Operation Iraqi Freedom commenced on the evening of March 20, 2003, following preliminary strikes by coalition forces and Ground to Ground Missile attacks by Iraqi forces on Ali Al Salem Air Base. HMM-364 was involved from the first night, supporting attacks by the 1st Marine Division's Regimental Combat Team 7, as well as the Royal Marines's 42 Commando. Squadron aircrews conducted Casualty Evacuation (CASEVAC) missions in direct support of RCT-7 Headquarters for the duration of the war, traveling with the 1st Marine Division from Basra to downtown Baghdad. HMM-364 aircraft also flew Logistical Support throughout the theater, flying over 640 hours in combat and direct combat support per month for both March and April. With the end of combat operations in Iraq on April 17, HMM-364 continued to fly CASEVAC and Logistical Support for the Marine Corps humanitarian aid work underway on the behalf of the Iraqi people. HMM-364 returned to MCB Camp Pendleton in October 2003. During this deployment, one of the squadron's aircraft was lost during a resupply mission crashing into a canal. All four aircrew members were lost - Captain Andrew Lamont, First Lieutenant Timothy Ryan, Staff Sergeant Aaron White, Lance Corporal Jason Moore and one Marine Sergeant Kirk Straseskie, who was not affiliated with the squadron, tragically drowned in his attempted rescue of the crew members. Several other Marines witnessing the down aircraft also leaped in the canal to attempt to rescue their fellow Marines. The hasty rescue was not successful and several rescuers suffered minor non-combat injuries. The squadron deployed again to Iraq in the early months of 2005. Their third deployment to Iraq came in the summer of 2006 and they returned home in early 2007. During this deployment one of the squadron's aircraft was shot down during a CASEVAC mission resulting in the death of four squadron members, a Marine from another unit and two navy corpsmen. The squadron's fourth deployment to Iraq occurred from early spring of 2008 until the fall of the same year. The squadron's fifth and final deployment to Iraq came in late 2009. They returned safety in early 2010 having successfully completed their mission. On October 9, 2014, HMM-364 transitioned to the MV-22B Osprey and thus was redesignated as VMM-364. Notable former members Eugene R. Brady Raymond M. Clausen, Jr. Roger E. Combs See also List of active United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons United States Marine Corps