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United States Marine Corps Aviation

May 17, 2023

United States Marine Corps Aviation (USMCA) is the aircraft arm of the United States Marine Corps. Aviation units within the Marine Corps are assigned to support the Marine Air-Ground Task Force, as the aviation combat element, by providing six functions: assault support, antiair warfare, close air support, electronic warfare, control of aircraft and missiles, and aerial reconnaissance.[1] The Corps operates rotary-wing, tiltrotor, and fixed-wing aircraft mainly to provide transport and close air support to its ground forces. Other aircraft types are also used in a variety of support and special-purpose roles. All Marine Corps aviation falls under the influence of the Deputy Commandant for Aviation, whose job is to advise the Commandant of the Marine Corps in all matters relating to aviation, especially acquisition of new assets, conversions of current aircraft, maintenance, operation, and command.[2]

United States Marine Corps Aviation
United States Marine Corps Aviation emblem
Active22 May 1912 - Present
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Marine Corps
TypeNaval aviation
Part ofHeadquarters Marine Corps
A Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion flies above the USS San Diego (LPD-22) over the Arabian Gulf in 2021

History

 
First Lieutenant Alfred A. Cunningham, first Marine Corps aviator
 
The first USMC plane: a Curtiss C-3

Marine Corps aviation officially began on 22 May 1912, when First Lieutenant Alfred Austell Cunningham reported to Naval Aviation Camp in Annapolis, Maryland, "for duty in connection with aviation."[3] On 20 August 1912, he became the first Marine aviator when he took off in a Burgess Model H given to him by the Burgess Company in Marblehead Harbor , Massachusetts.[4]

As the number of Marine Corps pilots grew, so did the desire to separate from Naval Aviation,[5] an objective realized on 6 January 1914, when First Lieutenant Bernard L. Smith was directed to Culebra, Puerto Rico, to establish the Marine Section of the Navy Flying School. In 1915, the Commandant of the Marine Corps authorized the creation of a Marine Corps aviation company consisting of 10 officers and 40 enlisted men.[6] The Marine Aviation Company was commissioned on 17 February 1917 as the first official Marine flying unit, at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.[7]

World War I

 
Roundel used by the Marine Corps during World War I

The first major expansion of the Marine Corps' air component came with America's entrance into World War I in 1917. Wartime expansion saw the Aviation Company split into the First Aeronautic Company which deployed to the Azores to hunt U-boats in January 1918[8] and the First Marine Air Squadron which deployed to France as the newly renamed 1st Marine Aviation Force in July 1918[7] and provided bomber and fighter support to the Navy's Day Wing, Northern Bombing Group.[6] By the end of the war, several Marine Aviators had recorded air-to-air kills, and collectively they had dropped over fourteen tons of bombs.[5] Their numbers included 282 officers and 2,180 enlisted men operating from 8 squadrons,[9] with Second Lieutenant Ralph Talbot being the first Marine Corps aviator to earn the Medal of Honor, for action against the Luftstreitkräfte air arm of Imperial Germany on 8 October 1918. In 1919, the 1st Division/Squadron 1 was formed from these units and still exists today as VMA-231.

Interwar period

 
A Vought VE-7F from VO-1M in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic circa 1922

The end of World War I saw Congress authorize 1,020 men for Marine Corps aviation and the establishment of permanent air stations at Quantico, Parris Island and San Diego.[10] The United States embraced its role of global power, and the Marine Corps became the preferred force for military intervention; where the Marines went, so went Marine Corps aviation. During the Banana Wars, while fighting bandits and insurgents in places like Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua, Marine Corps aviators began to experiment with air-ground tactics and making the support of their fellow Marines on the ground their primary mission. It was in Haiti that Marines began to develop the tactic of dive bombing and in Nicaragua where they began to perfect it. While other nations and services had tried variations of this technique, Marine Corps pilots were the first to embrace it and make it part of their tactical doctrine.[11] Marine Corps aviation in Nicaragua developed the skill of air resupply of outposts dropping bundles from Fokker F.VII tri-motors.[12] Even prior to the events in the Caribbean, pioneering Marine Corps aviators such as Alfred Cunningham had noted in 1920 that, "...the only excuse for aviation in any service is its usefulness in assisting the troops on the ground to successfully carry out their missions.[13] "

It was not until 3 May 1925 that the Marine Corps officially appeared in the Navy's Aeronautical Organization when Rear Admiral William A. Moffett, Chief of the Navy's Bureau of Aeronautics, issued a directive officially authorizing three fighting squadrons.[14] In the 1920s, Marine Corps squadrons began qualifying on board aircraft carriers. However, in terms of mission and training, the assignment of two Marine scouting squadrons as component units of the Pacific Fleet carriers would be one of the greatest advancements for Marine Corps aviation. Prior to this, Marine Corps squadrons were loosely controlled with regard to doctrine and training. This assignment enabled nearly 60% of active duty aviators at the time to be exposed to a disciplined training syllabus under a clearly defined mission.[15]

 
WWII Recruiting poster illustrated by Maj. W. Victor Guinness, USMC

The turning point for the long-term survival of Marine Air[16] came with the structural change of the establishment of the Fleet Marine Force in 1933.[17] This shifted Marine doctrine to focus less on expeditionary duty and more on supporting amphibious warfare by seizing advance naval bases in the event of war.[18][19] This also saw the establishment of Aircraft One and Aircraft Two to replace the old Aircraft Squadron, East Coast and Aircraft Squadron, West Coast that had supported operations in the Caribbean and China as part of their expeditionary duties.[20] This organization would remain until June 1940 when Congress authorized the Marine Corps 1,167 aircraft as part of its 10,000 plane program for the Navy.[20] Just prior, in 1939, the Navy's General Board published a new mission for Marine Aviation, which stated: "Marine Aviation is to be equipped, organized and trained primarily for the support of the Fleet Marine Force in landing operations and in support of troop activities in the field; and secondarily as replacement for carrier based naval aircraft.[21] " On 7 December 1941, the day of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Marine Corps air units consisted of 13 flying squadrons and 230 aircraft.[19][20]

World War II

 
An F4U Corsair of VMF-214 in World War II

During World War II, the Marine Corps' air arm expanded rapidly and extensively.[20] They reached their peak number of units with 5 air wings, 31 aircraft groups and 145 flying squadrons.[19] During the war, and for the next fifty years, the Guadalcanal campaign would become a defining point for Marine Aviation. The great takeaways were the debilitating effects of not having air superiority, the vulnerability of targets such as transport shipping, and the vital importance of quickly acquiring expeditionary airfields during amphibious operations.[22] Because of the way the Pacific War unfolded, Marine Aviation was not able to achieve its 1939 mission of supporting the Fleet Marine Force at first. For the first two years of the war, the air arm spent most of its time protecting the fleet and land-based installations from attacks by enemy ships and aircraft.

