Marine Aircraft Group 32
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Marine Aircraft Group 32 | |
|---|---|
 MAG-32 insignia |
|
| Active | February 1, 1943 - April 1947 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | USMC |
| Role | Fighter/Attack Aircraft Group |
| Motto | Parati Servire |
| Engagements | World War II * Philippines campaign, 1944-45 |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
John Lucian Smith |
Marine Aircraft Group 32 (MAG-32) was a United States Marine Corps aviation unit established during World War II.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] World War II
Marine Aircraft Group 32 was commissioned on February 1, 1943 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. They trained there until January of 1944 when they moved to the West Coast to prepare for follow on movement to the South Pacific. The group next went to Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Hawaii where they remained until October of 1944. November saw them move to Emirau as they prepared to support the campaign to recapture the Philippines.[1]
MAG-32 arrived on Mangaldan on January 27, 1945 where they became part of Marine Air Groups, Dagupan (MAGSDAGUPAN) along with Marine Aircraft Group 24 (MAG-24).[2] MAGSDAGUPAN fell under neath the 308th Bomb Wing of the United States Army Air Forces which was supporting the 6th Army on Luzon. Portions of the group went ashore with the assault troops on Zamboanga on March 10, 1945. Two days later they were operating out of an expeditionary airfield.[1] During this time they became part of Marine Air Groups Zamboanga (MAGSZAM) along with Marine Aircraft Group 12 and Air Warning Squadron 4 (AWS-4). The SBD Dauntless aircraft of MAG-32 arrived on March 23 and began providing close air support. The first major operation that they supported was the landing of the 41st Infantry Division on Jolo Island on April 9. Forty four dive bombers from MAG-32 were directed against Japanese positions by tactical air control parties.[3] The group also went on to cover amphibious landing on the islands of Parang-Cotabato, Sibago, Macajalar and Sarangani.[1]
MAGSZAM was finally dissolved on August 30, 1945.[1] During the recapture of the Philippines beginning in January 1945, MAG-32 and MAG-24 would fly a total of 8,842 combat sorties and drop more than 19,000 bombs as part of the Fifth Air Force in support of the Sixth Army.[4]
Following the end of World War II, MAG-32 participated in the occupation of Northern China.[1] The group returned to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in June of 1946 and was deactivated in April 1947 at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro.[5]
[edit] Korean War
[edit] Vietnam War thru the 1990s
The last two Marine Corps A-4 Skyhawks, which were from MAG-32, flew their last flight from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point to NAS Patuxent River on July 6, 1990.
[edit] Unit awards
[edit] See also
- List of United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons
- List of United States Marine Corps aircraft groups
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b c d e Sherrod History of Marine Corps Aviation in WWII, pp. 445-446.
- ^ Sherrod History of Marine Corps Aviation in WWII, p. 299.
- ^ Sherrod History of Marine Corps Aviation in WWII, p. 317.
- ^ Selected January Dates of Marine Corps Historical Significance. History Division, United States Marine Corps. Retrieved on 2007-12-27.
- ^ RottmanU.S. Marine Corps WWII OOB, p. 436.
[edit] References
[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. OCLC 1261876.
- 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
- Elliot, John M. (March/April 1995). "Back to the Philippines, Part II" (PDF). Naval Aviation News.
- Fish, David L.. Capt. Doit L. Fish. American WWII Orphans Network. Retrieved on 2006-06-07.
- This Month in History. Selected July Dates of Marine Corps Historical Significance. History Division, United States Marine Corps. Retrieved on 2007-12-27.
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