Aviation combat element

In the United States Marine Corps, the aviation combat element or air combat element (ACE) is the air arm of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF). It provides rotary-wing, tiltrotor, and fixed-wing aircraft, support equipment, pilots, maintenance personnel, as well as command and control assets to the commander. ^[1]

Role within the MAGTF

The majority of aircraft usage within the MAGTF is for close air support or transport for the ground combat element (GCE) or logistics combat element (LCE), however, other specialized missions are available. The six main functions include: assault support, anti-air warfare, offensive air support, electronic warfare, control of aircraft and missiles, and aerial reconnaissance.^[2]

Organization

The size of the ACE varies in proportion to the size of the MAGTF. A Marine Expeditionary Force has a Marine Aircraft Wing or MAW. A Marine Expeditionary Brigade holds a Marine Aircraft Group or MAG, reinforced with a variety of aircraft squadrons and support personnel. The various Marine Expeditionary Units command a reinforced squadron, with various types of aircraft mixed into a single unit (known as a composite squadron). Generally, MEF postings are permanent, while MEBs and MEUs rotate their ACE, GCE, and LCE twice annually. 1st and 3rd Marine Aircraft Wings are unique in that they are subordinate to III MEF and I MEF, respectively, while all other equivalent units numerical designators match the MEF to which attached.

Hierarchy of Marine Aviation units

1st Marine Aircraft Wing

ACE of III Marine Expeditionary Force

Squadron Name	Insignia	Nickname
Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 1		America's Finest

Marine Aircraft Group 12

Squadron Name	Insignia	Nickname
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12		Marauders
Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242		Bats

Marine Aircraft Group 24

Squadron Name	Insignia	Nickname
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 24		Warriors
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362		Ugly Angels
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363		Red Lions
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463		Pegasus

Marine Aircraft Group 36

Squadron Name	Insignia	Nickname
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 36		Bladerunner
Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152		Sumos
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262		Flying Tigers
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265		Dragons
UDP squadrons from II and III MEFs

Marine Air Control Group 18

Squadron Name	Insignia	Nickname
Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 18
Marine Air Control Squadron 4
Marine Air Support Squadron 2
Marine Wing Communications Squadron 18

Marine Wing Support Group 17

Squadron Name	Insignia	Nickname
Marine Wing Support Squadron 171		America's Squadron
Marine Wing Support Squadron 172		Firebirds

2nd Marine Aircraft Wing

ACE of II Marine Expeditionary Force

Squadron Name	Insignia	Nickname
Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2		Snake Eyes The Deuce

Marine Aircraft Group 14

Squadron Name	Insignia	Nickname
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 14		Dragons
Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Training Squadron 1		Banshee
Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 2		Jesters
Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 3		Moon Dogs
Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4		Seahawks
Marine Attack Training Squadron 203		Hawks
Marine Attack Squadron 223		Bulldogs
Marine Attack Squadron 231		Ace of Spades
Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252		Otis
Marine Attack Squadron 542		Tigers
Marine Wing Support Squadron 271		Workhorse of the Wing

Marine Aircraft Group 26

Squadron Name	Insignia	Nickname
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26		Patriots
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162		Golden Eagles
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron 204		Raptors
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261		Raging Bulls
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263		Thunder Chicken
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 264		Black Knights
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266		Fighting Griffins
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365		Blue Knights
Marine Wing Support Squadron 272		Untouchables

Marine Aircraft Group 29

Squadron Name	Insignia	Nickname
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 29		Wolverines
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167		Warriors
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 269		Gunrunners
Marine Helicopter Training Squadron 302		Phoenix
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 366		Hammerheads
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461		Ironhorse
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464		Condors
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 467		Sabers
Marine Wing Support Squadron 274		Ironmen

Marine Aircraft Group 31

Squadron Name	Insignia	Nickname
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31		Stingers
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115		Silver Eagles
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122		Werewolves
Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224		Bengals
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251		Thunderbolts
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312		Checkerboards
Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501		Warlords
Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533		Hawks
Marine Wing Support Squadron 273		Sweathogs

Marine Air Control Group 28

Squadron Name	Insignia	Nickname
Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 28
Marine Air Control Squadron 2		Eyes of the MAGTF
Marine Air Support Squadron 1		Nomads
Marine Wing Communications Squadron 28		Spartans
2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion		Death from Below
Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 2		Night Owls

3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

ACE of I Marine Expeditionary Force

Squadron Name	Insignia	Nickname
Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 3

Marine Aircraft Group 11

Squadron Name	Insignia	Nickname
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 11		Devilfish
Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101		Sharpshooters
Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 121		Green Knights
Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 225		Vikings
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232		Red Devils
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314		Black Knights
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323		Death Rattlers
Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352		Raiders

Marine Aircraft Group 13

Squadron Name	Insignia	Nickname
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 13		Black Widows
Marine Attack Squadron 211		Wake Island Avengers
Marine Attack Squadron 214		Black Sheep
Marine Attack Squadron 311		Tomcats
Marine Attack Squadron 513		Flying Nightmares

