Marine Wing Support Squadron 374 | |
---|---|
Active | 2 June 1986 – 31 March 2022 |
Country | United States |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Branch | United States Marine Corps |
Type | Aviation ground support battalion |
Size | 500+ |
Part of | Marine Aircraft Group 16 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing |
Garrison/HQ | Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms |
Nickname(s) | Rhinos |
Motto(s) | "Keep Charging" |
Engagements | Operation Iraqi Freedom |
Commanders | |
Current commander | LtCol David A. Merles |
Marine Wing Support Squadron 374 (MWSS 374) was an aviation ground support unit of the United States Marine Corps. They were based out of Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California. The squadron was part of Marine Wing Support Group 37 and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. [1] MWSS-374 was officially deactivated, 31 March 2022, at Marine Corp Air Ground Combat Center,(MCAGCC) 29 Palms,Ca. during a Sunset Ceremony.
They are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Twentynine Palms Expeditionary Airfield at MCAGCC, 29 Palms, CA.
In March 1977, General Louis H. Wilson, the 26th Commandant of the Marine Corps, activated the Expeditionary Airfield (EAF). The initial unit placed in charge of the EAF was designated Detachment MABS-11. Two years later, in July 1979, Detachment MABS-11 became operationally attached to Marine Aircraft Group 16 and was redesignated MAG-16, Detachment Bravo in 1982. Originally, only a cadre of Marines provided caretaker support for the EAF between exercises. However, during October 1989
MWSS-173 was transferred from Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay to the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms in support of the EAF. 1990 MWSS-374 MCAS Tustin CA, was tasked with Support During Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Elements of MWSS-374 were in Country well prior to the beginning of the Gulf War, until relieved in late 1991, additionally some Elements Served in Kuwait during Combat. On 4 March 1993, MWSS-173 was deactivated and Aviation Ground Support Element (AGSE) was activated to continue operating and maintaining the EAF. On 1 April 1999, AGSE deactivated and was redesignated as Marine Wing Support Squadron-374. Currently the squadron is nearly 525 strong, and possesses the ability to operate a portable and tactical airfield including and maintaining ground support equipment for aircraft. [2]
Air traffic control services and maintenance are provided by a detachment of Marines from MACS-1 Det EAF, a subordinate unit of Marine Aircraft Group 16 (MACG-38). In the early '90s, the ATC operations were handled by MATCS-18 Det C (Marine Air Traffic Control Squadron 18, Detachment C) who operated under MWSS-173.
MWSS-374 deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from February 2004 until August 2004, February 2006 until August 2006, and again from March 2008 to October 2008.[ citation needed ] MWSS-374 also deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve from September 2014 to April 2015.[ citation needed ]
The Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC), also known as 29 Palms, is the largest United States Marine Corps base. The base covers a total area of 596,288 acres.
The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing is the major west coast aviation unit of the United States Marine Corps. It is headquartered at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, in San Diego, California and provides the aviation combat element for I Marine Expeditionary Force. The wing is made up of a headquarters squadron, four flying groups, an aviation command and control group and an aviation engineering group.
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 36 (MALS-36) is an aviation logistics support unit of the United States Marine Corps. Nicknamed Bladerunner, they are currently based at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan and fall under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 36 (MAG-36) and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.
Marine Wing Support Squadron 273 (MWSS-273) is an aviation ground support unit of the United States Marine Corps. The squadron is based out of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina and falls under the command of Marine Air Control Group 28 and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. MWSS-273 has supported Marine Corps aviation operations around the world to include during the Gulf War and multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 is an aviation ground support unit of the United States Marine Corps. They are based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. The squadron falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 14 and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.
Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 is an aviation ground support unit of the United States Marine Corps. They are based out of Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina. The squadron, nicknamed "The Untouchables," falls under the command of Marine Wing Support Group 27 and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.
Marine Wing Support Squadron 274 (MWSS-274) is an aviation ground support unit of the United States Marine Corps. They are based out of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. The squadron falls under the command of Marine Wing Support Group 27 and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.
The Marine Wing Support Squadron 373 is an aviation ground support unit of the United States Marine Corps. They are based out of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California. The squadron is part of Marine Aircraft Group 11 and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.
Marine Wing Support Squadron 372 is an aviation ground support unit of the United States Marine Corps. Known as the "Diamondbacks", the squadron is based at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. It falls under the command of Marine Air Control Group 38 and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and maintains a direct support relationship to Marine Aircraft Group 39.
Marine Wing Support Group 27 (MWSG-27) is a United States Marine Corps aviation combat service support unit based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. It was composed of four squadrons, which provide the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and II Marine Expeditionary Force with complete airfield operation services, engineer and transportation support, medical assistance, food services, security support, and other direct combat and combat service support to aviation combat elements.
Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1 (VMU-1) is an unmanned aerial vehicle squadron in the United States Marine Corps that operates the MQ-9A Reaper. They are based out of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona and provide reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition for the I Marine Expeditionary Force. They fall under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 13 and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 13 (MALS-13) is an aviation logistics support unit of the United States Marine Corps. Known as the "Black Widows", it is currently based at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, as part of Marine Aircraft Group 13 and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.
Marine Aircraft Group 49 is a United States Marine Corps Reserve aviation unit based at Joint Base McGuire–Dix–Lakehurst, New Jersey that is currently composed of squadrons that fly the MV-22B, CH-53E, AH-1Z, UH-1Y, UC-35D and UC-12F/W aircraft as well as an Aviation Logistics Squadron and Wing Support Squadron.
Marine Wing Support Group 47 (MWSG-47) was a United States Marine Corps aviation combat service support unit based at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan that was composed of three squadrons, that provided the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing and Marine Forces Reserve with complete airfield operation services, engineer and transportation support, medical assistance, food services, security support, and other direct combat service support to aviation combat elements.
Marine Wing Support Squadron 471 (MWSS-471) is a United States Marine Corps Reserve aviation ground support unit. Nicknamed the "Red Wolves," the squadron headquarters is in Minneapolis, Minnesota with outlying detachments in Johnstown, Pennsylvania and Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan. The squadron falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 41 and the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing.
Marine Wing Communications Squadron 28 (MWCS-28) is a United States Marine Corps communications squadron. The squadron provides expeditionary communications for the aviation combat element of the II Marine Expeditionary Force. They are based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and fall under the command of Marine Air Control Group 28 and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.
Marine Wing Support Squadron 472 (MWSS-472) is a reserve aviation ground support unit of the United States Marine Corps. The Headquarters Element of MWSS 472 (-) is located at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. In addition to serving as the squadron headquarters, it is also the primary site for all of the Airfield Operations specific Military Occupational Specialties (MOSs). Communications MOS's are also located at the Squadron (-) location. MWSS 472 Detachment A is located at Wyoming, Pennsylvania and serves as the squadron's primary site for motor transport operations and maintenance, as well as food service. Detachment B is located at Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee, Massachusetts and serves as the squadron's primary engineer services Site. The squadron falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 49 and the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing.
Twentynine Palms Strategic Expeditionary Landing Field or Twentynine Palms SELF is a military use airfield located nine nautical miles (17 km) northwest of the central business district of Twentynine Palms, a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The SELF is the largest expeditionary airfield (EAF) operated by the United States Marine Corps. It is also known as the Twentynine Palms EAF and is located at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC) Twentynine Palms.
Marine Wing Support Squadron 174 (MWSS-174) is an aviation ground support unit of the United States Marine Corps.The squadron is based out of Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 24 and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.