This began to change after the Battle of Tarawa as the air support for ground troops flown by Navy pilots left much to be desired. After the battle, General Holland Smith recommended, "Marine aviators, thoroughly schooled in the principles of direct air support," should do the job.[23] The New Georgia campaign saw the first real close air support provided to Marine ground forces by Marine Air; the Bougainville campaign and the campaign to retake the Philippines saw the establishment of air liaison parties to coordinate air support with the Marines fighting on the ground,[24] and the Battle of Okinawa brought most of it together with the establishment of aviation command and control in the form of Landing Force Air Support Control Units.[25]

During the course of the war, Marine Aviators were credited with shooting down 2,355 Japanese aircraft while losing 573 of their own aircraft in combat, they had 120 aces and earned 11 Medals of Honor.[26] Immediately following the war, the strength of the Marine Corps flying arm was drastically cut as part of the post war drawdown of forces. Their active strength fell from 116,628 personnel and 103 squadrons on 31 August 1945 to 14,163 personnel and 21 squadrons on 30 June 1948. They maintained another 30 squadrons in the Marine Air Reserve.[6] Secretary of Defense Louis A. Johnson attempted to eliminate Marine Corps aviation by transferring its air assets to other services and even proposed to progressively eliminate the Marine Corps altogether in a series of budget cutbacks and decommissioning of forces.[27]

Jets and helicopters

After World War II, most propeller aircraft were gradually phased out as jet aircraft improved and helicopters were developed for use in amphibious operations. The first Marine jet squadron came in November 1947 when VMF-122 fielded the FH Phantom.[28] In December 1950, VMF-311 became the first Marine jet squadron used in combat, providing close air support for the Marines and soldiers on the ground, flying the F9F Panther.[29] In February 1957, VMA-214 became the first Marine squadron to be certified for "special weapons delivery": dropping nuclear weapons.[30] Several others would receive certification,[31] though eventually all nuclear weapons were turned over to Navy and Air Force responsibility.

HMX-1, the first Marine helicopter squadron, was commissioned on 1 December 1947.[32] Marine helicopters—VMO-6 flying the HO3S1 helicopter—made their combat debut in August 1950 during the Battle of Pusan Perimeter.[33] January 1951 saw the activation of HMR-161, the world's first helicopter transport squadron.[34]

 
F-4 Phantom II from VMFA-314 returning to Chu Lai during the Vietnam War

The Korean and Vietnam wars saw the size of Marine Aviation rebound from its post-WWII lows, emerging as the force that exists today, consisting of four air wings, 20 aircraft groups and 78 flying squadrons. By the end of the Vietnam War, the Marine Air-Ground Task Force had grown dependent on its multi-mission inventory of fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, which could operate from land or sea bases to support Marines on the ground.[16] Marine Aviators deployed to the Middle East for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, then to Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom. 2006 saw Marine Aviation at its highest operational level since the Vietnam War, flying more than 120,000 combat hours in to support operations in and near Afghanistan and Iraq. Despite their aging aircraft and high operating tempo, Marine Aviation maintained a 74.5-percent mission-capable rate.[35]

Aircraft upgrades

Since the Corps as a whole began to grow in 2007, Marine Aviation expanded with it and continues to grow.[36] Several new squadrons have been activated, including VMFAT-501, and VMU-4.[36] Some support units will gain personnel and equipment.[37] The Corps intends to procure 420[38] F-35B/Cs (353 F-35Bs and 67 F-35Cs) to replace all F/A-18 Hornets, AV-8B Harrier IIs and EA-6B Prowlers[39] in the fighter, attack, and electronic warfare[40] roles. The MV-22B Osprey replaced the CH-46 Sea Knight and CH-53D Sea Stallion. The Corps has transitioned all East Coast CH-46 squadrons to the MV-22, which has made its first combat deployments and Marine expeditionary unit deployments. The CH-53E Super Stallion will be replaced by the CH-53K King Stallion.[41] The KC-130J Super Hercules will replace all other C-130 models. As part of the H-1 upgrade program,[42] UH-1N Twin Hueys were replaced by UH-1Y Venoms,[43] while AH-1W SuperCobras were upgraded to AH-1Z Vipers. The VH-3D Sea Kings and the VH-60N Blackhawks of HMX-1 are to be replaced by the Sikorsky VH-92 in the VXX program.[44] Unmanned aerial vehicle programs will be upgraded in tiers, with the RQ-7 Shadow replacing the RQ-2 Pioneer and the RQ-11 Raven.[45][46] They have also been in the lead in looking at unmanned helicopters to resupply troops at remote forward operating bases in places such as Afghanistan.[47]

Organization

Squadrons

Main articles: List of active United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons, List of inactive United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons, and List of United States Marine Corps aviation support units
 
Squadron insignia for the VMFA-232 Red Devils, the oldest fighter squadron in the Marine Corps

The basic tactical and administrative unit of United States Marine Corps aviation is the squadron. Fixed wing and tilt-rotor aircraft squadrons are denoted by the letter "V", which comes from the French verb "Voler" (to fly). Rotary wing (helicopter) squadrons use "H." Squadrons flying lighter than air vehicles (balloons), which were active from World War I to 1943, were indicated by the letter "Z" in naval squadron designation.[48] Marine squadrons are noted by the second letter "M." Squadron numbering is not linear, as some were numbered in ascending order, and others took numbers from the wing or the ship to which they were assigned.[49] From 1920 to 1941, Marine flying squadrons were identified by one digit numbers. This changed on 1 July 1941 when all existing squadrons were redesignated to a three-digit system. The first two numbers were meant to identify the squadron's parent group, but with the rapid expansion during the war and frequent transfer of squadrons, this system fell apart.[50]

Groups

Main articles: List of United States Marine Corps aircraft groups and List of United States Marine Corps aviation support units

The next higher level in Marine Aviation is the Group, the aviation equivalent of a regiment. Groups can be classified as:

Wings

Main article: List of United States Marine Corps aircraft wings

The largest level in Marine aviation is the Marine Aircraft Wing, the equivalent of a division. Wings are usually grouped with a Marine division and a Marine Logistics Group to form a Marine Expeditionary Force. Administratively, Marine aviation is organized into three active duty MAWs and one reserve MAW. MAWs are designed to provide units in support of MAGTF or other operations. Each MAW has a unique organizational structure. The MAW may be reinforced with assets from other MAWs to provide the necessary assets to meet mission requirements. The MAW contains a Marine Aircraft Wing Headquarters (MAW HQ), that directs and coordinates the operations of the MAW, a Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron (MWHS) (see: MWHS-1, MWHS-2 and MWHS-3), which provides administrative and supply support for the MAW HQ, three or four Marine Aircraft Groups (MAGs), and a Marine Air Control Group (MACG). The mission of the MAW is to conduct air operations in support of the Marine Forces to include offensive air support, anti-aircraft warfare, assault support, aerial reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and the control of aircraft and missiles. As a collateral function, the MAW may participate as an integral component of naval aviation in the execution of such other Navy functions as the Fleet Commander may direct.

