List of United States Marine Corps aviation support units


This is a list of United States Marine Corps aviation support squadrons and other units, sorted by type.

Active

Marine Wing Headquarters Squadrons

The Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron provides administrative and supply support for a Marine Aircraft Wing Headquarters. The MAW HQ is a separate organization that directs and coordinates the operations of the MAW. The MAW HQ contains the wing commander and assistant wing commander, their personal staffs, and the chief of staff, the general staff divisions, and the special staff departments. The wing commander fights the MAW from his operational command post located in the Tactical Air Command Center maintained by the Marine Air Control Group.
Squadron NameInsigniaNicknameDate CommissionedSenior CommandStation
MWHS-1America's Finest7 July 19411st MAWCamp Foster, Okinawa, Japan
MWHS-2The Deuce
Snake Eyes
31 December 19552nd MAWMCAS Cherry Point, NC
MWHS-310 November 19423rd MAWMCAS Miramar, CA

Marine Aviation Logistics Squadrons

The Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron provides direct support of intermediate aircraft maintenance, avionics, aviation supply, and aviation ordnance to the aircraft squadrons of a Marine Aircraft Group. A MALS is capable of supporting multiple types of aircraft, as well as providing detachments for the aviation combat elements of a MEB or MEU.
Squadron NameInsigniaNicknameDate CommissionedSenior CommandStation
MALS-11'Devilfish1 December 1921MAG-11, 3rd MAWMCAS Miramar, CA
MALS-12'Marauders1 March 1942MAG-12, 1st MAWMCAS Iwakuni, Japan
MALS-13'Black Widows1 March 1942MAG-13, 3rd MAWMCAS Yuma, AZ
MALS-14'Dragons30 September 1988MAG-14, 2nd MAWMCAS Cherry Point, NC
MALS-16 Immortals1 March 1952MAG-16, 3rd MAWMCAS Miramar, CA
MALS-24'Warriors1 March 1942MAG-24, 1st MAWMCAF Kaneohe Bay, HI
MALS-26'Patriots16 June 1952MAG-26, 2nd MAWMCAS New River, NC
MALS-29'Wolverines1 May 1972MAG-29, 2nd MAWMCAS New River, NC
MALS-31 Stingers1 February 1943MAG-31, 2nd MAWMCAS Beaufort, SC
MALS-36'Bladerunner2 June 1952MAG-36, 1st MAWMCAS Futenma, Okinawa, Japan
MALS-39'Hellhounds1 March 1942MAG-39, 3rd MAWMCAS Camp Pendleton, CA
MALS-41'Wranglers1 January 1943MAG-41, 4th MAWNASJRB Fort Worth, TX
MALS-42'War Hammers18 June 1992MAG-42, 4th MAWNAS Atlanta, GA
MALS-49'Magicians1 July 1969MAG-49, 4th MAWStewart ANGB, NY

Marine Air Control Squadrons

MACS are responsible for air traffic control and operate the Tactical Air Operations Center, which directs antiair warfare, early warning & intercept control, air surveillance, radar control, and airspace management.
Squadron NameInsigniaNicknameDate CommissionedSenior CommandStation
MACS-1'Falconers1 September 1943MACG-38, 3rd MAWMCAS Yuma, AZ
MACS-2'Eyes of the MAGTF1 April 1944MACG-28, 2nd MAWMCAS Cherry Point, NC
MACS-4'Vice Squad5 May 1944MACG-18, 1st MAWMCAS Futenma, Okinawa, Japan
MACS-24'Earthquake15 October 1949MACG-48, 4th MAWVirginia Beach, VA

Marine Air Support Squadrons

MASSs provide the Direct Air Support Center which controls and coordinates those tactical aircraft operations directly supporting ground forces. They are responsible for the processing of immediate requests, integrate and deconflict indirect fire support with aviation assets, manage terminal control assets, and procedurally controlling aircraft.
Squadron NameInsigniaNicknameDate CommissionedSenior CommandStation
MASS-1Atlantic Nomads25 June 1943MACG-28, 2nd MAWMCAS Cherry Point, NC
MASS-2Pacific Vagabonds1 January 1943MACG-18, 1st MAWMCAS Futenma, Okinawa, Japan
MASS-3Blacklist3 August 1950MACG-38, 3rd MAWMCAS Camp Pendleton, CA
MASS-6Lighthouse15 May 1947MACG-48, 4th MAWMCAS Miramar, CA

Marine Tactical Air Command Squadrons

MTACS provide the ACE commander with command and control functions necessary for the aviation mission. They establish a Tactical Air Command Center, which is the operational command post for the Marine Aircraft Wing, from which the Wing Commander and his battle staff command the tactical air battle, including tactical air support provided to ground forces and tactical air defense. As part of Force Design 2030, all of the active duty MTACS have been decommissioned with their functionality moved to the Marine Air Control Group headquarters.
Squadron NameInsigniaNicknameDate CommissionedSenior CommandStation
MTACS-481 September 1967MACG-48, 4th MAWNS Great Lakes, IL

Marine Wing Communications Squadrons

MWCSs provide all communication assets for the ACE, including radio, satellite, wire, and data technology.
Squadron NameInsigniaNicknameDate CommissionedSenior CommandStation
MWCS-18'Warriors1 September 1967MACG-18, 1st MAWMCAS Futenma, Okinawa, Japan
MWCS-28'Spartans1 September 1967MACG-28, 2nd MAWMCAS Cherry Point, NC
MWCS-38'Red Lightning1 September 1967MACG-38, 3rd MAWMCAS Miramar, CA
MWCS-48'Roar of the Corps10 April 1952MACG-48, 4th MAWNS Great Lakes, IL

Littoral Anti-Air Battalions

The Marine Corps activated its first Littoral Anti-Air Battalion on 11 February 2022. LAABs are designed to provide ground based air defense, early warning, tactical air control, and Forward arming and refuelling points in support of Marine Corps littoral operations.
Battalion NameInsigniaNicknameDate CommissionedSenior CommandStation
3rd LAABJuly 20, 19373d MLR, 3d MARDIVMarine Corps Base Hawaii
12th LAABJuly 20, 193712th MLR, 3d MARDIVCamp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan

Low Altitude Air Defense Battalions

LAAD Battalions are responsible for close air defense protection of assets within the area of operation, with a secondary mission of local ground security for ACE elements. They are armed with surface to air weapons, as well as early warning and detection equipment. Currently, LAAD battalions are equipped with the FIM-92 Stinger, a man-portable surface-to-air missile, and the M2.50 cal machinegun. The M1097 Avenger missile-equipped HMMWV has been retired by Marine forces.
Battalion NameInsigniaNicknameDate CommissionedSenior CommandStation
1st LAAD Bn'Death From Below20 June 1982MACG-18, 1st MAWMCAS Kaneohe Bay, HI
2nd LAAD Bn'Death from Below26 February 1969MACG-28, 2nd MAWMCAS Cherry Point, NC
3rd LAAD Bn'Feel the Sting'20 June 1982MACG-38, 3rd MAWMCAS Camp Pendleton, CA