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Marine Aircraft Group 29




  caption MAG-29 Insignia
  dates May 1 , 1972
  country United States
  branch USMC
  type Helicopter Aircraft Group
  role Close Air Support <br> Assault Support <br> Casevac
  command Structure 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing <br> II Marine Expeditionary Force
  garrison Marine Corps Air Station New River
  nickname Sea Elk
  motto Training, Attack, Assualt
  battles Operation Desert Storm <br> Operation Restore Hope <br> Operation Enduring Freedom <br> Operation Iraqi Freedom


Marine Aircaft Group 29 (MAG-29) is a United States Marine Corps aviation unit based at Marine Corps Air Station New River that is currently composed of five CH-46 Sea Knight squadrons, two CH-53 Super Stallion squadrons, one Light Attack Squadron, two MV-22 Osprey squadrons and a maintenance and logistics squadron.


MISSION

Provide air support to MAGTF commanders.


SUBORDINATE UNITS

CH-46 Sea Knight Squadrons

CH-53E Super Stallion Squadrons

Light Attack Squadrons

MV-22 Squadrons

Maintenance Squadron


HISTORY


Early years & the 1980's

Marine Aircraft Group 29 was commissioned May 1, 1972 at Marine Corps Air Station New River , Jacksonville, North Carolina . MAG-29 was composed of H&HS-29, Marine Air Base Squadron 29, and Marine Light Helicopter Squadron 268. The two squadrons were newly designated units awaiting assignment of personnel and material.

Four days after its activation, MAG-29 received its first aircraft, the UH-1N , directly from Bell Helicopter in Fort Worth, Texas . Eleven days later, the Group more than doubled in size with the addition of Marine Light Helicopter Squadron 167, Marine Attack Helicopter Squadron 269 , and Marine Observation Squadron 1 from Marine Aircraft Group 26 .

During 1982, the first phases of the MAG-29/MAG-26 reorganization were completed with the composition of UH-1N and AH-1T aircraft in HML-167 and HMA-269, and transfer of HMM-162 and HMH-464 to MAG-29 from MAG-26. During 1983, MAG-29 received HMM-365 and HMM-263 to complete the MAG-29/MAG-26 reorganization.


1990's

MAG-29 deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm .

During 1993, MAG-29 units supported United Nations Operation Restore Hope and Operation Continue Hope in Somalia and Operation Deny Flight and Operation Provide Promise in the former Yugoslavia . During the summer of 1994, MAG-29 personnel and aircraft supported Operation Restore Democracy in Haiti . On June 7, 1995, Marines of HMM-263 successfully rescued downed U.S. Air Force pilot Captain Scott O'Grady .

In 1999, MAG-29 saw yet another real world contingency in the deployment of HMM-365(REIN). As the ACE for the 26th MEU, HMM-365(REIN) supported numerous operations in the countries of Albania , Kosovo , and Macedonia , Humanitarian Assistance in Turkey and participated in Operation Allied Force , Operation Allied Harbour , Joint Task Force shining Hope, Operation Noble Anvil , Operation Joint Guardian , and Operation Avid Response .


Global War on Terror

After 9/11 the MAG prepared for support operations in New York City and contingency operations overseas. HMM-365 (REIN) was quickly deployed and ordered to be among the first troops into Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom . MAG-29 (REIN) was ordered to deploy in January 2003 to become the 3rd Rotary Wing MAG for the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom . The Group returned from Iraq in June 2003.


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