Marine Aircraft Group 13

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Marine Aircraft Group 13
MAG-13 Insignia
Active	March 1, 1942
Country	United States
Branch	USMC
Type	Fixed Wing ground attack
Role	Close air support Air interdiction Aerial reconnaissance
Part of	3rd Marine Aircraft Wing I Marine Expeditionary Force
Garrison/HQ	Marine Corps Air Station Yuma
Battles/wars	World War II Korean War Vietnam War Operation Desert Storm Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom

Marine Aircraft Group 13 is a United States Marine Corps aviation unit based at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma that is currently composed of four AV-8B Harrier squadrons and a maintenance and logistics squadron.

1 Mission
2 Subordinate units
3 History
- 3.1 World War II
4 Post World War II years=
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] Mission

Provide air support to MAGTF commanders.

[edit] Subordinate units

AV-8B Harrier Squadrons

Maintenance Squadron

MALS-13

[edit] History

[edit] World War II

Marine Aircraft Group 13 was activated March 1, 1942, at San Diego and participated in the Marshall Islands campaign during World War II. It was deactivated at the close of the war.

[edit] Post World War II years=

Reformed in March 1951, the MAG moved to Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, in early 1953 with two fighter squadrons and Marine Air Control Squadron 2. Aviation units based at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro were rotated to MCAS Kaneohe Bay every six months for training until April 1954. On May 1, 1956, the 1st Marine Brigade assumed its title in lieu of the 1st Provisional Marine Air Ground Task Force designation, and MAG-13 provided the air support for the unique organization. It gained the distinction of being the only composite Marine Aircraft Group, comprised of fighter, attack and helicopter squadrons, supporting the ground arm of the brigade.

[edit] Vietnam War

In June of 1965, MAG-13 became a unit of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, where it operated until September 1966 when it deployed to the Republic of Vietnam. Based out of Chu Lai, MAG-13 supported the III Marine Amphibious Force and other forces in I Corps and II Corps tactical zones, Laos, North Vietnam and Cambodia. Initially the Group consisted of VMFA-314, VMFA-323 and VMFA-542 all operating F-4B Phantoms. In December of 1967, VMFA-542 was replaced with VMFA-115 and this was the structure that remained through most of 1969. MAG-13 headquarters left Vietnam in September of 1970 and returned to MCAS El Toro in October of that same year.