Marine Air Control Squadron 1
Marine Air Control Squadron 1 is a United States Marine Corps aviation command-and-control squadron based at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma.
Last updated August 26, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Marine Air Control Squadron 1, commonly abbreviated MACS-1, is a United States Marine Corps aviation command-and-control unit assigned to Marine Air Control Group 38 of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. Its mission is to provide air surveillance, airspace management, aircraft control, ground-controlled interception, air-traffic-control services, and aviation data-link connectivity in support of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force or joint force commander. The squadron can conduct these functions independently or concurrently, integrating radar, communications, command-and-control systems, and non-radar control services into the Marine Air Command and Control System. The unit traces its lineage to Air Warning Squadron 1, commissioned at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, on 1 September 1943. It was the first air-warning squadron established under the Marine Corps' new air-warning organization and is regarded as the second-oldest Marine aviation command-and-control unit. During World War II, the squadron deployed to the Pacific and operated radar and air-defense-control facilities during the campaigns in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands and Okinawa. On Engebi in the Eniwetok Atoll, its radar sites supported the coordination of fighter aircraft and ground-based air defenses. The unit suffered its first combat fatality during a Japanese raid on 8 March 1944, when Staff Sergeant Jacob Marty was killed while restoring damaged radio communications. At Okinawa in 1945, the squadron established radar and air-defense-control operations on Ie Shima. During its first 36 days of activity there, it tracked more than 200 Japanese raids and controlled aircraft credited with destroying or damaging 149 enemy aircraft, according to Marine Corps historical material. After the war, the unit remained on Ie Shima before returning to the United States in 1946. It was subsequently redesignated Marine Ground Control Intercept Squadron 1 and moved through several organizational assignments. The Korean War became another major chapter in the squadron's history. Alerted in July 1950, the understrength unit was reinforced and deployed to Japan before participating in the Inchon landing. It established radar and control operations at Kimpo Air Base, where it controlled combat air patrols and coordinated air traffic. During the Hungnam evacuation in December 1950, its controllers assisted Navy personnel in managing large volumes of aircraft while the squadron was operating from ships. The unit later supported the defense of the Korean Demilitarized Zone from 1953 through 1955. It adopted the designation Marine Air Control Squadron 1 on 15 February 1954. The squadron was reduced to cadre status in 1960, moved to MCAS Yuma, and was decommissioned on 1 February 1972. It was reactivated in October 1983 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton as part of MACG-38 and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. Since reactivation, MACS-1 has supported operations including Desert Shield, Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom. From 2009 to 2014, it operated tactical air operations center functions in Afghanistan with MACS-2, using the AN/TPS-59 radar to help manage approximately 70,000 square miles of airspace in southern Afghanistan. The combined operations coordinated hundreds of thousands of fixed-wing, aerial-refueling, and rotary-wing missions before the Marine Corps ended its southern Afghanistan air-control mission in November 2014. MACS-1 is not a commercial consumer brand. Its identity represents a military unit and operational capability within the Marine Corps aviation structure. Its principal outputs are surveillance, airspace-control, aircraft-control, and command-and-control services rather than products sold in a market.
History
Marine Air Control Squadron 1 began as Air Warning Squadron 1 on 1 September 1943 at MCAS Cherry Point. Organized with 14 officers and 192 enlisted Marines, it trained in California after moving to MCAS El Toro and then deployed to Hawaii in early 1944. The squadron joined Marine aviation and base-defense organizations before sailing for the Central Pacific. On 20 February 1944, AWS-1 landed on Engebi in the Eniwetok Atoll. It installed SCR-270 and SCR-527 radar systems and became operational over Eniwetok on 1 March. The squadron coordinated aircraft with the 10th Defense Battalion's air-defense fires. Japanese raids on 8 March damaged the squadron's VHF communications equipment; Staff Sergeant Jacob Marty was killed while helping restore the system, and seven other Marines were wounded. The squadron reached the Okinawa area on 19 April 1945 and landed on Ie Shima two days later. By the end of April it had established radar and air-defense-control operations. It tracked more than 200 raids during its first 36 days and controlled aircraft credited with 149 enemy aircraft destroyed or damaged. A long-range radar detachment was later sent to Iheya Island. The squadron remained on Ie Shima after Japan's surrender, with its personnel and equipment returning to the United States in separate movements during March and April 1946. After returning, the unit was assigned to Marine Air Warning Group 2 and redesignated Marine Ground Control Intercept Squadron 1 on 1 August 1946. It moved to Camp Pendleton in 1947 and was reassigned to Marine Air Control Group 2. When the Korean War began, the squadron was alerted on 5 July 1950 and reinforced with Marines from other control units. It deployed through Japan and established operations at Itami Air Base before moving to Korea in connection with the Inchon campaign. MGCIS-1 became partially operational at Kimpo Air Base by 20 September 1950, controlling combat air patrols and regulating cargo aircraft. After subsequent movements during the United Nations advance and the withdrawal from Hungnam, its controllers assisted Navy personnel in coordinating aircraft from afloat during the evacuation. The squadron later operated from Pusan and supported the Korean Demilitarized Zone from July 1953 through March 1955. On 15 February 1954, it received the designation MACS-1. In April 1955 it moved to Naval Air Facility Atsugi and joined Marine Aircraft Group 11. The unit entered cadre status in 1960, moved to MCAS Yuma, and was assigned to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. It was decommissioned on 1 February 1972. MACS-1 was reactivated in October 1983 at Camp Pendleton under MACG-38 and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. It supported Operation Desert Shield in 1990, while elements also remained in Saudi Arabia in support of MACS-2. The squadron relocated to MCAS Yuma in June 1998. Detachments later supported Operation Southern Watch in Iraq during 2000 and 2001. During the post-2001 conflicts, elements supported Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan from January to May 2002. The squadron deployed to Kuwait in February 2003 and supported Operation Iraqi Freedom, performing air-control duties and later establishing security companies. From 2009 through 2014, MACS-1 and MACS-2 maintained tactical air operations center functions at Camp Leatherneck in Helmand Province. Using the AN/TPS-59 as a principal sensor, the combined capability managed a large area of airspace and coordinated fixed-wing, aerial-refueling, and rotary-wing activity. The Afghanistan TAOC mission ended in November 2014 when Marine forces withdrew from southern Afghanistan and responsibility transferred to a United States Air Force expeditionary air-control squadron. MACS-1 remains a subordinate unit of MACG-38 and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.
