JACKSONVILLE, N.C. –
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 264, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, was officially reactivated during a Dec. 11, 2025, ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, marking the return of a storied unit after a five-year stand-down.
Known as “The Black Knights,” VMM-264 was deactivated June 24, 2020, as part of Force Design initiatives. During the squadron’s hiatus, the Marine Corps conducted a comprehensive force-management analysis to ensure operational commitments remained fully supported. That analysis identified the need for an additional East Coast VMM squadron to sustain II Marine Expeditionary Force’s operational commitments, prompting the decision to bring VMM-264 back online. This move reflects incremental adjustments to Force Design to meet the service’s operational demands.
During the reactivation ceremony, Col. Daniel Kaiser, commanding officer of Marine Aircraft Group 26 (MAG), highlighted the squadron’s history and its early role in shaping MV-22 operations.
“VMM-264 carries a distinguished legacy, having been established in 1959 and providing decades of critical support to Marine Air-Ground Task Force operations around the globe,” Kaiser said. “Upon transitioning to the MV-22 Osprey in 2009, the squadron played a pivotal role in developing and advancing the MV-22 as the Marine Corps’ premier assault support platform.
“MAG-26 is proud to welcome this storied unit back into the fold and looks forward to the significant contributions the ‘Black Knights’ will bring in support of the ‘Carolina MAGTF.’”
The squadron will resume operating the MV-22 Osprey, the Marine Corps’ multi-role tiltrotor aircraft that combines helicopter-like vertical lift with the speed and range of a fixed-wing aircraft. Developed by Bell Helicopter and Boeing, the Osprey supports a wide array of missions, including troop transports, logistics and casualty evacuation, and its speed and range make it a crucial asset for rapid deployment and maneuverability in contested environments.
The ceremony also included an assumption of command, with Lt. Col. Paul Lancaster formally taking command of VMM-264.
“I’m proud to lead the reactivation of a legacy assault support unit,” Lancaster said. “This reactivation brings the necessary balance and capacity to the MV-22 community and supports the continued evolution of Marine Corps aviation.
“Today’s ceremony honors the Marines and sailors who worked tirelessly to build a world-class squadron, dedicated to operational excellence. It also honors the thousands of Marines and sailors who wore the ‘Black Knights’ patch previously.”
VMM-264 is a subordinate unit of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation combat element of II Marine Expeditionary Force.
Written by Capt. Jacob Ballard with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. 