Marine Aviation Training Support Group 22

Marine Aviation and Training Support Group 22
MATSG-22 insignia
Active	March 1, 1942 - Unknown January 15, 1982 - present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Role	Training
Garrison/HQ	Naval Air Station Corpus Christi
Nickname(s)	Foreign Legion of Marine Aviation
Engagements	World War II * Battle of Midway * Battle of Okinawa
Commanders
Current commander	Col Carlton W. Hasle, USMC

Marine Aviation Training Support Group 22 (MATSG-22) is a United States Marine Corps aviation training group that was originally established during World War II as Marine Aircraft Group 22 (MAG-22). Squadrons from MAG-22, were decimated at the Battle of Midway and after reconstituting fought during the Battle of Okinawa. The group was deactivated following the end of the war and were not reactivated until May 1, 2000 when the Marine Aviation Detachment at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas was renamed MATSG-22.

Marine Aircraft Group 22 was formed at Midway Atoll on March 1, 1942 under the command of Colonel William J. Wallace. From its inception until several months after the war it did not serve within the continental limits of the United States, hence earned the popular name of "Foreign Legion of Marine Aviation". During World War II, MAG-22 participated in combat at:

The first enemy plane shot down by a MAGG-22 aircraft occurred on 10 March 1942 when a 4-plane section from VMF-221 engaged a Japanese Kawanishi H6K 45 miles from Midway Atoll. Upon their return, the MAG Commanding Officer, LtCol William J. Wallace, presented the pilots a bottle of bourbon for their efforts.

Aerial navigation training first began for the Marine Corps in 1942 when five Marine officers were assigned to the Weems School Of Navigation in Annapolis, Maryland. After completing this course, these five officers became the nucleus who established the navigation school at Camp Kearny in San Diego, California. A year later the school was moved to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina where they graduated their first class of navigators in January 1945. This training program existed only as a ground school. In March 1948 the school was disbanded.