Corps

All Marine Corps aviation falls under the cognizance of the Deputy Commandant for Aviation (DCA) at Headquarters Marine Corps, with the cooperation of the United States Navy. There, plans for all aspects of aviation are created and managed, including acquisition of new aircraft, training, maintenance, manpower, etc. HQMCA creates Transitional Task Forces to assist units in transitioning between aircraft and aircraft versions.

The Deputy Commandant of Aviation also commands Marine Corps Detachments at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake and Naval Air Station Patuxent River. The NAS China Lake Marines are responsible to DCA for the test and evaluation of all weapons and weapon systems and for electronic warfare development. While those at NAS Pax River work with Naval Air Systems Command and are responsible for developing, acquiring and supporting naval aeronautical and related technology systems for the operating forces.[51][52]

Marine air stations

Main article: List of United States Marine Corps installations

Due to the range and space needed to operate aircraft, each MAW spreads its groups and squadrons amongst several Marine Corps Air Stations (MCAS), as well as offering detachments/liaisons (and occasionally full units) to airports, Air Force Bases and Naval Air Stations. Each MCAS maintains its own base functions as well as air traffic control and facilities (often with a Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron of its own).

Aviators and flight officers

All Marine pilots and flight officers are trained and qualified as naval aviators or naval flight officers by the Navy. Prospective aviators receive their commissions and attend The Basic School just as all other Marine officers do, then report to Marine Aviation Training Support Group 21 to attend Aviation Preflight Indoctrination at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. There they receive instruction in aerodynamics, aircraft engines and systems, meteorology, navigation, and flight rules and regulations. Following completion, they are assigned to Primary Flight Training at Marine Aviation Training Support Group 22, Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas, or remain in Pensacola, Florida. Upon successful completion of Primary Flight Training, they select which type of aircraft they would like to fly, in accordance with the needs of the Corps.

After selection, student aviators are assigned to Advanced Flight Training in their particular field (strike, mutli-engine, rotary, or tilt-rotor). Upon completion, students are designated as Naval Aviators and are awarded the Naval Aviator Insignia. From that point, they are trained at a Fleet Replacement Squadron for the specific aircraft they will be flying. A few uncommon aircraft are taught by the Navy or Air Force, or in the case of HMX-1, by the company that created the aircraft.[53] After completion, aviators are assigned to their first squadron.

Flight officers, after Aviation Preflight Indoctrination, continue their own training path by staying at Pensacola and training further in navigation and avionics. After Advanced NFO training, they receive their wings and are assigned to their first duty squadron. With the F-35 replacing the F/A-18 Hornet by 2030, the Marine Corps is no longer accepting new Naval Flight Officers.

Enlisted aircrew also serve on some aircraft (mostly helicopters). They are trained at NAS Pensacola and are eligible to wear the Aircrew insignia.

Marine aviators are eligible to earn medals such as the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism in combat and the Air Medal for meritorious achievement in flight as well as the Gray Eagle Award for seniority. Pilots in combat have a chance to become flying aces.

Aircraft

 
MV-22B with Marine paratroopers

Marine light attack helicopter squadrons (HMLA) are composite squadrons of AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters and UH-1Y Venom utility helicopters. These provide light-attack and light transport utility capabilities. Marine medium tilt-rotor (VMM) squadrons fly the V-22 Osprey, a tilt-rotor transport aircraft. Marine heavy helicopter (HMH) squadrons fly the CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter for heavy-lift missions. These will eventually be replaced with the upgraded CH-53K, currently under development.[54]

Marine attack squadrons (VMA) fly the AV-8 Harrier II; while Marine Fighter-Attack (VMFA) and Marine (All Weather) Fighter-Attack (VMFA(AW)) squadrons, respectively fly both the single-seat (F/A-18C) and dual-seat (F/A-18D) versions of the F/A-18 Hornet strike-fighter aircraft. The AV-8B is a VTOL aircraft that can operate from amphibious assault ships, land air bases and short, expeditionary airfields.[55] The F/A-18 can only be flown from land or aircraft carriers. Both are slated to be replaced by the F-35B, the STOVL version of the F-35 Lightning II.[56] The Marine Corps will also purchase 80 of the F-35C carrier variants, enough for five squadrons, to serve with Navy carrier air wings.[57][58][59] The Corps operates its own aerial refueling assets in the form of the KC-130J Super Hercules. In Marine transport refueling (VMGR) squadrons, the Hercules doubles as a ground refueller and tactical-airlift transport aircraft.

With the addition of the ISR / Weapon Mission Kit, the KC-130J will be able to serve as an overwatch aircraft and can deliver ground support fire in the form of 30mm cannon fire, Hellfire or Griffin missiles, and precision-guided bombs.[35][60] This capability, designated as "Harvest HAWK" (Hercules Airborne Weapons Kit), can be used in scenarios where precision is not a requisite, such as area denial,[61][62][63] and was first used in Afghanistan in late 2010.[64] Serving in Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare (VMAQ) Squadrons until its retirement in 2019, the EA-6B Prowler was the main tactical electronic warfare aircraft left in the U.S. inventory, until Navy squadrons replaced it with the EA-18G Growler.

Based on the two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet, the Growler has been labeled a "national asset" and is frequently borrowed to assist in any American combat action, not just Marine operations.[65] Since the retirement of the EF-111A Raven in 1998, the Air Force's only EW aircraft, Marine Corps and Navy aircraft have provided electronic warfare support to Air Force units.

Marine Fighter Training Squadron 401 (VMFT-401) operates F-5 Tiger II aircraft in support of air combat adversary (aggressor) training. Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) operates the VH-3D Sea King medium-lift and VH-60N Nighthawk light-lift helicopters in the VIP transport role, previously planned to be replaced by the cancelled VH-71 Kestrel. Marine Transport Squadron One (VMR-1) utilizes several aircraft to transport VIPs and critical logistics, to include the UC-35C/D Citation Ultra/Encore, C-12B/F Huron, and C-20G Gulfstream IV. A single Marine Corps C-130J "Fat Albert," is used to support the U.S. Navy's flight demonstration team, the "Blue Angels".

Current inventory

Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Combat Aircraft
AV-8B Harrier II United States ground attack AV-8B+ 87[66] V/STOL capable aircraft
F/A-18 Hornet United States multirole F/A-18A/C/D 138[66]
F-35 Lightning II United States multirole F-35B 127 29 used for training - 303 on order[66]
Tanker
KC-130 Super Hercules United States aerial refueling C-130J 64[66]
Transport
C-12 Huron United States utility / transport 15 1 on order[66]
C-20G Grey Ghost United States VIP transport 1[66]
UC-35 Citation United States VIP transport 10 2 on order[66]
Helicopter
AH-1Z Viper United States attack 159[66]
CH-53E Super Stallion United States heavy lift 140[66]
CH-53K King Stallion United States heavy lift 9 [67] 191 on order[68]
MV-22 Osprey United States multi-mission / transport MV-22B 289 13 on order[66]
SH-3 Sea King United States VIP transport VH-3D 7 used by HMX-1 "Marine One" for presidential transport
UH-1Y Venom United States utility 160[69]
VH-60 Presidential Hawk United States VIP transport VH-60N 8 used by HMX-1 "Marine One" for presidential transport
Trainer Aircraft
F-5 Tiger II United States jet trainer F-5F/N 12[66] OpFor training
F/A-18 Hornet United States conversion trainer F/A-18B/C/D 46[66]
F-35 Lightning II United States conversion trainer F-35B/C 29[70]
Sikorsky S-92 United States helicopter trainer 1[70]
T-34 Mentor United States trainer 4[66]
TAV-8B Harrier II United States conversion trainer TAV-8 12[66] V/STOL capable aircraft

Gallery

  •  

    An F-35 hovering over the USS America

  •  

    An F/A-18 of VMFA-232

  •  

    The AH-1Z is the latest variant of the Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter series

  •  

    An MV-22 tilt-rotor aircraft

Armaments

See also

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to United States Marine Corps aviation.

