to these operations. During the spring of 1995, the squadron returned to the Mediterranean as the ACE of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). During this period, HMM-264 flew 99 fixed wing sorties and 36 rotary wing sorties in support of Operation Deny Flight and Operation Decisive Endeavor in Bosnia-Herzegovina. In June 1996, with 66 hours of notification, the Black Knights deployed with SPMAGTF Liberia to conduct embassy reinforcement, security, and resupply operations in the West African city of Monrovia, capital of Liberia. HMM-264 deployed four (4) CH-46E and two (2) UH-1N aircraft aboard the and set sail across the Atlantic Ocean. Over a two-month period the Black Knights operated out of Freetown, Sierra Leone, supporting both fellow Marines and the U.S. Embassy despite austere conditions and the logistical challenges of long-distance operations. The squadron received the Humanitarian Service Medal and the Joint Meritorious Commendation Medal for its service. HMM-264 provided the first NATO TACAIR assets to operate ashore in Bosnia-Herzegovina since the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords. HMM-264 returned from another deployment in August 1998 and earned the Armed Forces Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and a Meritorious Unit Commendation. HMM-264 was also selected as the Marine Corps Aviation Association, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron of the Year for 1998. In September 1999, the Black Knights conducted a hurricane evacuation in advance of the approach of Hurricane Floyd. The squadron returned to flood ravaged North Carolina and provided support to Federal Emergency Management Agency and the citizens of North Carolina. The Black Knights conducted relief missions and facilitated the movement of congressional members and other VIPs throughout the affected area. In early December, the squadron provided support to the MV-22 Operational Test Evaluation by conducting the first shipboard interoperability training on board . Global War on Terror On March 5, 2003, the squadron embarked on a planned eight-month deployment on the maiden voyage of the . The squadron conducted operations in Northern Iraq, which started on 14 April 2003 and lasted two weeks. Six CH-46E and six CH-53Es flew over from the Mediterranean Sea into Irbil and Mosul Iraq. Historically, this flight is the longest self-deployed flight into land operations by any MEU. In support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the squadron flew reconnaissance and presence flights in the northern area of Iraq. During the squadron’s deployment it was the ready ARG for over a month in the Persian