Marine Wing Support Squadron 272
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| Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 | |
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 MWSS-272's insignia |
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| Active | June 6, 1986 - present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | USMC |
| Type | Aviation ground support squadron |
| Part of | Marine Wing Support Group 27 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing |
| Garrison/HQ | Marine Corps Air Station New River |
| Nickname | Untouchables |
| Battles/wars | Operation Desert Storm Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom |
Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 (MWSS 272) is an aviation ground support unit of the United States Marine Corps. They are based out of Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina. The squadron is part of Marine Wing Support Group 27 and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.
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[edit] Mission
Provide all essential Aviation Ground Support (AGS) requirements to a designated rotary-wing component of an Aviation Combat Element (ACE) including all supporting or attached elements of the Marine Air Control Group.
When tasked with operating an airfield the Squadron must conduct all aviation and ground refueling, aircraft recovery and firefighting, expeditionary airfield services, explosive ordnance disposal and weather services.
When tasked with supporting airfield functions the Squadron provides essential engineer services; field messing facilities; internal airfield communications; individual and unit training; motor transport support; nuclear, chemical and biological defense; routine and emergency sick call and aviation medicine; security and law enforcement; and an Airbase Commandant. The Squadron is the enabling organization for the employment of Marine Aviation ashore
[edit] History
Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 was activated on June 6, 1986 at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina. MWSS-272 was organized from the assets of Marine Air Base Squadron 26, Marine Air Base Squadron 29 and Detachment "A", Marine Wing Support Group 27, which were deactivated on 5 June 1986.
[edit] Global War on Terror
In late 2001 MWSS-272 augmented several Marine Expeditionary Units in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).
MWSS-272 deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) in February 2003 and remained there until June 2003. MWSS-272 was responsible for providing aviation ground support to three Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) at Al Jabr, Ali Al Salem, and Joe Foss. FOB Joe Foss was the largest expeditionary airfield built since World War II, and it was vitally important to air assault and medevac operations during the war.
In 2004 MWSS-272 augmented both MWSS-271 and MWSS-273 with personnel for their AGS mission in Iraq again as well as providing personnel to support operations for OEF in the Horn of Africa. In August 2005 the squadron deployed to Al Asad Iraq. MWSS-272 is currently providing aviation ground support for the entire airbase at Al Asad as well as FOB Al Qaim.