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Bibliography

Further reading

  • 75 Years of Marine Corps Aviation—A Tribute. History & Museums Division, United States Marine Corps. 1986.
  • (PDF). United States Department of the Navy. 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 December 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
  • Garand, George W.; Truman R. Strobridge (1971). "Appendix E: Fleet Marine Force status – 31 August 1944". History of U.S. Marine Corps Operations in World War II. Vol. IV: Western Pacific Operations. Marine Corps Historical Branch; hosted by the HyperWar Project. ISBN 0-89839-198-9.
  • Condon, MajGen John P. (1987). . 75th Year of Naval Aviation Commemorative Collection. Vol. 5. Naval Historical Center. ISBN 0-16-051075-9. Archived from the original on 5 February 2007.
  • Doll, Thomas (2000). Night Wings: USMC Night Fighters, 1942–1953. Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Productions. ISBN 0-89747-419-8.
  • Elliott, Maj John M. (2002). Marine Corps Aircraft: 1913–2000 (PDF). History & Museums Division, United States Marine Corps.[permanent dead link]
  • Foster, John M. (1961). Hell in the Heavens. New York: ACE Books Inc.
  • Hubler, Richard G.; Dechant, John A (1944). Flying Leathernecks – The Complete Record of Marine Corps Aviation in Action 1941–1944. Garden City, New York: Doubleday, Doran & Co., Inc.
  • Miller, Thomas G. (1969). Cactus Air Force. Admiral Nimitz Foundation. ISBN 0-934841-17-9.
  • O'Brien, J.T. (2004). Top Secret – A Ready Room History of Electronic Warfare and Photo Reconnaissance in Marine Corps Aviation from 1940 until 2000. Anaheim, California: Equidata Publishing Co. ISBN 0-9714185-3-5.
  • Porter, R. Bruce; Eric M. Hammel (1985). ACE! – A Marine Night-Fighter Pilot in World War II. Pacifica Press. ISBN 0-935553-31-2.
  • Santelli, James S. (1968). An Annotated Bibliography of The United States Marine Corps' Concept of Close Air Support. Historical Branch, United States Marine Corps.

External links

  • "Marine Aviation homepage". Department of Aviation, Headquarters Marine Corps. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
    • "Marine Aviation Centennial". Department of Aviation, Headquarters Marine Corps. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
  • . AcePilots. Archived from the original on 5 February 2007. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
  • "Marine Corps Aviation Association homepage". Marine Corps Aviation Association. Retrieved 25 March 2011.

