Marine Aircraft Group 36

Marine Aircraft Group 36 (MAG-36) is an active air group of the United States Marine Corps, tasked with providing assault support aircraft. It is currently part of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW), itself an integral part of the III Marine Expeditionary Force, and based at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa, Japan.

Mission

The mission of MAG-36 is to support the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) with combat ready expeditionary assault support aircraft and when directed, plan and conduct aviation operations as a Marine Expeditionary Brigade-level Aviation Combat Element.

Subordinate units

VMM-262
VMM-265
MALS-36
Marine Wing Support Squadron 172

Also attached are Unit Deployment Program (UDP) squadrons, usually Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadrons flying the UH-1Y and AH-1Z, and Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadrons flying the CH-53E.

History

Originally formed at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, in Santa Ana, California, on 2 June 1952 as Marine Air Group (Helicopter Transport) 36, the Group spent several years training for amphibious operations to carry out the role of ship-to-shore assault support. At this time, the Group consisted of squadrons HMR-361, HMR-362, HMR-363, all flying HRS-1 helicopters.

In 1959, it was renamed Marine Air Group 36. By 1962 MAG-36 comprised a Headquarters & Maintenance squadron, a Marine Air Base squadron, four light transport squadrons HMRL-163, HMRL-361, HMRL-363 and HMRL-364 and one medium transport squadron, HMRM-462, for a total of 105 helicopters.

Vietnam War

In 1965 it was attached to the 1st MAW, when it deployed to South Vietnam in August of that year. It sailed for South Vietnam aboard the , flying ashore at Kỳ Hà on 1 September. This was both the first full Marine Air Group to arrive in South Vietnam, and more generally the first time a full helicopter group had been transported this way. By the end of September most of the helicopter units comprising the group had arrived at Kỳ Hà, these included: HMM-362, HMM-364, VMO-6, H&MS-36 and MABS-36, while HMM-363 was at Qui Nhon. In early March the group supported Operation Utah. On 30 October HMM-163 equipped with CH-46's came ashore from and joined the group at Quảng Trị Combat Base. The group was extensively involved in the Battle of Khe Sanh starting in late January. A detachment from the group's MACTU-62 operated a ground-controlled approach (GCA) radar at Khe Sanh Combat Base to guide aircraft until enemy fire knocked it out on 19 February.

At the beginning of 1969 the group comprised HMH-462 equipped with CH-53As, HMLA-367 (formerly VMO-3) equipped with UH-1Es, HMM-265 equipped with CH-46Ds and HMM-363 equipped with UH-34Ds.

Throughout 1974 and into early 1975 group units were always assigned as a component of the 31st Marine Amphibious Unit (31st MAU) on board Amphibious Ready Group Alpha

ships. The assigned unit actually was a composite squadron, usually either HMM-164 or HMM-165, both flying CH-46Ds augmented by detachments of CH-53Ds from HMH-462; UH-1Es of HML-367 and

AH-1J SeaCobras of HMA-369. On 8 January HMH-462 flew via Taiwan to Naval Air Station Cubi Point to join 31st MAU.

References

External links

MAG-36's official website