, and MEDEVAC support. The squadron received the Humanitarian Service Medal and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for its support