Marine Aircraft Group 13
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| Marine Aircraft Group 13 | |
|---|---|
 MAG-13 Insignia |
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| 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 |
| Engagements | 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.
Contents |
[edit] Mission
Provide air support to Marine Air-Ground Task Force commanders.
[edit] Subordinate units
AV-8B Harrier Squadrons
Maintenance Squadron
[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, composed 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.
[edit] 1980s to present
The Group moved to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma on October 1, 1987.
[edit] Global War on Terror
In early January 2003 Marine Aircraft Group 13 deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. With 60 Harriers operating from the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) and 16 from Al Jaber Air Base in Kuwait, Harriers of Marine Aircraft Group 13 flew over 2,000 sorties, over 3,000 flight hours and expended over 750,000 pounds of ordinance in support of I Marine Expeditionary Force[1].
Between 2003 and 2007 all four VMA squadrons of Marine Aircraft Group 13 made multiple deployments to Al Asad Air Base to support coalition combat operations in Iraq. During this period, MAG-13 squadrons also deployed to Japan to support the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and provided Harrier detachments in support the 11th, 13th, and 15th Marine Expeditionary Units (MEU). In 2005, Marine Aircraft Group 13 squadrons upgraded the avionics and software systems of the AV-8B, enabling all weather precision strike capability. These warfighting enhancements were demonstrated in early 2006, when VMA-513 became the first Marine Harrier squadron to employ the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) in combat
[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
- ^ Visconage & Harris: 73.
[edit] References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from the United States Marine Corps.
- Bibliography
- Visconage, Michael D. & Harris, Carroll N. "Third Marine Aricraft Wing - Operation Iraqi Freedom". Marine Corps Association, 2004.
- Web
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