This is a list of United States Marine Corps aviation support squadrons and other units, sorted by type.
Active
Marine Wing Headquarters Squadrons
The Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron (MWHS) provides administrative and supply support for a Marine Aircraft Wing Headquarters (MAW HQ). The MAW HQ is a separate organization that directs and coordinates the operations of the MAW. The MAW HQ contains the wing commander (commanding general) and assistant wing commander, their personal staffs (aides-de-camp, drivers, etc.), and the chief of staff, the general staff divisions (G-1 through G-6), and the special staff departments (public affairs officer, wing inspector, staff judge advocate, wing medical officer, and wing chaplain). The wing commander fights the MAW from his operational command post located in the Tactical Air Command Center (TACC) maintained by the Marine Air Control Group (MACG).
The Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron (MALS) provides direct support of intermediate aircraft maintenance, avionics, aviation supply, and aviation ordnance to the aircraft squadrons of a Marine Aircraft Group. A MALS is capable of supporting multiple types of aircraft, as well as providing detachments for the aviation combat elements of a MEB or MEU.
MACS are responsible for air traffic control and operate the Tactical Air Operations Center (TAOC), which directs antiair warfare (to include ground-based anti-aircraft weapons), early warning & intercept control, air surveillance, radar control, and airspace management.
MTACS provide the ACE commander with command and control functions necessary for the aviation mission. They establish a Tactical Air Command Center (TACC), which is the operational command post for the Marine Aircraft Wing, from which the Wing Commander and his battle staff command the tactical air battle, including tactical air support provided to ground forces (directed from the DASC in the MASS) and tactical air defense (directed by the TAOC in the MACS). As part of Force Design 2030, all of the active duty MTACS have been decommissioned with their functionality moved to the Marine Air Control Group headquarters.
LAAD Battalions are responsible for close air defense protection of assets within the area of operation, with a secondary mission of local ground security for ACE elements. They are armed with surface to air weapons, as well as early warning and detection equipment. Currently, LAAD battalions are equipped with the FIM-92 Stinger, a man-portable surface-to-air missile, and the M2 .50 cal machinegun. The M1097 Avenger missile-equipped HMMWV has been retired by Marine forces.
The MWSS provides all essential aviation ground support to the MAG to operate an airfield. This support includes: (1) airfield services (aviation terminal operations, airfield expeditionary systems/ air field lighting, and aircraft crash rescue and firefighting/ emergency services), 2) communications (less air traffic control services), (3) motor transport, (4) engineer services (construction, maintenance, and utilities), 4) bulk fuel delivery and containment, (5) aircraft refueling, (6) non-aviation (i.e., "ground") supply, (7) non-aviation equipment maintenance, (8) local security, (9) food service, and (10) medical services (provided by U.S. Navy personnel).
Marines refuel an AH-1W helicopterMarines perform a vertical replenishment
A H&HS usually consists of the headquarters group (the station commanding general/commanding officer and staff), the squadron headquarters (commanding officer and staff), public affairs and journalism, facilities planning & maintenance, billeting and family housing offices, station motor pool, air traffic control, meteorology, fuels, ordnance, other aviation support, Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting, Provost Marshal section, station Judge Advocate's Office, station Chaplain, Navy medical facility, and Marine Corps Community Service, which usually hosts services such as a Marine Corps Exchamge (MCX) (i.e., post exchange), commissary, gas station, barber shop, dry cleaner, library, theater, golf course, bowling center, fitness, recreation, hobby, craft and auto repair center(s), swimming pool, officer, SNCO, NCO clubs, family services, Single Marine Program, and other personal services vendors.
Combat Logistics Companies, while subordinate to a Marine Logistics Group provide intermediate ground logistics support to aviation units, to include supply and maintenance beyond organic capabilities. All Marine air stations not in proximity to a Marine Logistics Group have a tenant company.
Decommissioned
Squadrons/Detachments are listed by their last designation.
