Marine Aircraft Group 11
| Marine Aircraft Group 11 | |
|---|---|
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Colonel William “Skull” Mitchell |
| Notable commanders | Caleb Bailey |
Marine Aircraft Group 11 is a
Mission
Provide air support to
Organization 2024
As of March 2024 the Marine Aircraft Group 11 consists of:[2]
KC-130J Super Hercules squadrons:
- VMGR-352 "Raiders"
- VMFAT-502 "Flying Nightmares"
Support squadrons:
- Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 11 (MALS-11)
History
Early history
Although commissioned at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, on 1 August 1941, as the Marine Corps' first aircraft group, elements of the organization that would eventually support its mission actually existed as early as 1 December 1921. Together, these ancestral units were collectively designated as Aircraft Squadron, East Coast Expeditionary Force.
World War II
Prior to the beginning of
During World War II, MAG-11 participated in combat action in the Solomon Islands, New Britain, Palau, Central Pacific Areas, and the Philippines. At the close of World War II, MAG-11 was based on the island of Peleliu, Palaus Group, where it remained until January 1946.
Korean War
Temporarily assigned to the San Diego area upon its return to the United States, MAG 11 joined the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (2nd MAW) at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina in March 1946 and remained organic to that wing until August 1953, when it relocated from Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Edenton, North Carolina to Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan. In Japan, elements of MAG 11 actively participated in air operations against North Korean and Chinese forces.
From August 1958 until January 1959, MAG-11 deployed to Taiwan in support of the Nationalist Chinese air defenses, returning again in 1961 and 1963 in support of maneuvers in that area.
Vietnam War
In April 1965, MAG 11 deployed to Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam in support of counter-insurgency operations. Within 69 hours, after its departure from Japan, group element launched the first attack against Viet Cong forces.
The Group's mission in combat was carried out primarily by the
During this phase of MAG 11's combat history, the following types of missions were assigned and carried out: close air and direct support; air defense intercept; visual, photographic and electronic reconnaissance; electronic countermeasures; airborne tactical air control; illumination and combat logistical support for air/ground elements of the allied forces.
Post Vietnam
In May 1971, MAG 11 relocated from Vietnam, reporting to the commanding general, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, Santa Ana, Calif. on 10 June 1971. During November 1979, VMFA-323 and VMFA-531 deployed aboard the USS Coral Sea (CV-43). This was the first time in Naval Aviation History that the Marine Corps provided all of the fighter support for a Navy carrier and the first time since World War II that two Marine Fighter squadrons were deployed aboard a Pacific Fleet Carrier.[citation needed]
In July 1982, MAG 11's fighter squadrons began transitioning from the F-4 Phantom II to the Marine Corps' newest tactical jet, the
In October 1985, two MAG-11 F/A-18 squadrons, VMFA-314 and VMFA-323, deployed to the Mediterranean aboard the
Persian Gulf War
In early August 1990, MAG-11 began providing squadrons to MAG-70 for the Air Combat Element (ACE) of 7th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (7th MEB) for deployment to the Middle East as part of
Global War on Terror
During the period of 1 January through 31 March 2003, Marine Aircraft Group 11 (MAG-11) prepared, deployed, and executed combat operations in support of Operation Southern Watch (OSW) and the Iraq War. With the establishment of I MEF and 3rd MAW in theater MAG-11 was transferred from MCAS Miramar to Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait and assumed control of all USMC F/A-18, and C-130 aircraft in Southwest Asia.
After the order to fight in the Iraq War was received, MAG-11 aircraft flew extensive combat operations 24 hours a day. MAG-11 aviators flew 120–130 sorties per day, dropped over 4.2 million pounds of ordnance on targets inside Iraq in support of Marine, Army, and British ground forces and used 250,000 to 300,000 gallons of fuel per day.[7] MAG-11 flew over 4,000 combat sorties and 10,000 flight hours, without loss of life or aircraft. The eight squadrons expended close to four million pounds of ordnance during combat operations.[8]
See also
- United States Marine Corps Aviation
- List of United States Marine Corps aircraft groups
- List of United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons
References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
- ^ MAG-11 Lineage & Honors
- ^ "3rd Marine Aircraft Wing". 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ^ Sherrod 1952, pp. 33.
- ^ Willock 1968, pp. 195.
- ^ Lundstrom 2005, pp. 329.
- ^ Lundstrom 2005, pp. 465.
- ^ Visconage & Harris 2004, pp. 77.
- ^ Reynolds 2005, pp. 175.
Bibliography
- Lundstrom, John B. (2005). The First Team And the Guadalcanal Campaign: Naval Fighter Combat from August to November 1942 (New ed.). Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-472-8.
- Reynolds, Nicholas E. (2005). Basrah, Baghdad and Beyond: The U.S. Marine Corps in the Second Iraq War. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. 1-59114-717-4.
- OCLC 1261876.
- Visconage, Michael D.; Harris, Carroll N. (2004). Third Marine Aircraft Wing – Operation Iraqi Freedom. Annapolis, Maryland: Marine Corps Association.
- Willock, Roger (1968). Unaccustomed to Fear – A Biography of the Late General Roy S. Geiger. Marine Corps Association. ISBN 0-940328-05-4.
- Web
- Official website
- Marine Air Group 11: Ready When Called – Naval Aviation News (July–August 2003)
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