Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31

Last updated

Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31
Active1 February 1943 – present
CountryUnited States
AllegianceUnited States of America
Branch United States Marine Corps
TypeLogistics
RoleAviation logistics support
Part of Marine Aircraft Group 31
2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
Garrison/HQ Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort
Nickname(s)Stingers
Engagements World War II
* Battle of Okinawa
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Operation Enduring Freedom
Commanders
Current
commander		LtCol Stephen A. Ritchie

Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31 (MALS-31) is an aviation logistics support unit of the United States Marine Corps. Known as the "Stingers", they fall under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 31 (MAG-31) and 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (2nd MAW) and are currently based at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort.

Contents

Mission

Provide aviation logistics support, guidance, planning, and direction to Marine Aircraft Group squadrons on behalf of the commanding officer, as well as logistics support for Navy funded equipment in the supporting Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS), Marine Air Control Group (MACG), and Marine Aircraft Wing/Mobile Calibration Complex (MAW/MCC).

History

World War II

Headquarters Squadron 31 (HQSQ-31) was activated on 1 February 1943 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, as an element of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Fleet Marine Force. Six month later, Headquarters Squadron 31 as part of MAG-31, was en route to Miramar, California, finally departing the United States from San Diego, California, embarked on board the USS Nassau and USAT Puebla.

On 10 November 1944, the 4th Marine Bases Defense Air Wing, was redesignated to the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing. On 11 March 1945, MAG-31, became part of the 2nd MAW. Headquarters Squadron 31 and other MAG-31 elements began moving from Roi-Namur Island, sailing for the most active front at that time-the Battle of Okinawa. Ground personnel of MAG-31 went ashore on Okinawa on 3 April 1945 to prepare to support MAG-31, which landed from the USS Sitkoh Bay and began operations four days later. En route from the carrier to shore, two MAG-31 pilots shot down a Japanese bomber making a suicide run on their CVE, and gave MAG-31 the distinction of having the first land based aircraft to make a kill in the Okinawa campaign.

1950s

In the midst of the Korean War, MAG-31 was reactivated on 17 March 1952, with its subordinate elements, at Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, NC, but its location was shortly changed when it moved to Marine Corps Air Station Miami, Florida. A major redesignation occurred on 15 February 1954, as the squadron became Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 31 (H&MS-31). Marine Aircraft Maintenance Squadron 31 was disbanded and its personnel transferred to Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 31. Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 31 was redesignated on 22 August 1958 to become part of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. The squadron along with the group was reduced to a paper organization as it moved to Cherry Point with a small complement of personnel. On 31 January 1959, MAG-31 and its squadron were deactivated at Cherry Point.

1960s – present

In October 1988, Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 31 was redesignated Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31 (MALS-31) and transferred its A-4 Skyhawk aircraft to Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. MALS-31 successfully completed the transformation of its aviation logistics support mission from F-4 Phantom IIs to the F/A-18 Hornet in 1990. Since then, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31 has participated in numerous unit deployments, carrier detachments, as well as: Operation Desert Storm, Operation Deny Flight, Operation Noble Anvil. MALS-31 participated in and supported both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

See also

Notes

    Related Research Articles

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2nd Marine Aircraft Wing</span> Military unit

    The 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing is the major east coast aviation unit of the United States Marine Corps and is headquartered in Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. The Wing provides the aviation combat element for the II Marine Expeditionary Force.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 36</span> Military unit

    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.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Aircraft Group 11</span> Military unit

    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.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 11</span> Military unit

    Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 11 (MALS-11) is an aviation logistics support unit of the United States Marine Corps, part of Marine Aircraft Group 11 (MAG-11), currently based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and also part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Aircraft Group 31</span> Military unit

    Marine Aircraft Group 31 (MAG-31) is a United States Marine Corps aviation group based at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina that is currently composed of two F/A-18C Hornet squadrons, one F/A-18A++ Hornet squadron, two F/A-18D Hornet squadrons, one F-35B Lightning II training squadron, and an aviation logistics squadron. It falls under the command of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Wing Support Group 27</span> Military unit

    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.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16</span> Military unit

    Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16 (MALS-16) is an aviation logistics support unit of the United States Marine Corps. Known as the Immortals, they are currently based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and fall under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 16 (MAG-16) and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 13</span> Military unit

    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.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 14</span> Military unit

    Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 14 (MALS-14) is an aviation logistics support unit of the United States Marine Corps. They are currently based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and fall under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 14 (MAG-14) and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 29</span> Military unit

    Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 29 (MALS-29) was an aviation logistics support unit of the United States Marine Corps. Known as the "Wolverines", they fell under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 29 and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and were based at Marine Corps Air Station New River. MALS 29 supported multiple types of aircraft and provided detachments to aviation combat elements operating globally in support of the United States National Defense Strategy.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12</span> Military unit

    Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 (MALS-12) is an aviation logistics support unit of the United States Marine Corps. Known as the "Marauders", they fall under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 12 (MAG-12) and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and are currently based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 24</span> Military unit

    Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 24 (MALS-24) is an aviation logistics support unit of the United States Marine Corps. Known as the "Warriors", they fall under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 24 (MAG-24) and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and are currently based at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 39</span> Military unit

    Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 39 (MALS-39) is an aviation logistics support unit of the United States Marine Corps. Once known as the "Magicians," they are now known as the "Hellhounds", and they fall under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 39 (MAG-39) and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and are currently based at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, California.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Aircraft Group 49</span> Military unit

    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.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 42</span> Military unit

    Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 42 was a reserve aviation logistics support unit of the United States Marine Corps. They fell under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 42 and 4th Marine Aircraft Wing and were based at Naval Air Station Atlanta. MALS-42 provided direct support to VMFA-142 and HMLA-773 and Navy squadrons VAW-77 and VR-46 and indirect support to two tactical Marine squadrons HMLA-773 Det A and HMM-774. Due to a re-organization within Marine aviation, MALS-42 was deactivated in 2008.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Wing Communications Squadron 28</span> Military unit

    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.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26</span> Military unit

    Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26 (MALS-26) is an aviation logistics support unit of the United States Marine Corps. They are currently based at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina and fall under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 26 and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 49</span> Military unit

    Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 49 (MALS-49) is a reserve aviation logistics support unit of the United States Marine Corps. They are currently based at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York and fall under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 49 (MAG-49) and the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing. The squadron 49 is the only MALS in the 4th MAW with an active duty core of maintenance and aviation supply personnel. MALS-49 is currently structured with six separate and distinct divisions of maintenance, supporting three separate and distinct sites, along with five flying squadrons.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 40</span> Military unit

    Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 40 (MALS-40) is an aviation logistics support unit of the United States Marine Corps. They are based at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina and fall under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 40 and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.

    References

    PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps .
    Bibliography
    Web
    This page is based on this Wikipedia article
    Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
    Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.