Marine Aviation Training Support Group 33
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Marine Aviation and Training Support Group 33 | |
|---|---|
 MATSG-33 insignia |
|
| Active | February 1, 1943 -1960s 2000 - present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | USMC |
| Role | Training |
| Part of | TECOM |
| Garrison/HQ | Naval Air Station Oceana |
| Battles/wars | World War II * Battle of Okinawa Korean War * Battle of Pusan Perimeter |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Col Jonatan D. Covington |
Marine Aviation and Training Support Group 33 (MATSG-33) is a United States Marine Corps aviation training group that was originally established during World War II as Marine Aircraft Group 33 (MAG-33). Fighter squadrons from MAG-33 fought most notably during the Battle of Okinawa and also as the first Marine aviation units to support the Korean War when they arrived as part of the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade. They helped stabilze the United Nations positions during the Battle of Pusan Perimeter and fought in Korea for the remainder of the war. At some point in the 1960s, the group was deactivated and was not reactivated until 2000, when Marine Aviation Training Support Group at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia was renamed MATSG-33.
Contents |
[edit] Mission
Provide administration and training support to all Marines aboard [[NAS Oceana. 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
[edit] History
[edit] World War II
Marine Aircraft Group 33 (MAG-33) was commissioned on February 1, 1943 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. They moved to [[Marine Corps Auxiliary Field Bogue on September 27, 1943. On April 6, 1944, the group again transferred, this time to Marine Corps Air Station Eagle Mountain Lake, Texas where they spent the remainder of the summer training. In August, they moved on to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California to prepare for their deployment to the South Pacific.[1]
In September 1944, MAG-33 left California for the Marshall Islands. They eventually settled in Espiritu Santo on November 29, 1944 after travelling through Pearl Harbor, Eniwetok, Peleliu, Ulithi and Manus Island. On April 2, 1945, the group arrived off Okinawa and eventually based out of, what is today, Kadena Air Base. They served throughout the Battle of Okinawa, providing close air support for the Marines and Soldiers on the ground. During this campaign the group consisted of a Headquarters Squadron 33, Service Squadron 33, VMF-312, VMF-322, VMF-323 and VMF(N)-543.[2] The group remained on Okinawa for the remainder of the war.
In January 1946, the group returned to the United States and was based out of Marine Corps Air Station El Toro.[3]
[edit] Korean War
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[edit] 2000 to present
Commencing in January 1982, Marine Corps officer and enlisted personnel were assigned to Light Attack Wing One (CLAW ONE). These Marines performed duties as members of the F/A-18 Hornet Fleet Introduction Team and were administratively joined on the rolls of Marine Barracks, Cecil Field. In 1984, approximately 195 Marines of all grades were assigned permanently to units at NAS Cecil Field. In subsequent years, this number increased due to the number of Marines temporarily undergoing instruction with VFA-106. During the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) board of 1993, it was determined that VFA-106, Naval Aviation Maintenance Group Detachment, and MATSG would be reassigned to Naval Air Station Oceana upon the closure of NAS Cecil Field.
On May 4, 2000, the Commanding General of Marine Corps Combat Development Command released a message redesignating all MATSGs to incoporate appopriate honors and history of Marine Aircraft Groups. Hence, MATSG, NAS Cecil Field, was redesignated as MATSG-33 upon the reassignment to NAS Oceana, taking on the history of MAG-33.
On July 1, 2006, the Commandant of the Marine Corps released a message realigning all MATSGs to fall under the Commanding General, Training Command, part of Training and Education Command.
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
[edit] References
- This article incorporates text in the public domain from the United States Marine Corps.
[edit] Books
- Fehrenbach, T.R. (1963). This Kind of War. Dulles, Virginia: Brassey's. ISBN 1-57488-259-7.
- 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.
[edit] Web
- James A. Field, Jr.. History of United States Naval Operations: Korea. Retrieved on 2007-01-23.