May 17, 2023
united, states, marine, corps, aviation, usmca, aircraft, united, states, marine, corps, aviation, units, within, marine, corps, assigned, support, marine, ground, task, force, aviation, combat, element, providing, functions, assault, support, antiair, warfare. United States Marine Corps Aviation USMCA is the aircraft arm of the United States Marine Corps Aviation units within the Marine Corps are assigned to support the Marine Air Ground Task Force as the aviation combat element by providing six functions assault support antiair warfare close air support electronic warfare control of aircraft and missiles and aerial reconnaissance 1 The Corps operates rotary wing tiltrotor and fixed wing aircraft mainly to provide transport and close air support to its ground forces Other aircraft types are also used in a variety of support and special purpose roles All Marine Corps aviation falls under the influence of the Deputy Commandant for Aviation whose job is to advise the Commandant of the Marine Corps in all matters relating to aviation especially acquisition of new assets conversions of current aircraft maintenance operation and command 2 United States Marine Corps AviationUnited States Marine Corps Aviation emblemActive22 May 1912 PresentCountryUnited StatesBranchUnited States Marine CorpsTypeNaval aviationPart ofHeadquarters Marine Corps A Marine Corps CH 53E Super Stallion flies above the USS San Diego LPD 22 over the Arabian Gulf in 2021 Contents 1 History 1 1 World War I 1 2 Interwar period 1 3 World War II 1 4 Jets and helicopters 1 5 Aircraft upgrades 2 Organization 2 1 Squadrons 2 2 Groups 2 3 Wings 2 4 Corps 3 Marine air stations 4 Aviators and flight officers 5 Aircraft 5 1 Current inventory 5 2 Gallery 5 3 Armaments 6 See also 7 References 7 1 Bibliography 8 Further reading 9 External linksHistory Edit First Lieutenant Alfred A Cunningham first Marine Corps aviator The first USMC plane a Curtiss C 3 Marine Corps aviation officially began on 22 May 1912 when First Lieutenant Alfred Austell Cunningham reported to Naval Aviation Camp in Annapolis Maryland for duty in connection with aviation 3 On 20 August 1912 he became the first Marine aviator when he took off in a Burgess Model H given to him by the Burgess Company in Marblehead Harbor Massachusetts 4 As the number of Marine Corps pilots grew so did the desire to separate from Naval Aviation 5 an objective realized on 6 January 1914 when First Lieutenant Bernard L Smith was directed to Culebra Puerto Rico to establish the Marine Section of the Navy Flying School In 1915 the Commandant of the Marine Corps authorized the creation of a Marine Corps aviation company consisting of 10 officers and 40 enlisted men 6 The Marine Aviation Company was commissioned on 17 February 1917 as the first official Marine flying unit at the Philadelphia Navy Yard 7 World War I Edit Roundel used by the Marine Corps during World War I The first major expansion of the Marine Corps air component came with America s entrance into World War I in 1917 Wartime expansion saw the Aviation Company split into the First Aeronautic Company which deployed to the Azores to hunt U boats in January 1918 8 and the First Marine Air Squadron which deployed to France as the newly renamed 1st Marine Aviation Force in July 1918 7 and provided bomber and fighter support to the Navy s Day Wing Northern Bombing Group 6 By the end of the war several Marine Aviators had recorded air to air kills and collectively they had dropped over fourteen tons of bombs 5 Their numbers included 282 officers and 2 180 enlisted men operating from 8 squadrons 9 with Second Lieutenant Ralph Talbot being the first Marine Corps aviator to earn the Medal of Honor for action against the Luftstreitkrafte air arm of Imperial Germany on 8 October 1918 In 1919 the 1st Division Squadron 1 was formed from these units and still exists today as VMA 231 Interwar period Edit A Vought VE 7F from VO 1M in Santo Domingo Dominican Republic circa 1922 The end of World War I saw Congress authorize 1 020 men for Marine Corps aviation and the establishment of permanent air stations at Quantico Parris Island and San Diego 10 The United States embraced its role of global power and the Marine Corps became the preferred force for military intervention where the Marines went so went Marine Corps aviation During the Banana Wars while fighting bandits and insurgents in places like Haiti the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua Marine Corps aviators began to experiment with air ground tactics and making the support of their fellow Marines on the ground their primary mission It was in Haiti that Marines began to develop the tactic of dive bombing and in Nicaragua where they began to perfect it While other nations and services had tried variations of this technique Marine Corps pilots were the first to embrace it and make it part of their tactical doctrine 11 Marine Corps aviation in Nicaragua developed the skill of air resupply of outposts dropping bundles from Fokker F VII tri motors 12 Even prior to the events in the Caribbean pioneering Marine Corps aviators such as Alfred Cunningham had noted in 1920 that the only excuse for aviation in any service is its usefulness in assisting the troops on the ground to successfully carry out their missions 13 It was not until 3 May 1925 that the Marine Corps officially appeared in the Navy s Aeronautical Organization when Rear Admiral William A Moffett Chief of the Navy s Bureau of Aeronautics issued a directive officially authorizing three fighting squadrons 14 In the 1920s Marine Corps squadrons began qualifying on board aircraft carriers However in terms of mission and training the assignment of two Marine scouting squadrons as component units of the Pacific Fleet carriers would be one of the greatest advancements for Marine Corps aviation Prior to this Marine Corps squadrons were loosely controlled with regard to doctrine and training This assignment enabled nearly 60 of active duty aviators at the time to be exposed to a disciplined training syllabus under a clearly defined mission 15 WWII Recruiting poster illustrated by Maj W Victor Guinness USMC The turning point for the long term survival of Marine Air 16 came with the structural change of the establishment of the Fleet Marine Force in 1933 17 This shifted Marine doctrine to focus less on expeditionary duty and more on supporting amphibious warfare by seizing advance naval bases in the event of war 18 19 This also saw the establishment of Aircraft One and Aircraft Two to replace the old Aircraft Squadron East Coast and Aircraft Squadron West Coast that had supported operations in the Caribbean and China as part of their expeditionary duties 20 This organization would remain until June 1940 when Congress authorized the Marine Corps 1 167 aircraft as part of its 10 000 plane program for the Navy 20 Just prior in 1939 the Navy s General Board published a new mission for Marine Aviation which stated Marine Aviation is to be equipped organized and trained primarily for the support of the Fleet Marine Force in landing operations and in support of troop activities in the field and secondarily as replacement for carrier based naval aircraft 21 On 7 December 1941 the day of the attack on Pearl Harbor Marine Corps air units consisted of 13 flying squadrons and 230 aircraft 19 20 World War II Edit An F4U Corsair of VMF 214 in World War II During World War II the Marine Corps air arm expanded rapidly and extensively 20 They reached their peak number of units with 5 air wings 31 aircraft groups and 145 flying squadrons 19 During the war and for the next fifty years the Guadalcanal campaign would become a defining point for Marine Aviation The great takeaways were the debilitating effects of not having air superiority the vulnerability of targets such as transport shipping and the vital importance of quickly acquiring expeditionary airfields during amphibious operations 22 Because of the way the Pacific War unfolded Marine Aviation was not able to achieve its 1939 mission of supporting the Fleet Marine Force at first For the first two years of the war the air arm spent most of its time protecting the fleet and land based installations from attacks by enemy ships and aircraft This began to change after the Battle of Tarawa as the air support for ground troops flown by Navy pilots left much to be desired After the battle General Holland Smith recommended Marine aviators thoroughly schooled in the principles of direct air support should do the job 23 The New Georgia campaign saw the first real close air support provided to Marine ground forces by Marine Air the Bougainville campaign and the campaign to retake the Philippines saw the establishment of air liaison parties to