Marine Aviation Training Support Group 21
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Marine Aviation and Training Support Group 21 | |
|---|---|
 MATSG-21 insignia |
|
| Active | -August 1922 - May 1947 -unknown - present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | USMC |
| Role | Training |
| Size | 725 Marines |
| Garrison/HQ | Naval Air Station Pensacola |
| Nickname | Gateway to Marine Aviation |
| Battles/wars | 'World War II' |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Col Christopher Holzworth |
Marine Aviation and Training Support Group 21 (MATSG-21) is a United States Marine Corps aviation training group that was originally established in 1922 as the 2nd Aviation Group. During World War II the unit was known as Marine Aircraft Group 21 (MAG-21). Squadrons from MAG-21 fought in many of the opening battles of the war to include the Battle of Wake Island, Battle of Midway and as part of the Cactus Air Force during the Battle of Guadalcanal[1] The group was deactivated following the end of the war and was not reactivated until 2000 when the Marine Aviation Detachment at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida was renamed MATSG-21. The core of the MATSG personnel is derived from 175 officer instructors and 550 student naval aviators/naval flight officers.
Contents |
[edit] Mission
Provide administration and training support to all Marines aboard NAS Pensacola. They also provide ceremonial support for base and local events in the form of color guards and special detail advisors. While the MATSG's mission is administrative in nature, the command monitors the flow of students through the Naval Air Training Command, provides Marine Corps discipline and Marine Corps peculiar training[2]..
[edit] History
[edit] Early years
The 2nd Aviation Group was formed at Naval Air Station San Diego in August 1922. They were redesignated Aircraft Squadrons, West Coast Expeditionary Force in July 1926. January 8, 1934 saw another name change, this time to Aircraft Two, Fleet Marine Force. On May 1, 1939 they were redesignated again to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Group. The group was sent overseas to Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Hawaii in January of 1941. There they consolidated with the headquarters of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing July 10, 1941 and less than a month later they were redesignated Marine Aircraft Group 21[3].
[edit] World War II
MAG-21 suffered 17 casualties and all 21 of their aircraft destroyed during the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor[4]. Squadrons from MAG-21 fought at the Battle of Wake Island, Battle of Midway and as part of the Cactus Air Force during the Battle of Guadalcanal but the group itseld remained at MCAS Ewa until February of 1943 when they departed for Banika in the Russell Islands. By June of 1943, MAG-21's squadrons were flting large scale operations against Japanese installations in the northers Solomon Islands. The group moved to Efate in November of 1943 and remained there until June of 1944. There final destination during the war was on Guam where they were from August 1944 until the end of the war.[5].
The squadron returned to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in March 1946 with follow on movement to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. They were deactivated in April 1947[6].
[edit] 2000 - present
In May 2000, the Commandant of the Marine Corps directed the re-designation of Marine Aviation Training Support Group NAS Pensacola as Marine Aviation Trainings Support Group 21. All Marine Aviation Training Support Groups were redesignated to promote a sense of Marine Corps identity and tradition and allow them and their history to live on.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
- ^ Sherrod History of Marine Corps Aviation in WWII, p.444.
- ^ NAS Pensacola. Pensacola - Bay Area Chamber of Commerce.
- ^ Rottman U.S. Marine Corps WWII OOB, p.435.
- ^ Shettle USMC Air Stations of WWII, p.88-89.
- ^ Sherrod History of Marine Corps Aviation in WWII, p.444.
- ^ Rottman U.S. Marine Corps WWII OOB, p.435.
- This article incorporates text in the public domain from the United States Marine Corps.
[edit] Books
- 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.
- Shettle Jr., M. L. (2001). United States Marine Corps Air Stations of World War II. Bowersville, Georgia: Schaertel Publishing Co.. ISBN 0-964-33882-3.
