[1] The primary mission of the squadron at that time was to provide airlift and air supply for the Fleet Marine Force in amphibious operations.

The personnel strength of the squadron grew quickly and crews were sent to Marine Corps Air Station Quantico, Virginia to accept and ferry the new Sikorsky HRS-1 helicopters to MCAF Santa Ana.

During these early months, the squadron was occupied primarily with proficiency training, which contributed to the growing body of knowledge of rotary winged aircraft and their tactical employment, ultimately evolving into a basis for the Marine Corps' doctrine of vertical envelopment.

During March 1957, six Marines of the squadron were awarded the Philippine Legion of Honor for their gallant conduct in the recovery operations at the scene of the death of President Ramon Magsaysay on Cebu Island.

The plane carrying the Philippine President from Cebu City to Manila crashed and the squadron was asked to assist in the rescue and recovery operations that were subsequently undertaken.

Just four days after their arrival the 3rd MEU was ordered to withdraw and the squadron was loaded on the USS Valley Forge and they departed Thailand.

[4] On 10 March two squadron UH-34Ds were engaged in a search and rescue operation for a United States Army OV-1 Mohawk missing in 5,000 feet (1,500 m) mountains 30 miles (48 km) southwest of Quảng Ngãi.

[6][7]On 27 April the squadron supported Operation Bach Phuong XI, an ARVN attack on the Vietcong (VC) stronghold at Đỗ Xá (15°10′37″N 108°04′41″E / 15.177°N 108.078°E / 15.177; 108.078), one helicopter was hit in the initial landings and had to be destroyed.

[8] On 8 June the squadron was replaced by HMM-261, during its deployment it had flown 17,670 sorties for a total of 8,579 flight hours, losing one Marine killed and three UH-34Ds destroyed.

[11] On 18 July the squadron evacuated the Marine team on Tiger Tooth Mountain (Dong Voi Mẹp) (16°46′05″N 106°42′47″E / 16.768°N 106.713°E / 16.768; 106.713) to Khe Sanh.

[12] On 30 August a squadron UH-34D hit trees on a small high elevation landing zone and crash-landed the crew was rescued and the helicopter stripped and destroyed.

[13] On 4 September the squadron supported Operation Chinh Bien an ARVN 2nd Division assault in Quảng Nam Province.

[15] On 17 November, the squadron which now formed the helicopter unit of the Special Landing Force (SLF) on USS Princeton joined recovery efforts in the aftermath of Typhoon Kate.