Marine Aircraft Group 12
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Marine Aircraft Group 12 | |
|---|---|
 MAG-12 Insignia |
|
| Active | March 1, 1942 - present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | USMC |
| Type | Fixed Wing Aircraft Group |
| Role | Close air support Assault support Casevac Electronic warfare |
| Part of | 1st Marine Aircraft Wing III Marine Expeditionary Force |
| Garrison/HQ | Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni |
| Nickname | The Ready Group |
| Engagements | World War II * Philippines campaign (1944–45) Korean War * Attack on the Sui-ho Dam Vietnam War Operation Enduring Freedom |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
CAPT David B. Emich (USN) |
| Notable commanders |
Robert E. Galer |
Marine Aircraft Group 12 (MAG-12) is an active air group of the United States Marine Corps, tasked with providing assault support aircraft. It is currently part of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW), itself an integral part of the III Marine Expeditionary Force, and based at MCAS Iwakuni in Japan.
Contents |
[edit] Mission
The mission of the Marine Aircraft Group 12 is to conduct anti-air warfare and offensive air support operations in support of Fleet Marine Forces from advanced base, expeditionary airfields or aircraft carriers and conduct such air operations as may be directed.
[edit] Subordinate units
[edit] History
[edit] WW II
Marine Aircraft Group 12 was activated at Camp Kearney, California, on March 1, 1942. Shortly thereafter, deployed to the Pacific Theater. From December 1942 until cessation of hostilities in late 1945, the Group participated in numerous operations in the Solomon and Philippine Islands supporting the Army, Navy and Marine Corps as well as Philippine guerrilla forces. The squadron was brought to the Philippenes by the request of Admiral "Bull" Halsey when he said, "I had had under my command in the South Pacific a Marine Air Group which had proved its versatility in everything from fighting to blasting enemy vessels. I knew that the group was now under MacArthur's command, and I knew, too, without understanding why, that when Kenney was not keeping it idle, he was assigning it to missions far below its capacity. Kinkaid's complaint of insufficient air cover prompted me to take a step which was more than a liberty; to a man of meaner spirit than MacArthur's it would have seemed an impertinence. I called these Marines to his attention. He ordered them forward, and within 24 hours of their arrival, they had justified my recommendation[1]." For such service, the Group earned the Army Distinguished Unit Award and the Navy Unit Citation.
[edit] Korean War
On April 20, 1952, MAG-12 made it's home at K-6 at Pyongtaek. During the war units from MAG-12, except VMA-312 which was onboard the USS Bataan (CVL-29), came under the control of the Air Force's Fifth Air Force[2]. Through the end of the Korean War, the group participated successfully in numerous operations and accumulated over 80,000 effective combat sorties against enemy troops, installations, vehicles and countless other vital targets. A second Navy Unit citation was awarded for its Korean War service.
[edit] Post Korea and Vietnam War
During 1956, after nearly 6 years in Korea, MAG-12 was withdrawn to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, and remained there conducting close air support for Fleet Marine Forces in the Western Pacific until 1965. In May 1965, MAG-12 deployed to Chu Lai, Vietnam, to support Marine infantry and other allied forces in their engagements against the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army units. The Group participated in many large operations, including the recapture of Hue City and the relief of besieged units at Khe Sanh. Two more Navy Unit Citations were received as a result of the Group’s contribution to the Vietnam War effort. After almost 5 years of combat, MAG-12 was withdrawn from the Republic of Vietnam in February 1970, and reestablished at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan. MAG-12’s stay in Japan, though, was short. Again, in May 1972, MAG-12 deployed to Vietnam and conducted combat operations from Bien Hoa Air Base until finally withdrawing from war in January 1973. MAG-12 then returned to MCAS Iwakuni, where it remains today.
[edit] Post Vietnam
From this base, MAG-12 has conducted numerous operations throughout the WESTPAC area and participated in hundreds of joint service training exercises, continually honing its combat skills. Today MAG-12 consists of one Marine Aircraft Logistics Squadron and six operational flying squadrons - VMFA-212, east and west coast Unit Deployment Program (UDP) F/A-18 squadrons, a deployed EA-6B Prowler squadron, a UDP CH-53D Sea Stallion squadron, and a UDP AV-8B Harrier detachment.
In 2007 MAG-12 became the first Marine Aircraft Group to be commanded by a naval officer, Captain David Emich, under the Department of the Navy's tactical air integration program.[1]
[edit] See also
- United States Marine Corps Aviation
- List of United States Marine Corps aircraft groups
- List of United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b Marine Aviation in the Philippenes (English). Retrieved on December 16, 2007.
- ^ Mersky USMC Aviation, p.145.
[edit] References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from the United States Marine Corps.
- Bibliography
- Mersky, Peter B. (1983). U.S. Marine Corps Aviation — 1912 to the present. Annapolis Maryland: The Nautical and Aviation Publishing Company of America. ISBN 0-933852-39-8.
- Web
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