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Information About

1st Marine Aircraft Wing




  caption 1st Marine Aircraft Wing Insignia
  dates July 7 , 1941
  country United States
  branch USMC
  type Marine Aircraft Wing
  role Conduct air operations in support of the Fleet Marine Force s
  command Structure 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force
  garrison Marine Corps Air Station Futenma
  nickname 1st MAW
  battles World War II <br> Korean War <br> Vietnam War


The 1st Marine Aircraft Wing is an aviation unit of the United States Marine Corps based at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma , Okinawa , Japan .


MISSION

Conduct air operations in support of the Fleet Marine Force s to include offensive air support, antiair warfare, assault support, aerial reconnaissance including active and passive electronic countermeasures (ECM), and control of aircraft and missiles. As a collateral function, the Wing may participate as an integral component of Naval Aviation in the execution of such other Navy functions as the Fleet Commander may direct.


CURRENT FORCE


Locations

Units of 1st MAW are located in the Pacific Region at the following bases:


Subordinate units



1st MAW consists of 5 subordinate groups, a headquarters squadron and a liasion group:


Current aircraft in use


Fixed wing aircraft



Rotary wing aircraft



HISTORY



WW II



Korean War

At the beginning of the Korean War , the initial deployment of Marines was a provisional brigade activated on July 7 , 1956 — the Provisional Marine Brigade — formed from the 1st Marine Division and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. Its core consisted of two units — a regimental combat team from the 5th Marine Regiment and Marine Aircraft Group 33 (MAG-33). Their job was to provide close air support, resupply, and Medevac for Marine ground forces.

Two 1st MAW Aircraft Groups — MAG-33 and MAG-12 — and the 1st Antiaircraft Artillery Gun Battalion served during the course of the war.


Vietnam

From April 1962, when HMM-362 flew into the Mekong Delta to set up operations at the Soc Trang airfield in, through April 1975, when helicopters of HMM-164 evacuated the last Americans from the U.S. embassy in Saigon . While early missions involved Marine helicopters providing logistical support for South Vietnam , this role quickly expanded when 1st MAW pilots and crewmen were called upon to perform their traditional role of providing Close Air Support for Marine combat units as American involvement in the war escalated.

Helicopters played an extensive role in air operations in Vietnam, as Marine pilots flew CH-34 s and later CH-46 s and CH-53 s to transport Marines into landing zones near suspected enemy concentrations, and to evacuate the wounded following combat engagements. Helicopters, supplemented by C-130 transports where there were landing strips, were also used to re-supply Marines in the field at remote outposts. Other Marine pilots, flew UH-1E Hueys , and AH-1 Cobra s. Many of these choppers provided reconnaissance and armed air cover for combat air operations.

The build up of American troops resulted in the deployment of the Marine Corps' attack and fighter aircraft including the Douglas A-4 , and the McDonnell F4B , as well as the maintenance, ordnance, and other support personnel necessary.


Gulf War and the 1990's



Global War on Terror



FAMOUS MEMBERS



REFERENCES




EXTERNAL LINKS