Marine Air Group 36
| Marine Aircraft Group 36 | |
|---|---|
MAG-36 insignia
|
|
| Active | 2 June 1952 – present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | USMC |
| Role | Assault support |
| Part of |
1st Marine Aircraft Wing III Marine Expeditionary Force |
| Garrison/HQ | Marine Corps Air Station Futenma |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Colonel James F. Harp |
| Notable commanders |
Earl E. Anderson |
Marine Aircraft Group 36 (MAG-36) 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 Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa, Japan.
The mission of MAG-36 is to support the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) with combat ready expeditionary assault support aircraft and when directed, plan and conduct aviation operations as a Marine Expeditionary Brigade-level Aviation Combat Element.
Also attached are Unit Deployment Program (UDP) squadrons, usually Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadrons flying the UH-1Y and AH-1W, and Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadrons flying the CH-53E.
Originally formed at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, in Santa Ana, California, on 2 June 1952 as Marine Air Group (Helicopter Transport) 36, the Group spent several years training for amphibious operations to carry out the role of ship-to-shore assault support. At this time, the Group consisted of squadrons HMR-361, HMR-362, HMR-363, all flying HRS-1 helicopters.
In 1959, it was renamed Marine Air Group 36, and in 1965 attached to the 1st MAW, when it deployed to Vietnam in August of that year. It sailed for Vietnam aboard the USS Princeton, flying ashore at Kỳ Hà on 1 September. This was both the first full Marine Air Group to arrive in Vietnam, and more generally the first time a full helicopter group had been transported this way.
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Wikipedia