coordinate air support with the Marines fighting on the ground 24 and the Battle of Okinawa brought most of it together with the establishment of aviation command and control in the form of Landing Force Air Support Control Units 25 During the course of the war Marine Aviators were credited with shooting down 2 355 Japanese aircraft while losing 573 of their own aircraft in combat they had 120 aces and earned 11 Medals of Honor 26 Immediately following the war the strength of the Marine Corps flying arm was drastically cut as part of the post war drawdown of forces Their active strength fell from 116 628 personnel and 103 squadrons on 31 August 1945 to 14 163 personnel and 21 squadrons on 30 June 1948 They maintained another 30 squadrons in the Marine Air Reserve 6 Secretary of Defense Louis A Johnson attempted to eliminate Marine Corps aviation by transferring its air assets to other services and even proposed to progressively eliminate the Marine Corps altogether in a series of budget cutbacks and decommissioning of forces 27 Jets and helicopters Edit After World War II most propeller aircraft were gradually phased out as jet aircraft improved and helicopters were developed for use in amphibious operations The first Marine jet squadron came in November 1947 when VMF 122 fielded the FH Phantom 28 In December 1950 VMF 311 became the first Marine jet squadron used in combat providing close air support for the Marines and soldiers on the ground flying the F9F Panther 29 In February 1957 VMA 214 became the first Marine squadron to be certified for special weapons delivery dropping nuclear weapons 30 Several others would receive certification 31 though eventually all nuclear weapons were turned over to Navy and Air Force responsibility HMX 1 the first Marine helicopter squadron was commissioned on 1 December 1947 32 Marine helicopters VMO 6 flying the HO3S1 helicopter made their combat debut in August 1950 during the Battle of Pusan Perimeter 33 January 1951 saw the activation of HMR 161 the world s first helicopter transport squadron 34 F 4 Phantom II from VMFA 314 returning to Chu Lai during the Vietnam War The Korean and Vietnam wars saw the size of Marine Aviation rebound from its post WWII lows emerging as the force that exists today consisting of four air wings 20 aircraft groups and 78 flying squadrons By the end of the Vietnam War the Marine Air Ground Task Force had grown dependent on its multi mission inventory of fixed and rotary wing aircraft which could operate from land or sea bases to support Marines on the ground 16 Marine Aviators deployed to the Middle East for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm then to Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom 2006 saw Marine Aviation at its highest operational level since the Vietnam War flying more than 120 000 combat hours in to support operations in and near Afghanistan and Iraq Despite their aging aircraft and high operating tempo Marine Aviation maintained a 74 5 percent mission capable rate 35 Aircraft upgrades Edit Since the Corps as a whole began to grow in 2007 Marine Aviation expanded with it and continues to grow 36 Several new squadrons have been activated including VMFAT 501 and VMU 4 36 Some support units will gain personnel and equipment 37 The Corps intends to procure 420 38 F 35B Cs 353 F 35Bs and 67 F 35Cs to replace all F A 18 Hornets AV 8B Harrier IIs and EA 6B Prowlers 39 in the fighter attack and electronic warfare 40 roles The MV 22B Osprey replaced the CH 46 Sea Knight and CH 53D Sea Stallion The Corps has transitioned all East Coast CH 46 squadrons to the MV 22 which has made its first combat deployments and Marine expeditionary unit deployments The CH 53E Super Stallion will be replaced by the CH 53K King Stallion 41 The KC 130J Super Hercules will replace all other C 130 models As part of the H 1 upgrade program 42 UH 1N Twin Hueys were replaced by UH 1Y Venoms 43 while AH 1W SuperCobras were upgraded to AH 1Z Vipers The VH 3D Sea Kings and the VH 60N Blackhawks of HMX 1 are to be replaced by the Sikorsky VH 92 in the VXX program 44 Unmanned aerial vehicle programs will be upgraded in tiers with the RQ 7 Shadow replacing the RQ 2 Pioneer and the RQ 11 Raven 45 46 They have also been in the lead in looking at unmanned helicopters to resupply troops at remote forward operating bases in places such as Afghanistan 47 Organization EditSquadrons Edit Main articles List of active United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons List of inactive United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons and List of United States Marine Corps aviation support units Squadron insignia for the VMFA 232 Red Devils the oldest fighter squadron in the Marine Corps The basic tactical and administrative unit of United States Marine Corps aviation is the squadron Fixed wing and tilt rotor aircraft squadrons are denoted by the letter V which comes from the French verb Voler to fly Rotary wing helicopter squadrons use H Squadrons flying lighter than air vehicles balloons which were active from World War I to 1943 were indicated by the letter Z in naval squadron designation 48 Marine squadrons are noted by the second letter M Squadron numbering is not linear as some were numbered in ascending order and others took numbers from the wing or the ship to which they were assigned 49 From 1920 to 1941 Marine flying squadrons were identified by one digit numbers This changed on 1 July 1941 when all existing squadrons were redesignated to a three digit system The first two numbers were meant to identify the squadron s parent group but with the rapid expansion during the war and frequent transfer of squadrons this system fell apart 50 Groups Edit Main articles List of United States Marine Corps aircraft groups and List of United States Marine Corps aviation support units The next higher level in Marine Aviation is the Group the aviation equivalent of a regiment Groups can be classified as Marine Aircraft Group MAG consisting of a MAG Headquarters MAG HQ from two to ten fixed wing rotary wing tilt rotor or unmanned aerial vehicle squadrons a Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron MALS and a Marine Wing Support Squadron MWSS The MAG HQ provides the staff support necessary for the effective command of the subordinate squadrons of the MAG while the MALS provides intermediate aircraft maintenance aviation supply and aviation ordnance support to the aircraft squadrons The MWSS provides all essential aviation ground support to the MAG This support includes airfield operations and communications less air traffic control services motor transport engineer services including bulk fuel and aircraft refueling non aviation supply and equipment maintenance local security medical services and food services Marine Air Control Group MACG consisting of a Marine Air Control Group Headquarters MACG HQ a Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron MTACS a Marine Air Control Squadron MACS a Marine Air Support Squadron MASS a Marine Wing Communications Squadron MWCS and a Low Altitude Air Defense LAAD Battalion Marine Aviation Training Support Group MATSG training element to provide support for aviation students though it is currently often just an administrative support unit for detachments to non Marine bases Marine Wing Support Group MWSG previously the ground support element for a Marine Air Wing usually consisted of four Marine Wing Support Squadrons The Marine Wing Support Groups were disestablished in 2012 with headquarters personnel and Marine Wing Support Squadrons distributed to the Marine Aircraft Groups Wings Edit Main article List of United States Marine Corps aircraft wings Logo of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing The largest level in Marine aviation is the Marine Aircraft Wing the equivalent of a division Wings are usually grouped with a Marine division and a Marine Logistics Group to form a Marine Expeditionary Force Administratively Marine aviation is organized into three active duty MAWs and one reserve MAW MAWs are designed to provide units in support of MAGTF or other operations Each MAW has a unique organizational structure The MAW may be reinforced with assets from other MAWs to provide the necessary assets to meet mission requirements The MAW contains a Marine Aircraft Wing Headquarters MAW HQ that directs and coordinates the operations of the MAW a Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron MWHS see MWHS 1 MWHS 2 and MWHS 3 which provides administrative and supply support for the MAW HQ three or four Marine Aircraft Groups MAGs and a Marine Air Control Group MACG The mission of the MAW is to conduct air operations in support of the Marine Forces to include offensive air support anti aircraft