Marine Aircraft Group 39

Marine Aircraft Group 39
MAG-39 Insignia courtesy of www.military-graphics.com
Active	April 16, 1968 - present
Country	United States
Branch	USMC
Type	Rotary Wing Aircraft Group
Role	Close air support Assault support
Part of	3rd Marine Aircraft Wing I Marine Expeditionary Force
Garrison/HQ	Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
Nickname	Skid Row"
Battles/wars	Vietnam War Operation Desert Storm Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom
Commanders
Current commander	Col Patrick J. Gough

Marine Aircraft Group 39 (MAG-39) is a United States Marine Corps aviation unit based at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California that is currently composed of four AH-1W Super Cobra and UH-1N Huey light attack squadrons, three CH-46 Sea Knight squadrons and one logistics squadron. It is a part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (3rd MAW) and the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF).

[edit] Subordinate Units

MAG-39 was activated at Quang Tri Airfield, Republic of Vietnam, amongst the chaos of war. Originally assigned to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, MAG-39 participated in the Vietnam war until October 1969 when it was deactivated.

Temporarily reactivated to participate in the Operation Frequent Wind from April 1975, until the operation was complete in May 1975.

In September 1976 at Camp Pendleton, California, MAG-39 was reactivated for the last time under the command of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

Elements have participated in: Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm from August 1990-April 1991, Operation Restore Hope, Somalia from December 1992-April 1993, Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan from December 2001-June 2002, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Kuwait from January 2003-October 2003.