GCI & Early Warning Detachments (1941-1943)
VMF(N)-531 GCI Detachment's SCR-527 on Stirling Island in early 1944
The Marine Corps' air warning squadrons were established during World War II and were tasked with providing early warning of enemy aircraft and ground control intercept against enemy aircraft during the initial phases of any amphibious landing. The first AWS was commissioned in September 1943 with a total of 19 being stood up during the war. On August 1, 1946 all remaining AWS were redesignated as Marine Ground Control Intercept Squadrons.
Radar vans from Air Warning Squadron 8 on Aguni Shima during the Battle of Okinawa.
Squadron photo of AWS(AT)-5 taken at MCAD Miramar in March 1944.
Assault Air Warning Squadrons were United States Marine Corps aviation command and control units formed during World War II to provide early warning, aerial surveillance, and ground controlled interception during the early phases of an amphibious landing. These squadrons were supposed to be fielded lightweight radars and control center gear in order to operate for a limited duration at the beginning of any operation until larger air warning squadrons came ashore. They were originally formed as Air Warning Squadron (Air Transportable) however their deisgnators changed in July/August 1944 due to the inability to field an air transportable radar. Four of these squadrons were commissioned during the war with one, AWS(AT)-5, taking part in the Battle of Saipan. All four squadrons were decommissioned in November 1944.
Aircraft Engineering Squadrons were responsible for training aircraft maintenance and service personnel. The squadrons were originally formed during World War II and were in existence into the early 1950s.[21]
MCAS New River (1952) MCAAF Edenton (1952–53) NAS Atsugi(1953-1976) MCAS Iwakuni (1976-1978)
January 1, 1952
October 1, 1978
Commissioned January 1, 1952 as MATCU-7 under MGCIS-7. Redesignated as MATCU-31 under MAG-31 on April 1, 1952. Redesignated as MATCU-11 under MAG-11 on August 2, 1953. Redesignated again as MATCU-60 on February 8, 1954.[57]
MCAS Santa Ana (1951–52) MCAS El Toro (1952-55) MCAS Kaneohe Bay (1955–66) South Vietnam (1966-70) MCAS Iwakuni (1970–72) RTAB Nam Phong (1972-73) MCAS Iwakuni (1972–78)
August 23, 1951
October 1, 1978
Commissioned August 23, 1951 as MATCU-4 under MGCIS-4. Redesignated as MATCU-15 under MAG-15 on April 1, 1952. Redesignated again as MATCU-62 on February 10, 1954.
MCAS El Toro (1947–50) Korean War (1950) Itami AFB (1951–53) NAS Atsugi (1953-62) RTAB Udorn (1962) NAS Atsugi (1962–65) MCAS Iwakuni (1965–66) MCAF Futenma (1966-78) Det A - Quang Tri (1968)
March 6, 1947
October 1, 1978
GCA Unit 37M was designated as such on March 6, 1947 and became operational at MCAS EL Toro on March 10, 1947. The first of its kind in the Marine Corps. The unit was redesignated as MATCU-66 on January 1, 1955.[60]
The Marine Air Traffic Control Squadrons (MATCS) were formed through the consolidation of regionally aligned Marine Air Traffic Control Units, underneath each Marine Air Wing. The first MATCS was commissioned in 1976 with the last one commissioning in the reserves in 1980. The MATCS provided all-weather, air traffic control services at expeditionary airfields and remote area landing sites in support of Fleet Marine Force operations as part of the Marine Air Command and Control System (MACCS).
^Redesignation to MATCU-60 authorized by CMC Dispatch 231803z/Jan54 as noted in the MATCU-60 February 1954 Muster Rolls.
^Authorized by Machine Accounting Officer speed letter P2/144/WCJ-bt MRI 1061 of 28 September 1953. Taken from the MATCU-14 October 1953 Muster Rolls
^Authorized by 3d MAW General Order 91-53. Noted in the MABS-32 Muster Rolls for September 1953
^GCA Unit 37M was redesignated as MATCU-66 by authority of CMC letter AAE-2363-1sp dated 15 November 1954. Taken from the MATCU-66 Muster Rolls-January 1955
Rottman, Gordon L. (2002). U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle – Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. ISBN0-313-31906-5.
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