warfare assault support aerial reconnaissance electronic warfare and the control of aircraft and missiles As a collateral function the MAW may participate as an integral component of naval aviation in the execution of such other Navy functions as the Fleet Commander may direct Corps Edit All Marine Corps aviation falls under the cognizance of the Deputy Commandant for Aviation DCA at Headquarters Marine Corps with the cooperation of the United States Navy There plans for all aspects of aviation are created and managed including acquisition of new aircraft training maintenance manpower etc HQMCA creates Transitional Task Forces to assist units in transitioning between aircraft and aircraft versions The Deputy Commandant of Aviation also commands Marine Corps Detachments at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake and Naval Air Station Patuxent River The NAS China Lake Marines are responsible to DCA for the test and evaluation of all weapons and weapon systems and for electronic warfare development While those at NAS Pax River work with Naval Air Systems Command and are responsible for developing acquiring and supporting naval aeronautical and related technology systems for the operating forces 51 52 Marine air stations EditMain article List of United States Marine Corps installations Due to the range and space needed to operate aircraft each MAW spreads its groups and squadrons amongst several Marine Corps Air Stations MCAS as well as offering detachments liaisons and occasionally full units to airports Air Force Bases and Naval Air Stations Each MCAS maintains its own base functions as well as air traffic control and facilities often with a Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron of its own Aviators and flight officers Edit Naval Aviator Badge All Marine pilots and flight officers are trained and qualified as naval aviators or naval flight officers by the Navy Prospective aviators receive their commissions and attend The Basic School just as all other Marine officers do then report to Marine Aviation Training Support Group 21 to attend Aviation Preflight Indoctrination at Naval Air Station Pensacola Florida There they receive instruction in aerodynamics aircraft engines and systems meteorology navigation and flight rules and regulations Following completion they are assigned to Primary Flight Training at Marine Aviation Training Support Group 22 Naval Air Station Corpus Christi Texas or remain in Pensacola Florida Upon successful completion of Primary Flight Training they select which type of aircraft they would like to fly in accordance with the needs of the Corps After selection student aviators are assigned to Advanced Flight Training in their particular field strike mutli engine rotary or tilt rotor Upon completion students are designated as Naval Aviators and are awarded the Naval Aviator Insignia From that point they are trained at a Fleet Replacement Squadron for the specific aircraft they will be flying A few uncommon aircraft are taught by the Navy or Air Force or in the case of HMX 1 by the company that created the aircraft 53 After completion aviators are assigned to their first squadron Flight officers after Aviation Preflight Indoctrination continue their own training path by staying at Pensacola and training further in navigation and avionics After Advanced NFO training they receive their wings and are assigned to their first duty squadron With the F 35 replacing the F A 18 Hornet by 2030 the Marine Corps is no longer accepting new Naval Flight Officers Enlisted aircrew also serve on some aircraft mostly helicopters They are trained at NAS Pensacola and are eligible to wear the Aircrew insignia Marine aviators are eligible to earn medals such as the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism in combat and the Air Medal for meritorious achievement in flight as well as the Gray Eagle Award for seniority Pilots in combat have a chance to become flying aces Aircraft Edit MV 22B with Marine paratroopers Marine light attack helicopter squadrons HMLA are composite squadrons of AH 1Z Viper attack helicopters and UH 1Y Venom utility helicopters These provide light attack and light transport utility capabilities Marine medium tilt rotor VMM squadrons fly the V 22 Osprey a tilt rotor transport aircraft Marine heavy helicopter HMH squadrons fly the CH 53E Super Stallion helicopter for heavy lift missions These will eventually be replaced with the upgraded CH 53K currently under development 54 Marine attack squadrons VMA fly the AV 8 Harrier II while Marine Fighter Attack VMFA and Marine All Weather Fighter Attack VMFA AW squadrons respectively fly both the single seat F A 18C and dual seat F A 18D versions of the F A 18 Hornet strike fighter aircraft The AV 8B is a VTOL aircraft that can operate from amphibious assault ships land air bases and short expeditionary airfields 55 The F A 18 can only be flown from land or aircraft carriers Both are slated to be replaced by the F 35B the STOVL version of the F 35 Lightning II 56 The Marine Corps will also purchase 80 of the F 35C carrier variants enough for five squadrons to serve with Navy carrier air wings 57 58 59 The Corps operates its own aerial refueling assets in the form of the KC 130J Super Hercules In Marine transport refueling VMGR squadrons the Hercules doubles as a ground refueller and tactical airlift transport aircraft With the addition of the ISR Weapon Mission Kit the KC 130J will be able to serve as an overwatch aircraft and can deliver ground support fire in the form of 30mm cannon fire Hellfire or Griffin missiles and precision guided bombs 35 60 This capability designated as Harvest HAWK Hercules Airborne Weapons Kit can be used in scenarios where precision is not a requisite such as area denial 61 62 63 and was first used in Afghanistan in late 2010 64 Serving in Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare VMAQ Squadrons until its retirement in 2019 the EA 6B Prowler was the main tactical electronic warfare aircraft left in the U S inventory until Navy squadrons replaced it with the EA 18G Growler Based on the two seat F A 18F Super Hornet the Growler has been labeled a national asset and is frequently borrowed to assist in any American combat action not just Marine operations 65 Since the retirement of the EF 111A Raven in 1998 the Air Force s only EW aircraft Marine Corps and Navy aircraft have provided electronic warfare support to Air Force units Marine Fighter Training Squadron 401 VMFT 401 operates F 5 Tiger II aircraft in support of air combat adversary aggressor training Marine Helicopter Squadron One HMX 1 operates the VH 3D Sea King medium lift and VH 60N Nighthawk light lift helicopters in the VIP transport role previously planned to be replaced by the cancelled VH 71 Kestrel Marine Transport Squadron One VMR 1 utilizes several aircraft to transport VIPs and critical logistics to include the UC 35C D Citation Ultra Encore C 12B F Huron and C 20G Gulfstream IV A single Marine Corps C 130J Fat Albert is used to support the U S Navy s flight demonstration team the Blue Angels Current inventory Edit Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service NotesCombat AircraftAV 8B Harrier II United States ground attack AV 8B 87 66 V STOL capable aircraftF A 18 Hornet United States multirole F A 18A C D 138 66 F 35 Lightning II United States multirole F 35B 127 29 used for training 303 on order 66 TankerKC 130 Super Hercules United States aerial refueling C 130J 64 66 TransportC 12 Huron United States utility transport 15 1 on order 66 C 20G Grey Ghost United States VIP transport 1 66 UC 35 Citation United States VIP transport 10 2 on order 66 HelicopterAH 1Z Viper United States attack 159 66 CH 53E Super Stallion United States heavy lift 140 66 CH 53K King Stallion United States heavy lift 9 67 191 on order 68 MV 22 Osprey United States multi mission transport MV 22B 289 13 on order 66 SH 3 Sea King United States VIP transport VH 3D 7 used by HMX 1 Marine One for presidential transportUH 1Y Venom United States utility 160 69 VH 60 Presidential Hawk United States VIP transport VH 60N 8 used by HMX 1 Marine One for presidential transportTrainer AircraftF 5 Tiger II United States jet trainer F 5F N 12 66 OpFor trainingF A 18 Hornet United States conversion trainer F A 18B C D 46 66 F 35 Lightning II United States conversion trainer F 35B C 29 70 Sikorsky S 92 United States helicopter trainer 1 70 T 34 Mentor United States trainer 4 66 TAV 8B Harrier II United States conversion trainer TAV 8 12 66 V STOL capable aircraftGallery Edit An F 35 hovering over the USS America An F A 18 of VMFA 232 The AH 1Z is the latest variant of the Bell AH 1 Cobra attack helicopter series An MV 22 tilt rotor aircraftArmaments Edit