- 2014
Afghanistan TAOC mission concluded
[1]The sustained Marine tactical air operations center mission in southern Afghanistan ended in November as responsibility shifted to the United States Air Force.
- 1998
Relocated to MCAS Yuma
[1]The squadron moved to its present Arizona base in June.
- 1983
Reactivated
[1]MACS-1 was reactivated at Camp Pendleton under Marine Air Control Group 38 and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.
- 1972
Decommissioned
[1]The squadron was decommissioned on 1 February after having been reduced to cadre status in 1960.
- 1954
Received the MACS-1 designation
[1]The unit adopted its current name on 15 February.
- 1950
Korean War deployment
[1]The squadron deployed to the Korean theater and established control operations at Kimpo following the Inchon landing.
- 1946
Redesignated as Marine Ground Control Intercept Squadron 1
[1]After returning to the United States, the unit received a ground-control-intercept designation.
- 1945
Okinawa operations
[1]The squadron established air-defense-control facilities on Ie Shima and later expanded radar coverage with a detachment on Iheya Island.
- 1944
First Pacific combat deployment
[1]AWS-1 landed on Engebi and established radar and airspace-control operations over Eniwetok during the Marshall Islands campaign.
- 1943
Air Warning Squadron 1 commissioned
[1]The unit was commissioned at MCAS Cherry Point on 1 September as the first squadron created under the Marine Corps' new air-warning program.
Products and positioning
A Marine Corps aviation command-and-control specialist providing persistent surveillance, airspace management, aircraft control, and integrated air-defense support for expeditionary and joint operations.
Military aviation capability · 1943
Air surveillance and radar control
MACS-1 operates radar and associated command-and-control systems to detect, track, identify, and maintain an air picture for Marine and joint commanders. Its historical and expeditionary equipment has included the AN/TPS-59 radar.
Air command and control · 1943
Airspace management and aircraft control
The squadron manages controlled airspace and directs aircraft in support of air defense, offensive air support, combat air patrols, logistics, and other aviation missions. It can integrate its work with a Marine Air-Ground Task Force or a joint force.
Military air traffic services · 1943
Air traffic control
MACS-1 provides continuous all-weather radar and non-radar air traffic control when deployed as part of the Marine Air Command and Control System, including the movement of cargo, rotary-wing, fixed-wing, and refueling aircraft.
Marketing campaigns
- 2009Camp Leatherneck tactical air operations
Helmand Province, Afghanistan
From 2009 through 2014, MACS-1 worked with MACS-2 to operate a tactical air operations center using AN/TPS-59 radar and other command-and-control systems.
Outcome. The combined units coordinated more than 320,000 fixed-wing operations, 80,000 aerial-refueling operations, and 7,000 rotary-wing operations before the mission ended in November 2014.
- 2003Operation Iraqi Freedom
Kuwait · Iraq
The squadron deployed to Kuwait and participated in the Iraq campaign as an air-control agency, later establishing security companies.
- 2002Operation Enduring Freedom
Afghanistan
Elements supported Marine aviation command-and-control activity in Afghanistan from January through May.
- 1990Operation Desert Shield
Southwest Asia · Saudi Arabia
MACS-1 deployed elements in support of the coalition buildup and air-defense posture in Southwest Asia.
Outcome. Some elements remained in Saudi Arabia in support of MACS-2.
- 1950Korean War
Japan · Korea · Kimpo · Hungnam · Pusan
MGCIS-1 supported the Inchon landing, operated from Kimpo, and later assisted with aircraft control during the Hungnam evacuation.
Outcome. The unit continued Korean theater support and later defended the Demilitarized Zone through 1955.
- 1945Okinawa campaign
Okinawa · Ie Shima · Iheya Island
The squadron established radar and control facilities on Ie Shima and extended coverage with a long-range radar detachment.
Outcome. It plotted more than 200 raids in its first 36 days and controlled aircraft credited with 149 enemy aircraft destroyed or damaged.
- 1944Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign
Eniwetok
AWS-1 deployed to Engebi and established radar coverage and airspace-control operations over Eniwetok, coordinating aircraft with ground-based air defenses.
Outcome. The squadron maintained air-control operations despite Japanese raids and damage to its communications equipment.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/marine-air-control-squadron-1 · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled