Marine Aircraft Group 25

Marine Air Group 25
Marine Air Group 25
	MAG-25 insignia
Active	July 1942-May 1947; February 1950-January 1956
Country	United States
Type	Utility/Transport
Role	Assault support
Part of	1st Marine Aircraft Wing
Nickname(s)	Flying Boxcars
Motto(s)	Securité en Nuages
Engagements	World War II ; * Guadalcanal Campaign ; * New Georgia Campaign ; * Battle of Vella Lavella ; * Bougainville Campaign ; * Philippines Campaign (1944-1945) ; * Operation Beleaguer ; Korean War
Decorations	; Distinguished Unit Citation ; ; Navy Unit Commendation

Last updated November 10, 2024

Marine Air Group (MAG) 25 was a United States Marine Corps combat air transport group that provided logistical support, including cargo and personnel transport and aeromedical evacuation, to forward units during World War II and the Korean War. During World War II it formed the nucleus of the South Pacific Combat Air Transport Command.^[1]^[2]

History

Marine Aircraft Group 25 was commissioned on June 1, 1942, at Camp Kearney, San Diego, California and initially consisted of Headquarters Squadron 25 and VMJ-253.^[3] On August 23, the squadron’s first echelon departed for the Pacific Theater via R4D and arrived at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Hawaii the following day. The Group initially based out of New Caledonia and began flying missions in support of the Battle of Guadalcanal in September 1942. On September 3, the first plane from MAG-25 landed at Henderson Field on Guadalcanal carrying the commanding general of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Roy Geiger.^[4] MAG-25 was soon joined by the 13th Troop Carrier Squadron, United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), an uncommon inter-service cooperative effort. In late November 1942, at the direction of VAdm. Aubrey Fitch, MAG-25 formed the nucleus of SCAT, with its senior officer serving as SCAT's commanding officer throughout the organization's existence. MAG-25 soon grew to include VMJ-152 and SMS-25 of the Marine Corps, and the 801st Medical Air Evacuation Transport Squadron (MAETS), USAAF. In March 1943 it was joined by VMJ-153.^[1] From January to July 1944, Marine Air Repair & Salvage Squadron 1 (MAR&SSq-1) was attached to the group.

SCAT provided rapid transport of personnel and cargo, including munitions, food, replacement parts, and medical supplies, to and from forward areas. On rearward flights SCAT frequently provided aeromedical evacuation of wounded or sick personnel. Aircraft typically included a flight nurse, corpsman, or flight surgeon as part of the crew, split between USAAF personnel of the 801st MAETS and the Navy medical personnel of Headquarters Squadron-25. SOPAC Combat Air Transport Command was dissolved and reconstituted as Solomons Combat Air Transport Command after its Army Air Forces troop carrier units departed in July 1944, with MAG-25 continuing to utilize the "SCAT" acronym. At that time VMR-253 departed MAG-25 to join the Transport Air Group (TAG) in the Central Pacific. SCAT was finally dissolved in February 1945 as MAG-25's primary mission shifted to support of 1st Marine Aircraft Wing operations in the Philippines.^[5]

MAG-25, including the attached 13th Troop Carrier Squadron, was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation as part of the 1st Marine Division (Reinforced) for the Guadalcanal campaign. SCAT received a Navy Unit Commendation for its operations in the South Pacific from December 1942 to July 1944.^[5]

In October 1945, MAG-25 began moving to Tsingtao, China, where VMR-153 participated in the evacuation of liberated prisoners from the Weixian Internment Camp. MAG-25 returned to the United States in June 1946 and was deactivated in 1947.

MAG-25 was reactivated in February 1950 at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, with VMR-152, and VMR-352 attached, equipped with Douglas R5D aircraft. During the Korean War the group's forward echelon (Sub-Unit 2 of VMR-152) supported the operations of the 1st Marine Division and 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, flying mostly personnel and cargo transport missions while based at Itami, Japan. VMR-253, flying the Curtiss R5C and Fairchild R4Q, was reattached to the group in 1951. After the Korean Armistice Agreement, VMR-253 deployed to Itami to assist in post-armistice airlift operations.

The nickname "Flying Boxcars" was widely used for the Douglas R4D aircraft flown by MAG-25 during World War II, predating its attachment to the post-war Fairchild R4Q aircraft.

Personnel

Notable former MAG-25 personnel include:

Richard Nixon, 37th President of the United States, who served as officer-in-charge of SCAT forward detachments at Bougainville and Green Island while assigned to Headquarters Squadron-25.^[6]
John P. Coursey, Brigadier general, who served as Group's executive officer in 1944
David Douglas Duncan, photographer, who covered SCAT while assigned to VMD-154.^[7]
George Roy Hill, director and actor, who served as a naval aviator in VMR-152.
William K. Lanman, executive officer of VMJ-153 and later of MAG-25, who became a millionaire benefactor of Yale University.

Unit awards

Since the beginning of World War II, the United States military has honored various units for extraordinary heroism or outstanding non-combat service. The following are the known awards that MAG-25 earned during their time in active service.

Award	Year(s)	Additional Info
Presidential Unit Citation Streamer with one Bronze Star	7 Aug 1942 - 9 Dec 1942	Guadalcanal Campaign
Navy Unit Commendation Streamer	11 Dec 1942 - 15 Jul 1944	World War II,
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Streamer
World War II Victory Streamer	1942–1945	Pacific War
Navy Occupation Service Streamer with "ASIA"
China Service Streamer	Sept 1946 - June 1947	North China
National Defense Service Streamer	1950–1954	Korean War

Citations

1 2 Armstrong 2017, pp. 7.
↑ Sherrod, Robert. (1952). History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II. Combat Forces Press. ISBN 0-933852-58-4
↑ Rottman 2002, pp. 436.
↑ Sherrod 1952, pp. 85.
1 2 Armstrong 2017, pp. 8.
↑ Hove, Duane T. American Warriors: Five Presidents in the Pacific Theater of WWII, Burd Street Press, 2003 ISBN 1-57249-307-0; summary accessed at
↑ David Douglas Duncan Archive, Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin, accessed at 2 August 2006: includes a photo of Duncan taken by Richard Nixon.

Related Research Articles

The 1st Marine Aircraft Wing is an aviation unit of the United States Marine Corps that serves as the Aviation Combat Element of the III Marine Expeditionary Force. The wing is headquartered at Camp Foster on the island of Okinawa, Japan. Activated in 1940, the wing has seen heavy combat operations during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VMGR-152</span> Military unit

Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 (VMGR-152) provides aerial refueling service to support Fleet Marine Force (FMF) air operations; and provides assault air transport of personnel, equipment, and supplies. The squadron, known as the "Sumos", flies the fixed-wing Lockheed Martin KC-130J aircraft. VMGR-152 is stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Iwakuni, Japan and is part of Marine Aircraft Group 12 (MAG-12) and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.

Marine Aircraft Group 11 is a United States Marine Corps aviation unit based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar that is currently composed of two F-35C squadrons, one F-35B squadron, two F/A-18C squadrons, one fleet replacement squadron, one KC-130J tactical aerial refueling squadron, a maintenance and logistics squadron, and a wing support squadron. They fall under the command of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and the I Marine Expeditionary Force.

Marine Attack Squadron 231 (VMA-231) is a United States Marine Corps fixed wing attack squadron that consists of AV-8B Harrier (V/STOL) jets. The squadron, known as the "Ace of Spades", is based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina and fall under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 14 (MAG-14) and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.

Marine Aircraft Group 13 is a United States Marine Corps aviation unit based at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma that is currently composed of one McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II squadron, three Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II squadrons, an unmanned aerial vehicle squadron, a maintenance and logistics squadron, and a wing support squadron. The group falls under the command of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and the I Marine Expeditionary Force.

Marine Aircraft Group 14 (MAG-14) is a United States Marine Corps aviation unit based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina that is currently composed of two AV-8B Harrier squadrons, one F-35B squadron, one UAV training squadron, one KC-130 squadron, and an aviation logistics squadron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Aircraft Group 24</span> Military unit

Marine Aircraft Group 24 (MAG-24) is a United States Marine Corps aviation unit based at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay. MAG-24 is subordinate to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and the III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Marine Aircraft Group 41 (MAG-41) is a United States Marine Corps reserve aviation unit based at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas that is currently composed of one F/A-18C squadron, one KC-130J squadron, one C-40 squadron, two Northrop F-5 aggressor squadron based at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona and Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina, one Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron at MCAS Camp Pendleton, one MV-22B squadron based at MCAS Miramar, one aviation logistics squadron and two wing support squadrons with multiple detachments throughout the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VMGR-234</span> Military unit

Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 (VMGR-234) is a reserve United States Marine Corps KC-130J squadron. They are a part of Marine Aircraft Group 41 (MAG-41), 4th Marine Aircraft Wing and provide both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aerial refueling capabilities to support Marine Forces Reserve air operations in addition to assault air transport of personnel, equipment, and supplies. The squadron, known as the "Rangers" is stationed at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VMGR-252</span> Military unit

Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 (VMGR-252) is a United States Marine Corps KC-130J squadron. They are a part of Marine Aircraft Group 14 (MAG-14), 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and provide both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aerial refueling capabilities to support Fleet Marine Force air operations in addition to assault air transport of personnel, equipment, and supplies. The squadron, known as "Otis" is stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. It also has the distinction of being the oldest continually active squadron in the Marine Corps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Aircraft Group 15</span> Military unit

Marine Aircraft Group 15 (MAG-15) was a United States Marine Corps aviation group established during World War II. MAG-15, a transport and photo-reconnaissance training group, was commissioned on 1 March 1942, headquartered at Camp Kearny, San Diego. In addition to radio and photographic training, the Group also conducted a navigation school. Additional roles included West Coast aircraft acceptance and transport service for the Marine Corps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VMF-221</span> Military unit

Marine Fighting Squadron 221 (VMF-221) was a reserve fighter squadron of the United States Marine Corps. Originally commissioned during the World War II, it flew the Brewster F2A-3, and after reconstitution in 1943, the F4U Corsair. The squadron, also known as the "Fighting Falcons", is most notable for its actions on 4 June 1942, during the Battle of Midway, which resulted in 23 members of the squadron, many posthumously, being awarded the Navy Cross for their actions in combat. VMF-221 ended World War II with 185 air-to-air victories, the second most of any Marine Fighting Squadron in the war.

South Pacific Combat Air Transport Command (SCAT) was a joint command of U.S. military logistics units in the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II. It contributed notably to the success of U.S. forces in the campaigns on Guadalcanal (1942–1943), New Georgia (1943), and Bougainville (1943–1945), as well as the Allied air campaign against Rabaul.

Marine Aviation and Training Support Group 21 (MATSG-21) is a United States Marine Corps aviation training group that was originally established in 1922 as the 2nd Aviation Group. During World War II the unit was known as Marine Aircraft Group 21 (MAG-21). Squadrons from MAG-21 fought in many of the opening battles of the war to include the Battle of Wake Island, Battle of Midway and as part of the Cactus Air Force during the Battle of Guadalcanal. The group was deactivated following the end of the war and was not reactivated until 2000 when the Marine Aviation Detachment at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida was renamed MATSG-21. The core of the MATSG personnel is derived from 175 officer instructors and 550 student naval aviators/naval flight officers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Aviation Training Support Group 33</span> Military unit

Marine Aviation and Training Support Group 33 (MATSG-33) is a United States Marine Corps aviation training group that was originally established during World War II as Marine Aircraft Group 33 (MAG-33). Fighter squadrons from MAG-33 fought most notably during the Battle of Okinawa and also as the first Marine aviation units to support the Korean War when they arrived as part of the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade. They helped stabilize the United Nations positions during the Battle of Pusan Perimeter and fought in Korea for the remainder of the war. At some point in the 1960s, the group was deactivated and was not reactivated until 2000, when Marine Aviation Training Support Group at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia was renamed MATSG-33.

Marine Transport Squadron 152 (VMR-152) was an air transport squadron of the United States Marine Corps that was responsible for the movement of personnel, equipment, and supplies. The squadron flew fixed-wing cargo aircraft to include the R4D Skytrain and the R4Q Flying Boxcar. The squadron saw combat during World War II and the Korean War with their most notable contributions coming during the Battle of Guadalcanal and during the Marine breakout during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. The squadron was decommissioned in the late 1950s.

Richard C. Mangrum was a United States Marine Corps lieutenant general who served as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1965 to 1967. Mangrum was a Marine Corps aviator who was awarded the Navy Cross and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions during the Guadalcanal Campaign in World War II.

The 801st Medical Air Evacuation Squadron was a United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) unit that provided aeromedical evacuation and support services to front-line units in the Pacific Theater of World War II. From the latter part of the Guadalcanal Campaign through Operation Cartwheel it was attached to Marine Aircraft Group 25 and the South Pacific Combat Air Transport Command (SCAT).

Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 153 (VMGR-153) is a United States Marine Corps KC-130J squadron. The squadron is a part of Marine Aircraft Group 24 (MAG-24), 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and provides both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aerial refueling capabilities to support Fleet Marine Force (FMF) air operations in addition to assault air transport of personnel, equipment, and supplies. During World War II, the squadron was under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 25 and the South Pacific Combat Air Transport Command (SCAT). It delivered approximately 15,000,000 pounds of supplies and equipment, evacuated more than 20,000 casualties, and moved an additional 8,000 personnel throughout the Pacific Theater. VMGR-153 is part of Marine Aircraft Group 24 (MAG-24) and is stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

Marine Aircraft Group 43 (MAG-43) was a fixed wing aviation group in the United States Marine Corps Reserve based at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove, Pennsylvania.