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The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing is an aviation unit of the United States Marine Corps based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar , California . MISSION The mission of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing is to provide combat ready expeditionary aviation forces capable of short notice world wide deployment to Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF), fleet and unified commanders. CURRENT FORCE Locations Units of 3rd MAW are located in the Western United States at the following bases: Subordinate Units
HISTORY The Third Marine Aircraft Wing was commissioned on November 10 , 1942 , at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point , N.C. with a personnel roster of 13 officers, 25 enlisted men and one aircraft - a trainer. The Wing's Combat history began with the World War II deployment of a Bomber Squadron on December 3 , 1943 . A little more than a year later, the Wing deployed a Night Fighter squadron in support of the war effort. On April 21 , 1944 , the Wing boarded three Carriers for a voyage to Hawaii and arrived May 8, where it assumed the functions of Marine Air, Hawaii Area. When the Japanese surrendered, 3d MAW was decommissioned and its personnel were assigned to other units. The Wing had played an important, but behind-the-scenes, role in defeating the Japanese by giving the best training available to Marine pilots and support personnel. In 1952 , as the Corps again fought in the Far East, the Wing was reactivated at Cherry Point for the Korean War . The main portion of the Wing began moving to the new Marine Corps Air Station Miami, the Marine Corps' first "flying field." In September 1955 , the Wing left Miami for Marine Corps Air Station El Toro , Calif. Third Marine Aircraft Wing was rebuilt again, with the addition of Marine Aircraft Group 15, followed by Marine Aircraft Group 36 with its helicopter squadrons at a nearby Air Station in Santa Ana, California . Wing squadrons were detached and deployed to Vietnam as combat action in Southeast Asia flared. At the end of the Vietnam War several units were brought back to the United States and deactivated or redesignated, creating the 3d Marine Aircraft Wing of today. The Wing saw action again as part of the I Marine Expeditionary Force , conducting operations in Iraq and Kuwait during Operations Desert Shield / Storm /Saber. After the end of hostilities, 3d MAW aircraft provided support in Operation Provide Comfort and Operation Southern Watch over Iraq. The Wing was once more called into service in Somalia for Operation Restore Hope . The fall of 2001 would reveal a new type of warfare, the War On Terrorism , and 3d MAW answered the call again deploying several detachments in support of the ongoing Operation Enduring Freedom . In the fall of 2002 the Wing began deploying to Kuwait to prepare for combat operations in Iraq . The Third Marine Aircraft Wing supported I MEF and coalition forces in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom . LOCATIONS Units of 3rd MAW are located in the Western United States at the following locations: Marine Corps Air Station Miramar , Marine Corps Air Station Yuma , Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms CURRENT AIRCRAFT IN USE Fixed wing aircraft Rotary wing aircraft UAVs SEE ALSO REFERENCES EXTERNAL LINKS |
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