GunsGAU 12 25 mm Gatling gun GAU 16 A 12 7 99mm machine gun GAU 17 A 7 62 51mm NATO automatic gun GAU 2B A 7 62 51mm NATO automatic gun GAU 4 20 mm Vulcan M61 M39 revolver cannon 20 mm M197 Gatling gunBombsCBU 100 Mk 20 Rockeye II cluster bomb GBU 10 2000 lb laser guided bomb GBU 12 500 lb laser guided bomb GBU 16 1000 lb laser guided bomb MK82 series 500 lb bomb MK83 series 1000 lb bomb MK84 series 2000 lb bomb Mark 77 bomb MissilesAGM 65 Maverick Missile AGM 84 Harpoon Missile AGM 88 High Speed Anti radiation Missile HARM AGM 114 Hellfire Helicopter launched fire and forget AIM 7 Sparrow AIM 9 Sidewinder anti air Missile AIM 120 AMRAAMRocketsHydra 70 M260 70 mm Rocket LauncherSee also Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to United States Marine Corps aviation Marine One Cactus Air Force Aviation Combat Element Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum List of active United States military aircraft List of United States Marine Corps astronauts List of United States Marine Corps air stations List of United States Marine Corps aircraft wings List of United States Marine Corps aircraft groups List of United States Marine Corps aviation support units List of active United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons List of decommissioned United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons List of currently active United States Army aircraft List of currently active United States naval aircraft List of active United States Air Force aircraft Prosecution of Daniel DugganReferences Edit MAWTS 1 hones warfighting edge Naval Aviation News Archived from the original on 21 August 2007 Retrieved 1 April 2007 Marine Corps Aviation United States Marine Corps Retrieved 28 May 2022 Condon John Pomeroy 1993 U S Marine Corps Aviation 75th Year of Naval Aviation Volume Five of a Commemorative Collection History and Museums Division Headquarters U S Marine Corps p 3 Archived from the original on 5 February 2007 Retrieved 29 January 2007 Burke Alan 2 August 2012 Town marks 100 years of Marine 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on new role in Afghanistan 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Fwd Public Affairs DVIDS Archived from the original on 9 December 2010 Retrieved 5 April 2010 McCullough Amy 1 June 2009 Refuel and Fire Marine Corps Times Gannett Company Harvest HAWK completes phase one testing here Naval Air Systems Command 26 April 2010 O Quin Cpl Christopher 11 September 2009 Harvest Hawk mission kit brings new era in Marine aviation 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing United States Marine Corps Archived from the original on 29 June 2011 Retrieved 5 April 2011 Flurry SSgt Christopher 1 April 2011 KC 130J Harvest Hawk Marine Corps teaches old plane new tricks in Afghanistan 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Fwd Camp Dwyer Afghanistan United States Marine Corps Archived from the original on 2 June 2011 Retrieved 5 April 2011 EA 6B Prowler USMC Fact File United States Marine Corps Archived from the original on 23 October 2006 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n World Air Forces 2023 Flight Global Flightglobal Insight 2022 Retrieved 12 January 2023 Sikorsky Delivers Two More CH 53K Helicopters to U S Marine Corps Media Lockheed Martin Lockheed Martin Retrieved 10 April 2023 U S Navy Approves Full Rate Production for Sikorsky CH 53K Helicopter Media Lockheed Martin Lockheed Martin Retrieved 10 April 2023 AH 1Z Viper and UH 1Y Venom Helicopters www navy mil United States Navy Retrieved 10 April 2023 a b World Air Forces 2022 FlightGlobal Retrieved 28 February 2022 Bibliography Edit Astor Gerald 2005 Semper Fi in the Sky The Marine Air Battles of World War II New York City Random House ISBN 0 89141 877 6 Blair Clay 2003 The Forgotten War America in Korea 1950 1953 Naval Institute Press ISBN 0 8129 1670 0 Chapin Capt John C 2000 Fire Brigade U S Marines in the Pusan Perimeter PDF Washington D C Marine Corps Historical Center United States Marine Corps permanent dead link Condon John Pomeroy 1998 Corsairs and Flattops Marine Carrier Air Warfare 1944 45 Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 1 55750 127 0 Corum James S Wray R Johnson 2003 Airpower in Small Wars Fighting Insurgents and Terrorists Lawrence Kansas University Press of Kansas ISBN 0 7006 1240 8 Cunningham Capt Alfred A Graham A Cosmas 1974 Marine Flyer in France The Diary of Captain Alfred A Cunningham History amp Museums Division United States Marine Corps De Chant John A 1947 Devilbirds The Story of United States Marine Aviation in World War II New York Harper amp Brothers Dorr Robert F 2005 Marine Air The History of the Flying Leathernecks in Words and Photos Penguin Group ISBN 0425207250 Fails LtCol William R 1978 Marines and Helicopters 1962 1973 PDF History amp Museums Division United States Marine Corps ISBN 0 7881 1818 8 Johnson LtCol Edward C Graham A Cosmas 1991 1977 Marine Corps Aviation the Early Years 1912 1940 History amp Museums Division United States Marine Corps Krulak LtGen Victor H 1999 First to Fight An Inside View of the U S Marine Corps Naval Institute Press ISBN 0 87021 785 2 Lehrack Otto 2004 The First Battle Operation Starlite and the Beginning of the Blood Debt in Vietnam Havertown Pennsylvania Casemate ISBN 1 932033 27 0 Lundstrom John B 2005 First Team And the Guadalcanal Campaign Naval Fighter Combat from August to November 1942 New ed Naval Institute Press ISBN 1 59114 472 8 Mersky Peter B 1983 U S Marine Corps Aviation 1912 to the Present Nautical and Aviation Publishing Company of America ISBN 0 933852 39 8 Rawlins LCol Eugene W Maj William J Sambito 1976 Marines And Helicopters 1946 1962 History amp Museums Division United States Marine Corps Rottman Gordon L 2002 U S Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War 1939 1945 Greenwood Press ISBN 0 313 31906 5 Sherrod Robert 1952 History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II Washington D C Combat Forces Press ISBN 0 89201 048 7 Shettle M L Jr 2001 United States Marine Corps Air Stations of World War II Bowersville Georgia Schaertel Publishing Co ISBN 0 9643388 2 3 Tillman Barrett 2001 Corsair The F4U in World War II and Korea Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 1 55750 994 8 Further reading Edit75 Years of Marine Corps Aviation A Tribute History amp Museums Division United States Marine Corps 1986 U S Marine Corps Aviation Squadrons PDF United States Department of the Navy 2003 Archived from the original PDF on 5 December 2010 Retrieved 25 March 2011 Garand George W Truman R Strobridge 1971 Appendix E Fleet Marine Force status 31 August 1944 History of U S Marine Corps Operations in World War II Vol IV Western Pacific Operations Marine Corps Historical Branch hosted by the HyperWar Project ISBN 0 89839 198 9 Condon MajGen John P 1987 U S Marine Corps Aviation 75th Year of Naval Aviation Commemorative Collection Vol 5 Naval Historical Center ISBN 0 16 051075 9 Archived from the original on 5 February 2007 Doll Thomas 2000 Night Wings USMC Night Fighters 1942 1953 Carrollton Texas Squadron Signal Productions ISBN 0 89747 419 8 Elliott Maj John M 2002 Marine Corps Aircraft 1913 2000 PDF History amp Museums Division United States Marine Corps permanent dead link Foster John M 1961 Hell in the Heavens New York ACE Books Inc Hubler Richard G Dechant John A 1944 Flying Leathernecks The Complete Record of Marine Corps Aviation in Action 1941 1944 Garden City New York Doubleday Doran amp Co Inc Miller Thomas G 1969 Cactus Air Force Admiral Nimitz Foundation ISBN 0 934841 17 9 O Brien J T 2004 Top Secret A Ready Room History of Electronic Warfare and Photo Reconnaissance in Marine Corps Aviation from 1940 until 2000 Anaheim California Equidata Publishing Co ISBN 0 9714185 3 5 Porter R Bruce Eric M Hammel 1985 ACE A Marine Night Fighter Pilot in World War II Pacifica Press ISBN 0 935553 31 2 Santelli James S 1968 An Annotated Bibliography of The United States Marine Corps Concept of Close Air Support Historical Branch United States Marine Corps External links Edit Marine Aviation homepage Department of Aviation Headquarters Marine Corps United States Marine Corps Retrieved 25 March 2011 Marine Aviation Centennial Department of Aviation Headquarters Marine Corps United States Marine Corps Retrieved 25 March 2011 History of Marine Corps Aviation AcePilots Archived from the original on 5 February 2007 Retrieved 25 March 2011 Marine Corps Aviation Association homepage Marine Corps Aviation Association Retrieved 25 March 2011 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title United States Marine Corps Aviation amp oldid 1149198067, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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