Marine Aircraft Group 16

Squadron Name	Insignia	Nickname
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16		Forerunners
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161		Greyhawks
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163		Ridge Runners
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 165		White Knights
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 166		Sea Elk
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361		Flying Tigers
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462		Heavy Haulers
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465		Warhorse
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466		Wolfpack

Marine Aircraft Group 39

Squadron Name	Insignia	Nickname
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 39		Hellhounds
Marine Medium Helicopter Training Squadron 164		Knightriders
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169		Vipers
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267		Stingers
Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268		Red Dragons
Marine Light Attack Training Squadron 303		Atlas
Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364		Purple Foxes
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367		Scarface
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369		Gunfighters
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469		Vengeance

Marine Air Control Group 38

Squadron Name	Insignia	Nickname
Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 38
Marine Air Control Squadron 1		Falconers
Marine Air Support Squadron 3		Blacklist
Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38		Red Lightning
3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion		Stingers
Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1		Watchdogs
Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3		Phantoms

Marine Wing Support Group 37

Squadron Name	Insignia	Nickname
Marine Wing Support Squadron 371		Sand Sharks
Marine Wing Support Squadron 372		Diamondbacks
Marine Wing Support Squadron 373		Ace Support
Marine Wing Support Squadron 374		Rhinos

4th Marine Aircraft Wing

ACE of Marine Forces Reserve

Squadron Name	Insignia	Nickname
4th Marine Aircraft Wing Training Support Group

Marine Aircraft Group 41

Squadron Name	Insignia	Nickname
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 41		Desperados
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112		Cowboys
Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234		Rangers
Marine Fighter Training Squadron 401		Snipers
Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 764		Moonlight

Marine Aircraft Group 49

Squadron Name	Insignia	Nickname
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 49		Magicians
Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 452		Yankees
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 772		Hustler
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773		Red Dogs
Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 774		Wild Goose

Marine Air Control Group 48

Squadron Name	Insignia	Nickname
Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 48
Marine Air Control Squadron 23
Marine Air Control Squadron 24
Marine Air Support Squadron 6		Lighthouse
Marine Wing Communications Squadron 48		Roar

Marine Wing Support Group 47

Squadron Name	Insignia	Nickname
Marine Wing Support Squadron 471
Marine Wing Support Squadron 472		Dragons
Marine Wing Support Squadron 473

See also

• Marine Air-Ground Task Force
• United States Marine Corps Aviation
• List of United States Marine Corps aircraft wings
• List of United States Marine Corps aircraft groups
• List of active United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons
• List of inactive United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons
• List of United States Marine Corps aviation support units

1st Marine Aircraft Wing Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 1 Marine Wing Liaison Kadena MAG-12 MALS-12 MWSS-171 VMGR-152 VMFA(AW)-242 MAG-24 MALS-24 MWSD-24 VMU-3 HMLA-367 HMH-463 MAG-36 MALS-36 MWSS-172 VMM-262 VMM-265 MACG-18 MTACS-18 MACS-4 MASS-2 MWCS-18

2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2 2nd MAW Band MAG-14 MALS-14 MWSS-271 VMAQT-1 VMAQ-2 VMAQ-3 VMAQ-4 VMAT-203 VMA-223 VMA-231 VMGR-252 VMA-542 MAG-26 MALS-26 MWSS-272 VMM-162 VMMT-204 VMM-261 VMM-263 VMM-264 VMM-266 VMM-365 MAG-29 MALS-29 MWSS-274 HMLA-167 HMLA-269 HMHT-302 HMH-366 HMH-461 HMH-464 HMLA-467 MAG-31 MALS-31 MWSS-273 VMFA-115 VMFA-122 VMFA(AW)-224 VMFA-251 VMFA-312 VMFAT-501 VMFA(AW)-533 MACG-28 MTACS-28 MACS-2 MASS-1 MWCS-28 2nd LAAD VMU-2

3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 3 3rd MAW Band MAG-11 MALS-11 MWSS-373 VMFAT-101 VMFA(AW)-225 VMFA-232 VMFA-314 VMFA-323 VMGR-352 MAG-13 MALS-13 MWSS-371 VMFA-121 VMA-211 VMA-214 VMA-311 VMU-1 MAG-16 MALS-16 MWSS-374 VMM-161 VMM-163 VMM-165 VMM-166 VMM-268 HMH-361 VMM-363 HMH-462 HMH-465 HMH-466 MAG-39 MALS-39 MWSS-372 VMM-164 HMLA-169 HMLA-267 HMLAT-303 VMM-364 HMLA-369 HMLA-469 MACG-38 MTACS-38 MACS-1 MASS-3 MWCS-38 3rd LAAD

4th Marine Aircraft Wing 4th Marine Aircraft Wing Training Support Group MAG-41 MALS-41 VMFA-112 VMGR-234 VMFT-401 MAG-49 MALS-49 VMGR-452 HMH-772 HMLA-773 HMM-774 HMM-764 MACG-48 MTACS-48 MACS-23 MACS-24 MASS-6 MWCS-48 MWSG-47 MWSS-471 MWSS-472 MWSS-473

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References