HMH-361 was initially commissioned as Marine Transport Squadron 361 on February 25, 1952 at what was then Marine Corps Air Station Santa Ana, California. The "Flying Tigers" were attached to the only helicopter group in the Marine Corps, Marine Air Group (HR) - 16. At that time, the squadron consisted of only three OY-2 and one HRS-2 helicopters located at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. The original mission of the squadron was to train for and improve upon amphibious ship-to-shore tactics. An additional mission was training replacement pilots for duty in the Korean War.